The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-01-10
A Rray christian Woman.
A TRUE STORY Of MINING LIFE IN THE WEST.

Here is true tory of mining life, which
We find in WeSern paper, that is worthy
to be read unde any Christmas tree. In
last October, a fl kh'bis wife and three
children left the s5tcl Pres byterian settle
ment in Western P pennsylvania to which he
belonged, and SCI out to the Black Hills in
the hope of menling his fortunes. Ill-luck
steadily followdA him. On reaching the
camp he was sti ok down with fever and lay
helpless for W ks, during which he was
nursed by the iers.
In Novemb bis wife gave birth to bs-
by, and died next day. The camp had
now the fathe bo was sinking day by day,
and four hel children on its hands. A
certain little AN in a distant camp heard
of their tror nd came to see what was
to be done. baby was weak and sickly,
and after avs she declared it to be i'm
possible to I alive through the terrors
of winter amp, with the thermometer
thirty degr low zero. The only safety
for any of hildren was to 60 back to
their homa nsylvania.
But ho' hey to GO? There was the
Journey thousand miles the
wagon trainD wee in danger of daily attack
from the hostile Indians, the snow was from
six to ten feet deep. The woman Ito whom
the children and their parents were neither
kinsfolk nor acquaintances) offered to take
charge of them. A wagon train was to pass
the camp in few days on its way to Fort
Laramie.
Our camp prepared wagon, furnished it
with feather bed, ETC., and our gallant lit
tie woman gathered together spirit lamp,
provisions, and such poor comforts as could
be had for the children. The train arrived ;
every miner was busy making them ready
one brought his bedding, and other clothes
there was not dry eye in the camp when
the poor babies were taken in to say good.
bye to their dying father. After he had
kissed them for the last time, he turned his
face toward the wall, and they were hastily
carried out and started upon their long and
perilous Journey Their kind friend was the
only woman ina train of thirteen wagons:
one of her helpless charges, be it remem-
bered, was baby two weeks old. The cold
was extreme; several times the wagons were
blocked by snow; twice attacked by scout.
ing parties of Indians; but this woman and
her children were made sacred charge. Al
night her wagon was placed in the centre Of
the corral, the others forming a line of defence
about it. They reached station on the
Overland route at last, and she was put safe
ly aboard the cars. Our exchange, coun.
try newspaper, states that she had arrived
with the children at their old home, delivered
them to their grand parents, and Immediately
started on her return to the Black Hills.
There is the whole story. The children
are safe; their father, let US hope, still lives
in camp and will see them again. We do moi
know the womans name, nor whether she il
maiden, wife or widow. In all probability
she will never be heard of again. But she
had friendly soul, and we cannot but think
had, like the woman of Israel, touched afar
off the gsymentssof Christ, and that virtue
had gone out from him to her. We tell the
story just as it comes to US, not because such
friendly souls Ad'good women and unsel6Sh
deeds are rare, but because they are many,
and because it is the most wholesome of al
things for us to remember at this Christmas
season how many and how possible they are.
". Y. Tribune.