The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-12-27
WRITTEN FOR THE COMET
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
b Y p A p

DO" "' mamma, you promised us
s'ory Tonight" said bright-eyed
Ton 1laxen-haired little bow.
The first speaker was NV motbo,
at inc other my little bright-eyed, flaxen
haired brother Ben. Both aro lon,
since dead, and am left alone to buf
g." iet with the cares of cold, unfeelins
world. 1t was many years ago, and
1o was but child, but as often as Christ.
mas occurs, my memory reverts to the
scenes of that night, for that was
ad Christmas eve.
indeed, my darling boy, I did
promise you story, and had forgot
n. ten my promise, but you shall hear if !.
e. 80 sit you by the fire my little one, and
III commence
=: ~ we drew our little chairs up to our
10 mother, and she continued:
MANY long years age, "a man whom
g VIII call Smith, together with his young
d "lIe and two little boys, left their
comfortable home in Tennessee and
settled ON the head waters of the Rio
e frlo III Western Texas. One of tbe
: ooSs' whose name was George, and
TWO years the younger of the two.
was their son; the other. whose name
: was Henry, and at that time about
seven years old, was an orphan whom
they had adopted when an infant hut
the affection between them seemed ..
strong as though he was their own h1, '
oirtl' mat portion of Texas was then C
unsettled, and even at tho present
llhle settlers are few and far between =
| Mr. Smith and his little family Ii
arrived OH the banks of the Rio Frin +,
which is the Spanish name for cold IL
flVer-some time in the fall of the al
year, ana commenced building log IL
house, until this was completed they H
camped in their wagon, which was a Ill
large one, and covered with canvass to as
project them from the chilling night or
ar. After the house was finished and an
they had moved into it. Mr., Smith tie
oullt corrall, or log enclosure for his an
cattle and horses, for he brought quite fec
u number with him, together with arr
le" sheep and hogs: Game was fire.
plenty, and with his trusty rifle he bo
soon laid in goodly supply of bear. wo
ieer, antelope and buffalo meat, which los
vas dried and put away for future use. KIN,
This was new life, and strange fat,
ne, for Mrs. Smith, who was born and bin
red in large town, but it was her ere,
usband's wish to lead the life of n bu,
loheer, and she soon became domes- n
cated to the change. True, at first on
ne dismal howl of the cayote, or prai- Dor
e wolf, and the unearthly wall of the sew
'ugar OF Mexican lion, would strike anne
rror to her heart and cause it to fiut- seve
# with fear for Il time, yet she soon Smi
ecame accustomed to the sound and a.,
er tlmidity vanished, so that by the onoo
flowing spring, she, felt as secure i'm.
N''' 90 III ihel n"'lVe town. tie il
g The winter had been mild ono and
d Mr.. Smith got to work early' N,
eaklng up his ground and preparing who
plant-for he had brought great bunt
my seed with him from Tennessee. Tndi.
IL summer was d favorable one, and had 6
land being very productive, he proce
sed a fine crop. ubo,,
1NerS 'hihS went on smoothly, and disco
he" settlefs were well pleased tance
III 'helr new nome. The Indians of the
IL 4"l'e numerous IN that section thOug
5he country, and frequently small which
ties of them had been seen in the NIGHT
'il9 Vi Ihe smith rancho, but as ther a
had never mOlested them or given tended
m cause to do so, the Smiths felt stems
apprehension of danger from them. when
Cllrls'illas was approaching, when house
y 0ililVh gave olrth TO little girl, rying
I'm they called-no, [ will not tell time
name now. Well, all were happy, tell TIN
'cially George and Henry, who lation.
t into ecstasies over the advent of the W
little sister. Christmas eve came, night '
Mr.. Smith had not vet returned weep fl
hunt he had taken that day geance
man who lived some twenty made,
s down the river, by the name of tory of
Iace-whom the Indians called The f
: Foot" and who, from that day, plainly
ing as he lived, was terror to Big Fo,
race, for, from that time hence trail
) nc s"ore vengeance against the ing, anC
nan, and most terribly did he full men co
5 oath. Nine o'clock came, but cient to
came not, and Mrs. Smith felt kpov;p,
alarili' hanS up your Stock weIl in
and go to bed, children said she, 20 no..
APPS Santa Claus may happen tbov ~
this way They did as they suif of 4
and everything was still or so,,o,,
while. Presently she thought tbo III;
tected the sound of footsteps, and ,,,0ro 3,
sing them the return of the fro,tions
rs, was happy at the thought. match 70
hush! there was more than no conso
and the sound of horses feet that Il
heard surrounding the house, dotorr,i,,
all was still as the grave. ,,.arJ A.
rembled from head to foot.
a soft murmur was borne ~ y
- - .h1.I. .,'1D.D' =" gravel,
l the blood in her veins. -
al ll's 'an' TIC Ooor ol the mouse i'm places,
urst open, ana the hideous declivity
savages filled the room. Mrs. bed of th
was dragged from her bed by one of {
r, still clinging to the infant in land abor
ms; she fefl upon her knees, cd their
ith white, upturned face and Smith hal
eyes, begged for mercy. But lake, som
tai tOmahawk was raised, and "Now.
t instant would have crashed 1--WE don