The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-12-26

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mother repeat to the child the sad story
of how her father had gone West four
years ago to seek his fortune how for
two years his letters, containing money
for her support, had come like rays of
sunshine through the clouds how they
had suddenly stopped. and no answers
were received to her agoniZed appeals /;
how for two more years she had suppoS-
ed him dead how, at last, the Postmas-
ter in the little village where she lived
had, upon his dying-bed, confessed to
having stolen the letters from her hus-
band, so rs TO get the money they con-
tained and suppressed her missives to
him. for fear of discovery and how she
had started out with her little one to
find her lost husband who had been last
heard from in Mud Flat.
All this the Judge told tC the few
friends he could trust, speaking in a
whisper, lest the precious secret should
be passed to others in the room.
And now, - he added, resuming his
rhetorical attitude and voice, Il axes
you as gentleman AID representatives of
Mud Flat chivaiVy, shall this gal and
her kid, being too poor 10 have a Christ
mas Of her own-Shall they go without
il. or nOtI Remember. gentlemen, that
kid is the first one as ever came INTO this
place, and p'raps she's our luck. Let
us nuTtuT her, my friends, and let US
show her mother thet We amt so lost in
virtoo an principle as not to appreciate
it when we hev a good woman and a in
nercent kid among us. Let us give 'em
Christmas. l will now perceed to
head the subscription.
So saying the gallant old man moved
the punch bowl 10 one side, and emptied
the contents of his breeches pocket
uyon the table. Others followed suit,
and when the last man had placed his
contribution there the pile contained a
goodly sum.
Now. gentlemen, some one of US has
got TO take the money, ride to Denver
and spend it for 'em. Who shall it be?"
LET me be your agent, - responded
deep bass voice.
Turning, they saw a tall stranger
standing near 10y, who had just entered
in time to hear the judges call for con-
tributiOns. One or two in the room
recognized him as miner who had come
in from the diggings that afternoon,
having found it too cold to work longer
in the mountains.
They were inclined TO resent the in
reference of an outsider, and probably
would not have needed his request had
he not spoken Il second time. Drawing
near the table, he said:
Gentleman, | was once a married
man myself. but my wife. God bless her
is dead For the love / bear her mem
ory. for the affection l have toward the
remembrance of my little one buried
with her, l ask you TO let me aid III this
matter.
The sadness in his voice and face
was 50 sincere. and the utility of send
L -. \
knowed what wimmen folks would like"
presented itself 50 faVOTably to the min
ers that with but little hesitation they
allowed him 10 90 as he wished.
In an hour he was gone, and the set
tlement was lost in speculation as to
what he would bring back for the
strange lady and her child.
The morning of Dec. % dawned crisp
and cold. The fresh, biting air of the
mountains raced among the trees right
merriIv, whisking the snow into little
wreaths, and frOlicking among the bran
cheS with real holiday gayety. It was
nearly noon when the stranger rode in
to camp loaded with bundles. At the
Magnolia he met an eager crowd of mi
ners, who, headed by Judge GashwildeT,
were soon on the road TO the strange
lady's cabin. Arrived there, they felt
Z a
was like intruding upon some sacred
ground, and they were almost tempted
to deposit their bundles upon the thTesh-
old and fly.
'You take the stuff, - said the Judge
. to the stranger, land go in fust< You've
bin familiar with wimmen, and know
how to handle 'em. Wen wait outside. :"
But the stranger felt the same hesita-
tion. Perhaps his long absence from fe-
minnie society made him bdShfui. Per-
haps thought Of the memory he re-
vered caused him 10 hold back.
Finally the Judge consented to take
the lead, and, dofling his hat, Knocked
softly. The door was opened by the
child, who bade him enter. Beside the
fire sat the mother, who rose TO meet
them. All passed in but the stranger,
who stood outside.
"Marm, = said the Judge, who some
how had lost his usual ease of speech
and gesture, ''we-that is, the citizens
of Mud Flat-has come to wish you a
merry Christmas. and to offer you these
few tokings of our reSpeck an esteem. -
Having thus delivered himself, the old
gentleman deposited the bundles on the
table. and stood beaming serenely on all
his companions. The strange lady,
completely overcome by this unexpected
kindness, could not find words to reply
for moment. Then, in broken voice
she said
This is glad moment of my sorrow
/ full life. You are good, kind men, and
l know God will repay your generosity
to the widow and fatherlesS. /"
She stopped suddenly and stood with
blanched cheeks and diStended eyes,
staring toward the door. The miners
/ turned and beheld the stranger, who,
/ with a great stride forward, and a cry
expressing the widest joy, caught the
/ womln in his arms.
They stood thus. heart pressed to
heart, and lips to lips for an Instant
+ Then the stranger turned his eyes de-
. vOutIy toward the ceiling.
Thank Cad, - he murmured gently,
/ ''the wife | had supposed to be dead IS
/ restored 10 me.
/ The miners stole softly away, and left
/ the stranger standing thus, with his
arms teudeEsy twined about the woman
( of his love, and the little child clinging
fOndly to his knees.
The air was balmy outside the sun
shore with ineffable sweetness upon the
/ scene; a bluejay screamed his delight
from neighborihg tree, ana the wind
played a joyful tune among the rocks.
Christmas had come 10 Mud Flat.
THF Flying Dutchman' is the namC
given by sailors to spectral ship imag
ined to cruise in storms of the Cape ot
Good Hone under full sail when al