The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-05-03

OCSuo > SHhCs fAUlCu
After they were in bed, through a
small rent in the plain white curtain he
saw the widow sitting before the fire,
her face buried In her hands and weep
ing bitterly. On peg, just over the
fire place, hung two little patched and
faded stockings, and then he could
stand it no longer He softly moved
away from the window to the rear of
the cabin, where some objects fluttering
in the wind met his eyes, Among these
he searched until he found little blue
stocking, which he removed from the
line, folded tenderly and placed in his
overcoat pocket, and then set out for
the main street of the camp.
He entered Harry Hawks gambling
hell, the largest in the place, where a
host of miners and gamblers were at
play. Jack was well known in the
camp, and when be got upon chair
and called for attention, the hum of
voices and the clicking of ivory checks
suddenly ceased. Then, in an earnest
voice, he told what he had seen and
heard, repeating every word of the con-
versation between the mother and her
children. In conclusion he said:
Boys, think 1 know you, every
one of you, and L know what kind o.
metal yer made of. I've an idee that
Santa Claus knows just whar that
cabins sitiwated, an I've an idee he'll
find it afore mornin'. Hyar's one of
the little gals stockin's that l hooked
off'n the line where / heerd the widder
say she'd hung 'em with the washin'.
The daddy of them little uns was good,
hard-working miner, and he crossed
the range in the line o. duty, just as any
of us Is liable to do in our dangerous
business. Hyar goes twenty dollar
piece right down In the toe, and hyar 1
lay the stockin' on this card table
now chip in, much or little, as We kin
afford.'
" Hold them checks of mine on the
ace-jack,' said Brocky Clark, gambler,
and, leaying the faro table, he picked
the little stocking up carefully, looked
at 1t tenderly, and when he laid it down
another twenty had gone into the toe, to
keep company with the one placed there
by Dawson.
Another and another came up, until
the foot of the stocking was we'll filled,
and then came the cry from the gambling
tables:
Pass her around, Jack.''
At the word he lifted it from the table
and started around the hall. Before he
had circulated it at half dozen tables it
showed signs of bursting beneath the
weight of gold and silver coins, and q
strong coin bag, such as is used for
sending treasure by express, was procur-
ed, and the stocking placed inside of it.
The round of the hall was made; and in
the meantime the story had spread all
over the camp.
From various saloons came messengers
saying:
"Send the stocking around the camp
the boys are a-waitin' for it,"
With party at his heels Jack went
from saloon to saloon. Games ceased,
and tiplers left the bars as they entered
each place, and miners, gamblers, specu-
lators, everybody, crowded up to tender
their Christmas gift to the miners
widow and orphans. Any one who has
lived in the far-western camps and is
acquainted with the generosity of the
western men, will feel no surprise or
doubt my truthfulness when l say that
after the round had been made the little
blue stocking and the heavy canvas bag
contained over eight thousand dollars in
gold and silver coin.
Horses were procured and party
despatched to a large town down on
the Consummes, from which they re-
turned near day-break with toys, cloth
ing, provisions, etc., in almost endless
variety. Arranging their gifts in the
proper shape, and securely tying the
mouth of the bag of coin, the party
noiselessly repaired to the widows hum
BILE cabin. The bag was first laid on the
step, and the other articles piled up in
heap over it. On the top was laid the
lid of pasteboard box, ON which was
written with piece of charcoal:
"Santa Claus doesn't always Give
poor foxes The shake in this camp"
Christmas morning dawned bright
and beautiful. The night had been
stinging cold one, and when the rising
sun peeped over the chain of mountains