Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-25
heir childish prayers, the little girl con-

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
fireplace, 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 fiuttering 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 Henry Hawks gambling
hell, the largest in the place, where
host of miners and gamblers were at
play. Jack was well known in the camp,
and when he 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 them
what he had seen and heard. repeating
every word of the conversation between
the mother and her children. In con-
clusion he said:
"Boys, I think I know you, every one
of you, and know what kind O metal
yer made Of I've an idee that Sanity
Claus knows jist whar tibet cabins siti-
waited, an I've an idee he'll fine it afore
mornin'. Hyar's one O the little gals
stockin's tibet 1 hooked of'n the line
whar I heard the wilder say she'd hung
'em with the washin'. The daddy O
them little 'uns was a good, hard-workin'
miner, an 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, an hyar I 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, leaving the faro table, he picked
the little stocking up earthly, looked at
it tenderly, and when he laid it down,
another twenty had gone down 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 well-flled,
and then came the cry from the gam
bling tables:
L
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 coin, and a
strong coin bag, such as IS used for send.
iner treasure by express, was procured,
anu the stocking placed inside of it. The
round of the large hall was made, and in
the meantime the story had spread all
over the camp. From various saloons
came messengers, saying:
"Send the stockin' round the camp;
the boys are a-waitin' for it,
With q party at his heels Jack
went from saloon to saloon. Games
ceased, and tipplers left the bars as they
entered each place, and miners, gam
blers, SPECTATORS, 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
Western men, will feel no surprise or
doubt my truthfulness when say that
after the round had been made the little
blue stocking and the heavy canvas bag
contained over eight thousand dollars III
gold and silver coin.
Horses we're procured, and party
dispatched to large town down on the
Consumes, from which they returned
near day break with toys, clothing, pro-
visions, ETC., in almost endless variety.
Arranging their gifts in proper shape,
and securely tying the mouth of the bag
of coin, the party noiselessly repaired to
the widows humble 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 a large paste
board box on which was written with q
piece of charcoal:
"Santy Claus doesn't always Give
poor foxes The shake in this camp"
4 < X
Christmas morning dawned bright and
beautiful. The night had been sting
ing cold one, and VIXEN the rising sun
peeped over the chain of mountains to
the East, and shot its beams upon the
Western range, the sparkling frost
flashed from the snow-clad peaks as
though their towering head were
sprinkled with pure diamonds.
! Mrs. Stewart arose, and a shade of
pain crossed her handsome face, as the
empty little stockings caught her mater
nal eye. She cast hurried glance to-
wards the bed where her darlings lay
sleeping, and whispered:
"Oh, God! how dreadful is poverty"
She built glowing fire, and set about
preparing the frugal breakfast. When
it was almost ready she approached the
bed, kissed the little ones till they were
awake, and lifted them to the floor. With
eager haste Totty ran to the stockings,
only to turn away, sobbing as though
her heart would break. Tears blinded
the mother, and clasping her little girl
to her heart, she said in choking
voice:
"Never mind, my darling; next Christ
mas I am sure mamma will be richer,
and then Santa Claus will bring US lots
of nice things"
"Oh! Mammal"
The exclamation came from little
Benny, who had opened the door and
was standing gazing in amazement upon
the wealth Of gifts there displayed.
Mrs. Stewart sprang to his side and
looked in speechless establishment. She
read the card, and then, causing her
little ones to kneel down with her in the
open doorway, she poured out her soul