River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-10


tie, rs We kin afford.
Hold them check of mine ON tn
ace-jack," said Brocky Clark, gam
bier, and, leaving the faro table, n,
picked the little stocking up carefully
looked at 1t tenderly, and when he laiC
it down, another twenty had gone int
the zoe, to keep company with the one
pla d there by Dawson.
Another and another came up, unit
the foot of the stocking was well filled
and then came the cry from the gam
bling tables
Pass her around, Jack"
At the word he lifted it from the Ia
bic and started around the hall. Be
fore he had circulated it at half .
dozen tables it showed signs of burst
ing beneath the weight of gold and sill
yer coin, and a strong coin bag, sucl
as is used for sending treasure by ex
press, was procured, and the stocking
placed inside of it. The round of thu
large hall was made; and in the mean
time the story had spread all over tht
camp. From various saloons came
messengers saying
send the stockin' round the camp
the boys are a-waitin' for it"
With a party at his heels Jack Wen
from saloon to saloon. Games ceased
and tipplers left the bars as they en-
tered 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 camp,
and is acquainted with the generosity
of western men, will feel no surprise OIL
doubt my truthfulness when | say thai
after the round had been made the
little blue stocking and the heavy can
vas bag contained over eight thousand
dollars in gold and silver coin.
Horses were procured and party
despatched to large town down on
the consumes, from which they re.
turned near day-break with toys, cloth.
ing, provisions, ETC., in almost endless
variety Arranging their gifts in prop,
er shape, and securely tying the mouth
# the bag of coin, the party noiseless
~ repaired to the widows humble
cabin. The bag was first laid on the
step, and the other articles piled on a
heap over it. On the top was laid the
lid of large pasteboard box on
which was written with a piece of char.
coal:
Santa Claus doesn't always Give
poor folks The shake in this camp"
Christmas morning dawned bright
and beautiful. The night had been a
singing cold one, and when the rising
sun peeped over the chain of noun.
tains to the east, and shot its beams up.
on the western range, the sparkling
frost flashed from the snow-clad peaks
as though their towering heads were
sprinkle with pure diamonds.
Mrs. Stewart arose, and a shade Of
pain crossed her handsome face as the
empty little stockings caught her ma
ternal eye. She cast hurried glance
towards 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 ostready she approached the
bed, kissed the little ones until they
were wide 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 a choking voice
Never mind, my darling; next Christ
mas | am sure mamma will be richer,
and then Santa Claus will bring us lots
of nice things"
''Oh ! Mamma Y
Benny, who had opened the door and
was standing gazing in amazement
Mt the wealth of gifts there displayed.
Mrs. Stewart sprang to his side and
looked in speeches. aStonishment. She
read the card, and then, causing hel
little ones to kneel down with her il
the open doorway, she poured out
her soul in torrent of praise and
thanksgiving to God.
Jack Dawson's burly form moved
from behind q tree a short distance
away, and sneaked off up the gulch
great crystal tears chasing each othel
down his face.
The family arose from their knees
and began to move the stores into the
cabin. There were several sacks o
flour, hams, canned fruits, pounds anC
pounds of coffee, tea, and sugar, new
dress goods, and handsome warn
wooden shawl for the widow, shoes
stockings, hats, mittens and clothing
for the children, great big wax dol
that could cry and move its eyes, foI
Totty, and beautiful red sled 70
Benny. All were carried inside, annie
alternate laughs and tears.
Bring in the sack Of salt, lofty, ant
that is all, said the mother. els no
God GOOD to us?'
Il can't lift it, mamma, it's froze t
the step.
The mother stopped and took hold 0
it and lifted harder and harder unit
she raised it from the step. He
cheek blanched as she noted its grea
weight, and she carried it in and laid
upon the breakfast table. With trem
bling fingers she loosed the strings ant
emptied the contents upon the table
Gold and silver-more than she haC
ever thought of in her widest dream
of comfort. and almost buried in tn
pile of treasure lay Totty's little blu
stocking.
We will not intrude longer upon sucl
happiness, but leave the joyful famil!
sounding praise to heaven-and SAINT;
Clause.
The whole story soon reached Mrs
Stewards ears. She knew Jack Dawson
by sight, and when she next met kim
although the honest fellow tried hard t.
push by her, she caught hold of his Goa
and compelled him to stand and lister
to her fearful thanks. The tears shet
were not all hers, for when Jack moved
away there were drops of liquid crysta
hanging to his ruddy cheeks.
Four months from that "Merri
Christmas Mrs: Stewart became Mrs
Jack Dawson, and every evening whel
the hardy miner returns from his dali.
labor to his comfortable and happ,
home, Totty and Benny will climl
upon his strong knees, and almos
smother him with kisses, while the,
lovingly address him as 'Our SAINT
Claus papa. - iHiamsport Breakta>
Table.
Small POx Remedy.