The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-12-29

Among these he searched until he found |
d nttle blue stocking which he removed |
from the line, folded tenderly and placed |
IN ms oVercoat pocket, and then set out |
ior- the mann street of the camp. He |
entered Harry Howk's gambling hail,
the largest IN the place, where a host of
mlnere and gamblers were at play.
JACK was well known IN camp, and when
ne got up on chair and called for at
tentlon the hum of voices and the click
lng OF ivory checks suddenly ceased.
linen, III an earnest voice he told what
ne mad seen and heard, repeating every
word OF conversation between the mother
and children. In conclusion he said:
Boys, 1 think know every one of
you an I know list what kind O. metal
yer made of. I've an idea that Santa
CIaus knows Just whar that cabins siti-
waited, an I've an idee he'll find it afore
mormn,. Hyar's one O the little gals
stockln' thet ] hooked of7n the line
whar' l heard the wilder soy she'd hung
EN- with the washin', The daddy o
them little 'uns was good, hard workin'
miner an he crossed the range in the
me o duty Jlst as any of us is liable to
do IN onr dangerous business. Hyar
goes twenty-dollar piece down in the
toe and hyar lays the stockin' on this
| card table-now chip in mucn or little,
as ye kin aford.'
Hold them checks o. mine on the
ace, Jack, " said Brock Clark, a gamb-
Ter, and leaving tie faro table, he pick
ed the little stocking up carefully, look
| ed at it 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 gaming
| tables:
Z" Pass her around, Jack
At the word he lifted it from the ia
BILE and started along the hall. Before
| he had circulated round halls dozen ia
| bles 1t showed signs of bursting beneath
the weight of gold and silver coins, and
strong coin bag, such as is used for
! sending treasures by express, was pro-
cured, and the stocking placed inside of
1t. 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 waitln' for it ~
With party at mis- heels Jack went
| from saloon to saloon. Games ceased
aud tipplers left the bars as they enter
ed each place, and miners, gamblers,
spectators, every body, crowded up to
| tender their Christmas gift to the min
er widow and orphans. Any one who
has lived III 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 bad been made the little
blue stocking and the heavy canvas bag
contained over $4,000 in gold and silver
coin.
Horses were procured and the party
despatched to the large town down on
the Consumes, from which they re-
| turned near daybreak with toys, cloth
ing, provisions, etc, IN almost endless
variety. Arranging their gifts IN proper
shape, and securely tying the bag of
coin, the party noiselessly repaired to
the widows humble cabin. The bag
was first laId on the steps, and other ar
ticles piled up IN a heap over ii. On
the top was lid the lid of large paste
board box, on which was written with a
piece of charcoal:
"Santa Claus doesn't always Give
poor folks The shake in This camp"
Christmas morning dawned bright and
beautiful. The night had been a sting
| ing cold one, and when the rising sun
peeped over the chain of mountains to
the east, and shot its beams upon the
western range, the sparkling frost
HaE al he
| though their towering heads were sprin-
| kled with pure diamonds.
| Mrs. Stewart arose, and a shade of
pain crossed her handsome face as the
| empty stockings caught her maternal
| eye. She cast hurried glance toward
| the bed where her dallings lay sleeping,
aud whispered:
| "Oh, God, how bitter is povertyp
! She built glowing fire and set about
| preparing the frugal breakfast. When
1t was almost ready 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 chok-
! ing voice:
"Never mind, my darling; next
| Christmas / am sure mamma Will be
richer, and Santa Claus will bring us
lots OF nice things"
ooh, mammal
The exclamation came from little
Benny, who had opened the door and
was standing gazing in amazement up
on the wealth of gifts there displayed"
Mrs Sewart sprang to his side and
looked IN speeches. establishment. She
read the card, and then, causing her lit
tie ones to kneel down with her in the
open doorway, she poured out her soul
IN torrent Of praise and thanksgiving
to GCd.
Jack DawsOn's burly form moved from
behind tree a short distance away and
sneaked off up the gulch, great crystal
tears chasing each other down his face.
The family arose from their knees and
began to move the stores into the cabin.
There were several sacks of flour, hams,
canned fruits, pounds and pounds of
coffee, tea and sugar, new dress goods,
and handsome warm, WOODEN shawl for
the widow, shoes, stockings, hats, nit
tens, and clothing for children, a great
big wax doll, that could cry and move its
eyes, for lofty, and beautiful red sled
for Benny. All were carried inside
amidst alternate laughs and tears.
Bring in the sack of salt, Totty, and
that is all, " said the mother. els not
God good to us?"
81 can't lift it. mamma, it's frozen to
the step!'
The mother stopped and took hold of
1t and lifted harder and harder. until
she raised it from the step. Her cheek
blanched as she noted its great weight.
and breathlessly she carried it III ana
laid it on the breakfast table. With
trembling fingers she loosened the string
and emptied the contents upon the table.
Gold and silver, more than she had ever
thought OF in her widest dreams of COM
fort, and almost buried in the treasure
lay Totty's little blue stocking.