Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-12-22
A CHRISTMAS STORY,

e ClkSIS : L!EAH oSSSi'
4 California mining town, away UP
amid the snow-clad, rOck-bound peaks Of
the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The town was irrcSuiarly laid out, and
was scattered along acreek which emp
tied into the Cosumncs river several miles
below. Both the dwellings and business
houscs-or, more properly speaking, cab
ins-wcre constructed Of unhewu pine
logs. the crcvicca between the timbers be-
ing "chinkcd" aid plastered with mud.
The town contained at least dozen sa-
looms. or saloons and gambling houses
combined, anG in these heliS much OF the
hard-earned money of the miner parted
company with him, to take up its tempo
rary abode in the saloon till OF the pocket
of the professional gambler. The dwell
ings of the town were scattered along the
creek or built on the side Of the mountain,
the majority OF them being rough "bach-
clor dons," for women were scarce in the
newly discovered dissings.
In small cabin in the.uppcr end OF the
town sat woman in widows weeds,
holding upon her knee bright-eycd,
sunny-laced little girl about five years
old, while 4 little chcrub of boy lay upon
Il bear-skin before the open fireplace. 1t
was Christmas eve, and the woman was
gazing abstractcdly into the fire. She was
yet young, and as the glowing flames lit
up her sad face they invested it with
weird beauty.
Mary Stewart was the widow of Aleck
Stewart, and but two years before had
lived comfortably and happily in camp
on the American river. Aicck was a
brawny miner, but the premature cXplo-
sion of a blast in an underground tunnel
had botted on! his life in an instant, leav-
ing his family without protector and in
straitened circumstances. Ills daily wa
ges had been sheir sole support, and, now
that he was gone, what could they do?
With her little family Mrs. Stewart had
emi@rated to the camp in which we find
them, and there she earned q preCarious
livelihood by washing clothes for the mi
ners. Hers was a hard lot, but the brave
little woman toiled on, cheered by the
thought that her daily labors stood be-
tween her darling litllo ones and the
gaunt wolf of starvation. Their clothes
wero patched and shabby, and their food
plain and sometimes scant, yet they were
never reduced to absolute suffering.
Jack Dawson, i strong, honest miner,
was passing the cabin this Christmas eve,
when the voice Of tile little girl within
attracted his attention. Jack possessed an
inordinate love for children, and, although
his manly spirit would abhor the sneak
ing practice OF eayesdropping, he could
not resist the temptation 10 steal up to the
window just moment to listen to the
sweet prattling voice. The first words he
caught were:
"Before papa died we always had Christ
mas, didn't we, mama?"
"Yes, Totty darling, but papa earned
money enough to make his little pets
happy at least once a year. You must
remember, Potty, that we are very poor,
and, although mama works very hard, she
can scarcely earn enough to support us
with food and Clothes
Little bright-faced Benny raised his
curly head from its soft nest in the warm
bear-skin and cheerfuIly said:
"Des' wait till dit to be man, mama,
an 90 won't haye to wort. Isc doin' to
be dreat bid miner, ike papa was, an
dit 90 ever so much money, but won't
do near 'em hateful blastin' fings aud dit
titled, ike papa did"
Jack Dawson still fingered upon the
outside. He could not leave, although he
felt ashamed Of himself for listening.
"Why, bless my little man, what q
brave future lie has planned. do hope
and pray, darling, that you will grow up
a strong and a good man, and one who
will be Il blessing and a comfort to mama
when she gets old.'
e HuHS up our sIoSHAN5s id7I - LISI-
mas, didn't we, mams:"
eyes, Totty, but we were poor then,
and Santa Claus never notices real poor
people He gave you little candy then,
just because you were such good chill
dren."
SIS We any poorer now, mama?"
"Oh, yes, much poorer. lie would never
notice Us at all, now
Jack Dawson detected 4 tremor of sad
ness in the Widows voice as she uttered
the last words, and he wiped 4 suspicious
dampness from his eyes.
"Where's our clean stockings, mama ?
I'm going to hang up mine, anyhow ;
maybe he will come like he did before,
just because we try to egood children, {"
said Totty.
''It will be no use, darling, avn sure
ne will not come" and tears gathered in
the mothers eyes as she thought of her
empty purse.
81 don't care-I'm going to try anyhow
Please get one of my stockings, mama, y