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

] 7
"No, mama; I'm going to try any
how"
Jack Dawsen's great generous hesrt
swelled until il seemed breaking from his
bosom. He heard the pstter of little bare
feet on the cabin floor &: TOtty ran about
hunting hers aud Beuny's stockings, and
after she had hung them up, heard her
sweet voice again as she wondered over
and over if Santa Claus really would for
get them. he heard the mother, in
choking voice, tell her treasures to get
ready for bed heard them lisp their child
ish prayers, tho girl concluding: And
oh Lord, please tell good santa Claus that
we arc very poor, but that we love him as
much rs rich children DO, for dean Jesus
sake. Amen
After they were i'll bed, through small
rent in the pl&in white cartain, he saw
the widow sitting before the fire, her face
buried in her hands weeping bitterly. On
A peg just over .he Fireplace, hung two
little patched and faded Stockings, and
theuhe could stand itno longer. He softly
moved away from the window to the rear
of the cabin, where some objects huiter-
ing TO the wind met his eyes. Among
these he searched until he found a little
blue stocking, which he removed from the
line, folded tenderly, and placed IL IN his
oyercoat pocket, and then set ont for the
main street Of the camp.
He entered Harry Hawks gambling
hell, the largcs, In the place. where host
of miners and gamblers were at pIay,
Jack was well known in the camp, aud,
when he got up upon chair aud 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 conversation between the
mother and her children. In conclusion
he said:
BOYS, think | know you, every one
of you and | know what kind OF metal
yer made Of. I've an idea thai Santa Claus
knows list where that cabins siGwated,
an I've an idea ho'll find it afore mornn
uyar's one of the little gals stockings
;hat | hooked Of n the line whero hcerd
the widdcr say she'd hung EN- up with
the washin'. The daddy o them little
'uns was 4 good hard workin' miner, m
he crossed the range in the line o duty,
list as any Of us is liable to do in our dan
gerous business. Hyar goes $50 gold
piece right down in the toe, an hyar lay
this s.ockin' on this card-table-now chip
in much or az little as ye Kin afford"
'IIold them checks Of mine on the ace
jack" said Broc%y Clark, gambler, and,
leaving the faro table, he picked the little
stocking up carefully, looked At it tender
", and when he had laid it down another
twenty had gone into the toe to keep COM
pany with the one placed there by Daw-
son.
Another and another came mp, until the
foot Of the stocking was well fllcd, and
then the cry came from the gambling tn
blcs;
Pass her round, Jack.
At the word he lifted if from the table
and started around the hall Before lie
haG circulated it at 4 half dozen tables it
showed signs of bursting beneath the
weight of goidand silver coin, and a strong
coin bag, such rs is used for sending
treasure by express, WAS procured, and
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 waitin' for it,"
with party at his heels Jack went
/ from saloon to saloon. Games ceased, aud
/ tipplcrs left the bars rs they entered each
place, and miners, gamblers, spectators,
! everybody, crowded up 10 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 doubtmy truthfulness when
/ say that after the round had been made
the little blue stocking and heavy canvass
I bag contained over $1,000 in gold and
/ siver coin.
( Horses were procured aud Il party dis
I patched to a large town down on the Co
sumues, from which they returned near
/ daybreak with toys, clothing, provisions,
/ etc, in almost endless variety. Arrang-
ing their gifts in proper shape, and Sc
curcly tying the mouth Of the bag Of coin,
the party noiseles,ly repaired to the wid-
( ow's humble cabin. The bag was first
laid on the step, and the other ARTICLES
, piled up in heap over it. On the step
was laid the lid OF large pasieboard box,
on which was written with piece OF
charcoal:
"santy Claus doesn't always Give poor
, folks The shake in this Camp"
Christmas morning dawueI bright and
beautiful. The night had been a singing
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 flashed from
the snow-clad peaks rs though their tow
ering heads were .prinkled with pure
diamonds.
Mira. Stewart arose, and shade Of pain
crossed her handsome face as the empty
stockings caught her maternal eye. She
cast a hurried glance toward the bed
where her darlings lay sleeping, aud
+ whispSred: