The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-01-05
SANTA CLAUS IN THE MINES.

A California mining town, away VI
amid the snow clad, rock-bound peak
of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The town was irregularly laid out
and was scattered along creek which
emptied into the Costumes river sew
~-sssriles N,eiow. Roth the dwellings
nd business houses-or, more properly
Deaking, cabins-were constructed o.
nhewn pine logs, the crevices between
be timbers being ''chincked" and
lastered with mud. The town con.
ained at least dozen saloons, OF
aloons and gambling houses combined
and in these shells much of the hard
earned money of the miner parted
company with him to take up its tenn
porary abode in the saloon till or the
pocket of the professional gambler.
The dwellings of the town were scat
along the creek or built on the
# the adjacent mountain, the ma
of them being rough "bachelor
~ fQr women were scarce in the
y discovered diggings.
lalsmall cabin near the upper end
,1town sat a woman, in Widows
holding upon her knee bright
hnny-faced little girl, about five
I'd, while little cherub of boy
N bear skin before the open
+. 1t was Christmas eve, and
ban sat gazing abstractedly into
Iace. She was yet young, and
flowing flames lit up her sad
icy invested it with n wierd
i . h. Il e l. l.
1T, and but two years before they
4 &ved comfortably and happy, in a
lAp on the American river. Aleck
. y brawny miner, but the premature
bsion of Il blast in an underground
FL had blotted out his life in an in
leaving his family without
MI ctor, and in straitened circum-
r Fes. His daily wages had been their
support, and now that he was gone,
could they do?
kth her little family Mrs. Stewart
Refrigerated to the camp in which we
N them Gall western mining towns
y called ''camps"), and there she
I hrd8d precarious livelihood by wash
ag clothes for the miners. Hers was
ar,l lot, but the brave little woman
Died on cheercd by the thought that
| Ter daily labors stood between her
srling little ones and the gaunt wolf of
karvation. Their clothes were patched
hd shabby and their food PLAIN, and
Lmetimes scant, yet they were never
Idgced to absolute suffering.
lHack Dawson, strong, honest miner,
hs passing the cabin this Christmas
a.rwhen the voice of the little girl
attracted his attention. Jack |
' ssed an inordinate love for chill
and although his manly spirit |
abhor the sneaking practice of
1 dropping, he could not resist the |
alton to steal up to the window
moment to listen to the sweet |
tng voice. The first words he
II were:
fore papa died we always had
}nas, didn't we, mammal"
S, lofty, darling, but papa earned
n enough to afford to make his
.l.-apsts happy at least once year.
st remember, lofty, that we are
ION, and although mamma works
Fry hard, she can scarcely earn
to supply us with food and
bright faced Benny raised his
head from its soft nest in the
bear skin and cheerfully said: !
wait till dit TO be man,
IA, an 100 won't have to wort. Is [
10 be dreat bid miner, like papa {
tn' dit 100 ever 50 much money, 9
won't do near 'em hateful blast '
AgAan' dit titled ike papa did"
/, lek Dawson still fingered upon the =
: p. He could not leave, although
{ ashamed of himself for listen &
1 bless my little man, what c
\ure ne has plannedl do e
Vray, darling, that you will e
y Wrong and good a man, ard fl
be blessing and comfort ii
en she gets Old" W
tup our stockings last
Vt we mammaP'' ques- p
Eirl. Ell