St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-28
MARGAREPS CHRISTMAS GIFT.


"An right, jim; get your team ready aud
wen make for HarSaess's."
II was I a.c!ock on the day before Christ
m>S- Ten men, all belonging to g survey
ing party, stood in the snow on an immense
prairie in northwestern Iowa. TWAS bitterly
eold- The wind had been blowing strongly
all day; the clouds in the sky had obscurrd
the sun 10 such an extent that the transit
man had several times ''eonsarned bis luck, Z"
at not being able to get good sight, aud the
Consequence vas that progress bad been
slow. The rod man had broken
through the ice OF running
prairie stream and had not yet re-
covered his equanimity or his natural
warmth, and, therefore, had been a source
Of dispieasure to the leveler. The ground
was so hard that jim, Who, besides driving
the team helped the stake driver By picking
holes in the earth, bad broken his pick OF at
both ends and be was swearing mad.
Wrapped up in heavy oyerrOats, protected
by fur caps. thick under clothing, and heavy
boots, yet the whole party were chilled 10 the
bone. Among them was old Pap" rs he
was called. His cousin to-day lie one Of the
weailhiest and best known OF the citizens Of
Chicago. But old Pap" though having 4
big heart was small in purse, and his sole
property consisted OF the two mules and
wagon which Jim drove. -Pap's" business
was To prepare the stakes, but be, being an
old resident in that section, was chi, fy val
liable in giving points about the country
ahead, and for his general knowledge as to
the best places to put up for the night
"Ye better be skippin' out lively" said
Pap. as he gazed up at the sky. ''The
wolves knows 'uough ter stay in Their holes
t-day. Billiards. a comm, sure"
The rest OF the crowd laughed and joked
al Pap's prophecy as they packed the Instru-
ments, flags, and other property into the
wagon.
"BliZzardl" exclaimed one fresh young
tyro In the surveying business from the
east; ''I'Vs heard OF them, Pap, but guess
we'll be all right. How far is 1t 10 the farm
housel'
Good fifteen miles, an it's a darned good
thing we're going 10 stop with Joe Hardness,
fur he's got good warm house."
Everybody tumbled into the wagon. The
wind whistIed about their ears aud took hold
with biting grip on any exposed portion OF
the body. II had a free sweep. Not a house
was in sight There was not even a tree to
be seen in all the broad expause OF prairie to
break the monotouy OF the view. Nothing
but prairie, covered with long, brDWn, dry
grass, partially covered with snow A drearv
sight and u dreary Christmas eve. The small
but tough mules tugged manfully al the pole
OF the wagon, but II seemed AS II they would
never reach their destination. Aud Pap
was right Before Eve miles had been trav-
ersed the air com menced 10 I'll with snow
fakes. They came skurrying along as II
bent on mischief. They were small but
sharp, and, blown as they were against the
face At q thirty knot rate, they cut like a
razor.
It had been pitch dark for a long time be-
fore the party reached the house. Indeed,
It's location would not have been discovered
had II not been for the barking Of the dogs
in the hay matched barn. Whew how cold
the boys were. Not many minutes sufficrd
TO put the team up, to bring the valises aud
instruments into the house, and TO stand
around the sheet iron stove into which Mrs
Hardness had been stuffing huge, tightly
wrapped wisps Of hay. For hay was the only
fuel used, aud a right royal DIRE II made,
though the stove needed constant attention.
Notice having been given of the coming OF
the party, Il was not long until q steaniing
supper vas ready. ''Home made" bacon,
eggs, corn bread, soda biscuits, potatoes and
cOlTee, with various preserves aud the newt
able pie, composed the repast, TO which JUS
tiee was more than done, and then after sup
per plenty Of pipes, tobacco, and talk.
Among the party was a boy of seventeen,
whom everybody called Bot. He was black
chainman," that is, he carried the back snd
OF the chain. Bon was a quiet. n,served
youth, but rem irkabIy bright. Four years
before this especial Caristmas eve he Was
selling papers around the North
western depot in Chicago. his
strictly honest ways had attracted the
attention OF some Of the officials OF the road,
aud he had been taken into the offices. No
one knew bis history and no one cared, for
that. He did his work well, aud that was all
that was needed. He fell under the notice
OF the chief engineer, who plaerd him In the
way Of going out with the surveying party.
The outcome showed that the engineer had
made a good selection, for Bob always had
his best foOt forward, very necessary thing
with surveyors, and bad become q general
favorite.
$50 ye're from Chicago" said Farmer
Harkuess, addressing the chief, who sat
bDasting his tues aud pulling his pipe In
GrunI of the stove.
''Yes, | am. And so Is my transit-mau,
leveler, rod-u an, and Bob over there"
''S'pOse ye'd like 10 be ter hum bout this
time % yearf"
Eyes. must say would. Ever been to
Chicagoi''
''Yes, opet Sill come TO think on 1t, this
IL Christmas eve, aud il won't do to let the
old woman hear Us talking about Chicago
now"
Tue chief glanced over at Mrs. Hardness
She sat in a corner OF the ROOM at table,
busily engaged IN slicing potatoes to fry the
next morning. She seemed to be doing II
mechanically, for, instead Of looking at her
hands, she kept her eyes riveted on Bob He
sat by cheap organ in another corner Eeem-
ingIy lost in reverie, paying no attention to
the jokes Of the rpst OF the boys, his thoughts
thousand miles away.
"Tne old woman Is sort o. quiet to- light, -
said the farmer, In half whisper. "She's
always that-a-wsy the night afore Christmas, -
he added, apo.ogetically
'sThat'sa queer way to feel when q oerson
Is at home aud comfortably 6xed," answered
the chief.
swell, don't mind tellin' ye snmethin'
bout Il, secin' Ee's all sOciable like. She
can't hear us. Ye can see she's consid'ble
younger IAN me and 8 mighty sight pearter.
met Margaret bout ten years ago, down Of
Sioux City. I'd jest come out to pick up a
bit o. homestead, an she was wOrkin' in a
hotel where l stopped. | kinder took likin
to her fur she was quite tidy woman, an,
TO cut it short, We got hitehed. always was
good in u trade an didn't miss IL this time.
She's ben good wife, but she always has
solnetlhn 'on her mind"
ssWnst is itl''
At this moment Mrs. Hardness approached
the twp sneakers She pointed over 10 Bob