River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-31
Miss Hannah Hanford,
Hollywell,
y. V"

"Ihat S my aunt. and / am her
Christmas present from Pop. Poppy
Sam says, l can get there in time for
Santa Claus to fill my stocking
what is your name, little dear?"
asked sweet faced Mrs. Farnsworth,
drawing the little stranger to seat be-
side her. Nugget Nugget! But
that is not a name; have you no other?"
Prize Nugget of Gold Ore Camp!
That all. The men gave it to me,
cause they say, I'm worth my weight
in gold. Never had any luck at the
mines till came there. Sometimes
they call me Mug, for short.
What Is your father called; for |
suppose one of these men is your
| father?"
They are all my Poppies; Poppy
Sam, Poppy Jack, Poppy Kit, and Pop
Ply Peter; but big Pop Cy. is my real
true one; and oh! don't know what
they will do without their Nugget
And the bonny little face grew very
sober at the thought.
Have you no motherP'' asked Mrs.
| Farnsworth.
| mo. She went to Heaven three
years ago, when the partridge berries
were ripe, and Pop Kit says, it's
nicer place than even Redskin Canon. "
And You have lived with these
rough men ever since?'
"They are not rough"' cried the
child, flashing up in an instant; "they
are Nuggets dear, darling PopPies'
and l love them, and shall go back to
cook for the mess, inst as soon as l
learn to read and write, and keep
house like lady and she burst into
wild fit of weeping, and was only
/ pacified by many gentle words and a
/ sight of the little curtained berth in the
| sleeping-car, which she was to occupy
/ during her trip.
The pain of parting over, however,
/ Nugget became as happy as a lark,
and the pet and plaything of all on the
train. Her little red gown fluttered uo
ami down the narrow aisle, like some
bright tropical bird her golden head
peered into every crack and corner,
and her quaint speeches were a con-
slant fund of amusement, while her
brown eyes opened IN surprise at all
the new things she was constantly see
ing and hearing, for she was as simple
and ignorant, as well as fresh and
sweet, as a prairie flower transplanted
from Western wilds. The great cities
! they passed through were a perpetual
wonder. aud she was never weary of
/ gazing out of the window, until just as
they left Chicago, heavy snow-storm
set in, so thick and dense as to shut
out all the scene.
1t was very strange. whirlng along
/ through this white mist, and gradually
Il L. I-I.A tt1t.
engine seeming to have to work its
way through deep drifts, until on
rising one morning the passengers
found themselves at rest, and were in
formed they had come to a standstll
IN the dead country, and could go no
further until the snow-plows which
had been telegraphed for, should come
to dig them out.
I'VE should be in New York tonight. =
said the conductor, "but it looks as
though we should spend our Christmas
on the road"
..Oh! oh! OH came a chorus of dis
appointed voices.
Tonight is Christmas Eve, sure
enoughl" said Mr.. Grundy, jolly
faced old bachelor, and then looked
down to see a dismayed little face peer
ing up to his. well, Nugget, what is
itf'
Isn't that the night Santa Claus
comesg"
Il believe 1t is! It's lucky he didn't
travel by this train.
but he won't know where to find
mel" cried Nugget, in alarm; ''he will
never think of looking for me in a
SNOWMAN"
Sure enough; but | guess Aunt
Hannah will tell him you are coming,
and have the stocking filed. "
NO, she won't; for she didn't know
it herself | don't b'lieve she knows
there's such a little gal as me in the
world Pop said, she didn't
'Well, that's strange; but never
mind. Nugget viii be as merry as she
can. even If we are snow-bound. n
going out now, to explore, and maybe
I'm see a snOw-bird, to send a messeDge
to Santa Claus by." And the CHEEKY
old fellow tramped off, leaving his
little friend somewhat comforted.
He came back an hour later, with his
arms full of pine, laurel, and holly, and
the ladies amused themselves in dec
Grating the parlor cars, hanging
wreaths in the windows, and festoon-
ing garlands along the sides, until ii
was transformed into a perfect green
bower
But Nugget was unusually quiet all
day, although she helped to bunch the
s.greens," and when she had hidden
her friends goodnight, and was tucked