West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-12-23
A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE,
A STORY or the MINES

STORY or THE MINES
A California mining town, away UP
amid the snow-clad, rock bound peaks
of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The town was irregularly laid out,
and was scattered along a creek which
omptied into the Consummes River sew
eEal miles below. Both the dwellings
and business houses-or, more properly
speaking, ctbins-were constructed Of
unhewn pine logs, the crevices between
the timbers being "chinked" and plas-
tered with mud. The town contained at
least n dozen saloons, or saloons and
gambling houses combined, and in these
bells much of the hard-earned money Of
the miner parted company with him, to
take up its temporary abode in the saloon
till or the pocket of the professional gam
bier. The dwellings of tue town were
scattered along the creek or built on the
side of the mountain, the majority of
them being rough bachelor dens," for
women were very scarce in the newly
discovered diggings.
In small cabin in the upper end Of
the town sat q woman in widows weeds,
holding upon her knee bright eyed,
sunny-faced little girl about five years
old, while a little cherub Of boy lay
- NBOh a bNoA 7ohlh NuG ODtn HIt-
place. 1t was Christmas Eve, and the
woman sat gazing abstractedly into the
fire he was yet young, and as the
glowing flames lit up her sad face they
invested 1T with weird beauty.
Mary Stewart was the widow of Aleck
Stewart, and but two years before had
lived comfortably and happily in q camp
on the American River. Aleck was
brawny miner, but the premature explo-
sion of a blast in au underground tunnel
had blotted out his life in an instant,
leaving his family without a protector
and in straitened circumstances. His
daily wages had been their sole support,
and now that he was gone, what could
they do2
With her little family Mrs. Stewart
had emigrated to the camp in which we
find them, and there she earned preca-
rious livelihood by washing clothes for
the miners. Hers wns hard lot, but the
brave little woman toiled on, cheered by
the thought that her daily labors stood
between her darling little ones and the
gaunt wolf Of starvation. Their clothes
were patched and habby, aad their food
plain and sonnet mes scanty, yet they were
never reduced to absolute suffering.
Jack DAVIS on, a strong, honest miner
was passing the cabin this Christmas
Eve, when the voice of the little girl
within attracted his attention. Jack pos.
sessed an inordinate love for children.
and although his manly spirit would ab.
hos the sneaking practice Of eaves-drop-
ping, he could not resist the temptation
to steal up to the window just moment
to listen TO the sweet pTattling voice
The first words he caught were: ''Before
papa died, we always had Christmas,
didn't we, mammal
Eyes, Totty darling, but papa earned
money enough TO afford to make his lit
tie pets happy at least once year. You
must remember, Totty, that we are very
poor, and although mamma works very
hard, she can scarcely earn enough TO
supply us with food and clothes. "
Little bright faced Benny raised his
curly head from his soft rest in the warm
Dear.kin, and cheerluliy sail: .sPes'
wait II ! dit TO be a man. mamma. an
90 won't have to wort. Use dom 10 be
dreat BID miner, Ike papa was, an dit
90 ever 50 much money, but won't do
near en- hateful blastin' fngs an dit
titled ike apI did"
Jack Dawson still fingered upon the
outside. lie could not leave, although
he felt ashamed Of himself for listening.
why, bless my little man." returned.
the mother, what a brave future he has
Planned do hope and ray, darling,
that you will grow up a strong and a good
man, and ono who will be blessing and
a comfort to mamma when she gets old "
eve hung up our stockings last
Christmas, didn't We, mammal ques
toned the little girl
Eyes. Totty, but we were poor then.
and Santa Claus never notices real moor
people. &c gave you little candy,
then, just bcca sc yoI were such good
children"
is we any poorer now. mammal"
"Ch, yes, much poorer. lie would
never notice as at an, now
Jack Dawson detected n tremor OF
fadness in the widows voice rs she Vt.
tered the last words. and he wipcd a
suspicious dampness from his eyes.
where our clean 81 ackings, mammal
I'm going 20 n. ny mine up, anyhow:
maybe he " II come like he did before.
Just because we try 10 be good chill
dren. sal TOttY.
ut " u be no use, darling. Iausure
he will not come, aud tears gathered In
The mother's eyes she thought Of her
empty purse.
~ don't cafe--.'m going to try. any
how. Please get one Of my stockings.
mamma, pleaded the little girI.
Your clean stockings ore on the line
outs de, and J cannot 20 out and hunt
for them this bitter cold night You
may hang up your Old ones but oh
darling / fear sou " n be 90 terribly
disappointed IN the morning. Please
let IL 20 until next Christmas. and tbep
We may be richer"