West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-12-23
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aOout hunting fer hers and Bennys stock.
ings. and, after she had hung them up.
| heard her sweet voice again as she won.
| dered over and over il Santa laus really
| would forget them. lie heard the moth
| or, in choking voice. tell her treasures
10 get ready for cd heard them lisp
their childish prayers, the little girl con-
GLIDING:
"And on, Lord, plc1se tell good Santa
laus that we arc very poor. but that we
love him n much IA the rich children
TO. for dear .'esI,s' sake Amen"
After they were In bed, through small
rent in the plain white curtain, he saw
the widow sitting before the fire, her fac,
buried in her hands, and weeping bitter
lly en- peg, just over the fireplace
hung two little patched and faded stock
ings; aud then he could stand IT nc
| LONGER.
He softly moved away from the win
dow TO the rear of the cabin, where som,
oh, ects futtering in the wind met hin
| eyes. Among these he searched until he
found Little blue stock ng which he re
moved from the line, folded tenderly anc
| placed in his overcoat pocket, and ther
set out for the main street of the camp.
lie entered Henry Hawks gambling
heil, the irgest in the place, where 8
host of miners and gamblers were AT
! play. Jack was well known in the camp
and when lie got upon chair and called
for attention, the hum of voices and the
clicking OF ivory cheek suddenly ceased
Then in an earnest voice, he told them
what he had seen and heard, repeating
every word of the conversation betwer
the mother and her two children In
conclusion he said
boys. think know you, every one
OF you. and know what kind o. metal
yer made of. I've an idee that SANITY
Claus knows list " har that cabins siti-
waited, an I've an Idec he'll find il afore
morning. Hyar's one o. the little gals
stockings that l hooked off'n the line
whar / heard the wilder say she'd hung
'em with the washin' I he daddy o.
them little 'uns was good, hard workin'
miner, an he crossed the range in the
line o. duty, just as any of us is liable to
do in our dangerous business. Hyar
goes twenty-dollar piece right down in
the toe, an hyar lay the stocking on this
card table. Now chip in, much or lit
tie, as We kin afford"
"Hold them che cks of mine on the ace
jack" said Erocky Clark, gambler,
and, leaving the faro table, he picked the
lit lie stocking up carefully, looked at il
tenderly, ard when he laid it down, an
other twenty had gone down into the
toe, to keep company with the one placed
there by Dawson.
Another and another CANT up, until
the foot of the stocking was we'll filed,
and then came the cry from the gambling
tables:
''Pass her around, Jackl"
At the word he lifted it from the table,
and started around the hall. Before he
circulated it at half do en- tables, il
showed signs of bursting beneath the
weight of gold and silver coin; and a
strong coin bag, such as is used for senc-
ing treasure by express, was procured,
aud 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 vari-
GUS saloons came messengers, saying;
''Serd the sto kim round the camp;
the boys are a-waitin' for it,"
With party Fat his heels, Jack went
from saloon to saloon. Games ceased,
and tipplers left the bars as they entered
each place, and miners, gamblers, specu-
lators, everybody, crowded up to tender
their Christmas gift to the miners widow
and orpha, g. Anyone who has lived in
the far Western camps, and is acquainted
with The generosity of Western men, will
feel no surprise or doubt my truthfulness
when / say that, alter the round had
been made, the little blue stocking and
the heavy canvas bag contained over
eight thousand dollars in gold and silver
coin.
Eorses were procured, and a party
despatched to large town down on the
Consumes, from which they returned
near daybreak with toys, clothing, pro-
visions ETC., in almost endless variety.
Arranging their gifts in proper shape,
and securely tying the mouth of the bag
Of coin, the party noiselessly repaired to
the widows humble cabin. The bag
was first laid on the step. and the other
ait Giles piled up in heap over it. On
the top was LAID the lid of large paste
board boz, on which was written with a
piece Of charcoal:
'Santy Cllus doesn't always Give poor
foxes the Shake in this camp
Christmas morning dawned bright and
beautiful. The night had been a sting
ing cold one, and when the rising sun
peeped over the chain of mountains 10
the east. and shot its beams upon the
western range, the sparkling frost flashed
from the snow clad peaks as though their
towering heads were sprinkled with pure
almonds.
Mr.. Stewart arose, and shade OF
pain crossed her handsome face as the
empty little Stockings caught her
maternal eye She cast a hurried glance
toward the bed where her Cailings lay
sleep ng, and whispered:
ooh. 20 II how dreadful is poverty"
She built glowing fire, and set about
preparing the frugal breakfa.t. When
It was almost ready she approached the
b d. kissed the little ones tall they were
awake, and lifted them 20 the foor.
With eager haste Totty ran to the
stockings only 10 turn away sobbing as
though her heart would break. Tears
blinded the mother, and clasping Der
little girl % Ter heart, she said in a chok-
ing voice:
''Ne or mind, my darling next Christ
mas. am sure. MANN, will be richer.
sud then Santa Claus will bring us lots Or
nee thugs"
ooh, MANN .'
The exclamation came from little
Benny, who had opened the door and
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