Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-12-18

sodI Vi the CdOlil, WuClC SOult
lde III ., fluttering in the wind met his
tbeas Among these he searched until he
nd Little blue stock ng which he re
ne lived from the line, folded tenderly and
or laced in his overcoat pocket, and then
set out for themain street of the camp.
4 lie entered Henry Hawks gambling
he'll, the llrgest in the place, where a
host of miners and gamblers were at
play. Jack was well known in the camp,
and when he got upon chair and called
for attention, the hum of voices and the
clicking of ivory checks suddenly ceased.
Then in an earnest voice, he told them
what he had seen and heard, repeating
every word of the conversation between
the mother and her two children In
conclusion he Said:
'FBoys. 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 whar that cabins siti-
waited, am I've an Idee he'll find it afore
morning. Hyar's one O. the little gals
stockings that | hooked off'n the line
whar heard the wilder say she'd hung
'em with the wa;hin'. The 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. Hyat
goes twenty-dollar piece right down in
the toe, an hyar lay the stocking on this
card table. Now chip in, much OF lit.
tie, as We kin afford
'Hold them checks of mine on the ace.
jack" said Brocky Clark, a gambler,
and, leaving the faro table, he picked the
little stocking up carefully, looked at it
tenderly, and, when he laid it down, an
other twenty had gone down in,o the
toe, to keep company with the one placed
there by Dawson.
Another and another came up, until
the foot of the stocking was well-filled,
and then came the cry from the gambling
tables:
Pass her around, jack" =.
At the word he lifted it from the table,
and started around the hall. Before he
circulated it at half dozen tables, it
showed signs of bursting beneath the
weight of gold and silver coin; and
strong coin bag, such as is used for send
ing treasure by express, was procured,
and the stocking placed inside of it.
The round OF the large hall was made,
and in the meantime tho story had
spread all over the camp. From vari-
Gus saloons came messengers, saying:
'Send the stockin' round the camp; 4
the boys are a-waitin' for itn'
With party lat his heels, Jack went
from saloon to saloon. Games ceased.
ana tipplers left the bars as they entered
each place, and miners, gamblers, specu-
! tors, everybody, crowded up to tender
their Christmas gift to the miners widow
and orphans. 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, after the round had
been made, the little blue stocking and |
the heavy canvas bag contained over
eight thousand dollars in gold and silver |
coin.
Horses were procured, and a party |
despatched TO large town down on the |
from which they returned |
near day-brcak 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
.-sicles piled up in heap over IT, On
he top was lard the lid Of largo paste
board box, on which was written with
piece OF charcoal;
SANITY Claus doesn't always Give poor
Ioixcs the Shake in this camp