The Red Cloud chief., 1888-12-21

l VU2k0k BO0 Wo~
fseeoss foe his eallaasy eo.c G:.,:. -A
snr Mseonher "a - ~ leu ~.
>.S.... ~ 80 dsyA . 2 49, 49,.
..S. I. ~ vijow's coStnA No = =
.c,.disabl performer: oaey ~
we.Se"-st-S vould oeheewtee esve -
evcn.Hs S,;.kine ed dice playing ~
sYe"s 4. lisseeisG - Ne sqveaky
wnneo y. vtaew's really ase VOICE 2,
I~N 100 church music u -:
-. ~hich hsd beea suss . - iHs .w
SSE~ until b were old q 0reseo
s..e vhich were entirely Lew IN
AIMS n. ali n,
.s sayd Dick 0oWdy. q An. newell
- rho Ninety and SINE" % her audi
80. .. ther haint no sAepherd . goin' Ter
a. NV much hunts fer % Of We don't
40 hetser keer Of ourselves." and IL VA
Noticeable that he left Oh swearing fos
nearly . week and In many ways the pros
encs Of the little family, 20 helpless ia
their bereavement wss . reaning and soft,
epine ipAuence
.Sbo, now, fellahA Christmas IN comm
in sbout TO- weeks said Wash Jackson,
- he WAS lighting the evening Tampa
.'l'd clean lone fo'got till dat n little
Katie war . tellin' whstter fnc Christmas
tree dey had las yeah Tel: vos il mus
be mighty dull TO- dem chiilens up heah.
wild nottin' but US grown folkses ter muse
en-"
"That's So" and Dick Gowdy drummcd
on the table thoughtfuily. 'Taint o WON
IN in a thousand thst'd com up here an
be As pleased an clipper as that little
wilder is with her trouble 70 bear. an I
move that and the speakers voice was
tnVcapAA and n consolidation fnttOvenA which
was strictly confidential.
There were none Of these men Who did
no; have q memory OF innocent pleasures
at Christmas time in their childhood. yet
the sweetest and best Of holidays had
been spent the year previous In unusual
conviviali:y, which had ended in tho
nearest approach = . rough and tumble
fight that the camp had ever known.
There was something In the presence OF
the widow, the touch OF the innocent
childish hands which had met theirs with
confiding trust, which made such . colo
bration OF the day ~repugnant TO them. and
Sam Coll ms brought his fist down on ths
table with q whack rs he aid Il tell
you. boys, moneys no objic, On Ell the
things did ut all it's got 70 be did up
brown, an them little kids an Their ma
shell hev q Christmas worth hcvin'. ct they
air up in the mountings" olapp!ng Afty
dollars worth of gold dust upon the table
as he spoke.
A stingy miner Is IN anomaly seldom
seen, n the pile rapidly increased -
each added his contribution.
There were sounds Of hammering and
saving going on In . spot far enough from
the camp to be sheltered from it, rudeness,
yet nesr enough for purposes Of protec-
ton, and some one was evidently going 70
have . new cabin, aud built in . style ne.
ticeabiy superior 70 tho rest Of the shan
ties In size and convenience
Nelly Newell stitched away at her scanty
preparations for the fsst-coming winter
with scarcely . thought o. the matter, and
IL she had ~spcculated uron che subject 1t
all she would AVE thought that Dan Voor.
hees was replacing the one be had 20 gen.
erously given up TO her.
A. the miners had said. she had borne her
troubles with patience and sweetness, and
she fully appreciated the kindness. rough
and uncouth though it was, which these
men had shown her. but she would prob
ably never know what her presence and
that OF her innocent children WAS doing
toward making the camp - quiet and or
derby a. IL ~
AhCkC woS ~"o WHY 0AsASS s""ys
and . week before Christmas Sam Collins
and Burt Macomber drove or in . big
wagon drawn By four mules in It's direc-
tiOn. Burt had been chosen for this ex-
cursion because. Is they all agreed, ne
"knew more about wimmin's chicken nx-
ms than ary man in the camp"
Don't ye spar the money" was Dick
Gowdy's parting admonition. "Ef that
pile don't hold out. run yer face, an the
rest kin foller arterward."
The wagon came back the next ven
ing heavily laden, and the men unloadei
IL at the door Of the new cabin, which was
now completed, aud there were busy hands
ut work putting IL in order for occupancy.
Nellie Newell WAS putting away the ro-
mains OF her little supper on Christmas
Eve when . mart rap sounded At her door.
She had been unusually Respondent all
day, a. she cOntrasted his Christmas with
previous ones spent IN the Illinois home.
Dan Voorhees, was at the door NJ sho
wen to open ii. and his honest face wore
a curious expression - he said: THE
boys wanted We to step over n see the new
house we've been putin up. I'll take the
babby an the kids kin foi,er."
Glad Of any change in her moaotonous
life Nelly put on her hood. wrapped up the
little ones and went out with him.
The house was lighted, and the sound Of
Burt's violin saving aWay on Home
Sweet Hons" greeted her ear - she
stepped in ut the door.
Nv ish ye merry Christmas, ma'am."
called out Sam Collins as she was ushered
into the room which answered for = par.
lor. There was . real 'store carpet upon
the floor, . set Of cano- sea chairs, q table
and couch. and through Burt's taste the
windows had beef curtAincd with white
lace, all cheap, but absolutely luxurious
for that region. and giving the room .
really home-like appearance. with posi-.
bilities for future improvement from her
wOman's touch.
They had decorated h wallis with ever
Grcens and In ono corner . small Christ
mas tree bore acceptable fruit for tho
children. wooden toyA cheap picture
books such - tho primitive mountain
store Afforded. and . bag Of real candy,
which had been distributed 70 - 70 make
all the show possible.
NrA Newell looked about her in tho
most perfect establishment - Gam Collins,
who had appointed himself spokesman for
the occasion. called out heartily: This II
. Christmas present fer ye. ma'am, from
Camp Nogooi, an We hopes yell take -
much comfort . livin' int - We hcv in Q
nxin' IL for ye."
II was . most surpr;sing state Of aRairA
and Ara Newell could hardly nnd her
voice 70 thank them. and especially when
Burt threw pen the lid Of . small Delo-
deon and invited her 70 accompany hin
with his violin upon II
True, il Was ricketty In the joints and
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