The Osceola times., 1888-12-22
spring for water or out to the timber 20,

faggots for his culinary operations
Burt Macomber had an old violin which
had seen its best days, and he often brought
II over to the widows cabin. and as he
was quite creditable performer, many an
evening which would otherwise have been
spent in drinking and dice playing was
whiied away in listening TO the soueaky
fiddle and the Widows really fine voice, as
she sang church music and the Gospel
hymns which had been sung in her Illinois
homo until they were old and thread bare,
but which were entirely lew in the mount
aims.
II tell you, boys that air tears me ell ter
pieces, said Dick Gowdy. as Mrs. Newell
sang "The Ninety and Nine" TO her audi
encc; ther haint no shepherd goin' ter
do very much huntin' fer us ef we don't
tako better keor of ourselves" and it was
noticeable that he left of swearing for
nearly week, and in many ways the pros
ence Of the little family, 80 helpless in
their bereavement was refining and soft
eDing influence.
"sho, now, fellshs, Christmas am comm
in about TO- weeks" said Wash jackson,
AS he was lighting the evening lamps.
"pd clean done TO- got till dat ar little
Katie war a telln' whatter fnc Christmas
tree dey had las yeah Tell pou it mus
bo mighty dull fo' dom chillens up heah,
wild nottin' but US grown folkses ter muse
en-"
THAT'S So" and Dick Gowdy drummed
on the table thoughtfully. 'Taint one WON
au in a thousand thacd come up here an
bo as pleased an clipper AS that little
widderis with her trouble TO bear. an
move that" and the speakers voice was
lowered, and consultation followed which
was strictly confidential.
There were none OF these men who did
not have a memory Of innocent pleasures
at Christmas time in their childhood, yet
the sweetest and bes. Of holidays bad
been spent the year previous in unusual
conviyiality, which had ended in tho
nearest approach t. rough and tumble
fight that the camp had ever known.
There was som sthing in the presence OF
the widow, the touch OF the innocent
childish hands which had met theirs with
confding trust, which made such a celo-
brat on of the day repugnant to them, and
Sam Coll ms brought his fist down on tie
table with whach as he said: II tell
you, boys, moneys no objic, an ef the
things did at all it's got TO be did up
brown, an them little kids an ther ma
shell hcv a Christmas worth hevin'. ef they
air up in the mountings!" slapping fifty
dollars worth of gold dust upon the table
as he spoke.
A stingy miner is an anomaly seldom
seen, and the pilo rapidly increased as
each added his contribution
There were sounds Of hammering snd
saving going on in spot far enough from
TIE camp to be sheltered from its rudeness
YET near enough for purposes Of protec-
ton, and some one was evidently going to
have new cabin, and built in a style no.
ticeably superior to the rest Of the shan
ties in size and convenience.
Nelly Newell stitched away at her scanty
preparations for the fast-coming winter
with scarcely "a thought Of the matter, and
if she had speculated upon the subject at
all she would have thought that Dan Voor.
hees was replacing the one he had 80 gen.
crously given up to her.
As the miners had said. she nd 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 as quiet and or
derly as it was.
There was o town twenty miles away.
and week before Christmas Sam Collins
and Burt Macomber drove OF IN big
wagon drawn by four mules In its direc-
tion. Burt had been chosen for this ex-
cursion because, as they all agreed, hs
"knew more about wimmin's chicken fix.
ins' than ary man in the camp"
Don't ye spar the money" was Dich
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 even
ing heavily laden, and the men unloadei
it at the door Of the new cabin, which was
now completed and there were busy hands
at work putting it in order for occupancy.
Nellie Newell was putting away the re-
mains of her little supper on Christmas
Eve when a smart rap sounded at her door,
She had been unusually despondent all
day, as she contrasted this Christmas with
previous ones spent IN the Illinois home,
| Dan Voorhees, was at tho door as shd
went TO open it, and his honest face wore
a curious expression as he said: Tho
boys wanted ye to step over n see tho new
house we've been putin up. I'll take tho
babby an the kids kin foller."
Glad OF any change in her monotonous
| life Nelly Put on her hood, wrapped up the
little ones and went out with him.
The house was lighted, and the sound OF
| Burrs violin saving away on Home,
Sweet Home" greeted her ear as she
stepped in at the door.
"W 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 cane seat chairs, table
and couch, and through Bur's taste tho
windows had been curtdined with white
lace, all cheap, but absolutely luxurious
for that region, and giving the room .
really home-like appearance, with possi-
bilities fof future Improvement from her
woman's touch.
They had decorated the walls with ever
greens ana in one corner a small Christ
mas tree bore acceptable fruit for the
children, wooden toys, cheap picture
books, such as the primitive mountain
store afforded, and a bag Of real candy,
which had been distributed 80 as 70 make
all the show possible
Mrs Newell looked about her in tho
most perfect astonishment as Sam Collins,
who had appointed himself spokesman for
the occasion. called out heartily: This is
a Christmas present fer ye, ma'am, from
Camp Nogoot, an we hopes ven take as
much comfort livin' int as Wa hev in o
fixin it for yc."
1t was most surprising state OF affairs,
and Mrs. Newell could hardly lind her
voice to thank them, and especially when
Burt threw open the lid of a small melo-
deon and invited her TO accompany him
with his violin upon it.
True, it was ricketty in the joints and