The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-12-27

on the table thou ghtfully. 'sTaint one wom-
an in thousand thst'd come up here an
be as pleased an clipper as that little
wilder is with her trouble to bear, anu
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 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
conviviality, which had ended in the
nearest approach to a 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 cele-
brat.on Of the day repugnant to them, and
Sam Coll MS brought his fist down on the
table with whack as he said: II tell
you, boys, moneys no objic, AM eff the
things did at all it's got to be did up
brown, an them little kids AM Their ma
shell hev Christmas worth heyin'. eff 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 Pile rapidly increased as
each added his contribution.
There were sounds of ham mering and
saving going on in spot far enough from
the camp to be sheltered from it's rudeness,
yet near enough for purposes Of protec-
ton, and some one was evidently going to
have new cabin, and built in style no.
ticeably superior to the rest Of the shan
ties in size and convenience.
Na11v Naval OF |, Az q no =,
pre- Darations for the fast-coming winter
| with scarcely thought of the matter, and
If she had speculated upon the subject at
all she would have thought that Dan Voor-
| bees was replacing the one he had so gen.
erously given up to her.
AS 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 as quiet and or
derby as it was.
There was a town twenty miles away,
and week before Christmas Sam Collins
and Burt Macomber drove off in a big
wagon drawn by four mules in its direc-
tion. Burt had been chosen for this ex-
cursion because, as they all agceed, he
knew more about winmin's chicken fix
ms than airy 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 follec arterward."
The wagon came back the next even
ing heavily laden, and the men unloade1
it st 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 smart rap sounded at her door.
She had been unusually Respondent all
day, as she contrasted this Christmas with
previous ones spent IN tue Illinois home.
TRUE. Brady had been away, but he had
sent her money to make the day a happy
one for the children, with long letter for
herself, and many times during tho day
tears had filed her eyes at the thought Of
the loving heart and hand forever still in
the mountain grave.
Dan Voorhees, was at the door as she
went to open it, and his honest face wore
curious expression as he said 1.-THE
boys wanted ye to step over n see the new
house we've been putin up. I'll take the
babby an the kids kin foiler."
Glad of any change in her monotonous
life Nelly put on her hood, wrapped up tho
little ones and went out with him.
The house was lighted, and the sound Of
Burt's violin saving away on Home,
Sweet Home" greeted her ear as she
stepped in at the door
wish We merry Christmas, ma'am,"
called out Sam Collins as she was ushered
into the room which answered for a par
lor. There was a real "store carpet' upon
the sdocr, set OF cane seat chairs. a table
and couch, and through Burt's taste the
| windows had been clirtained with white
lace, all cheap, but absolutely luxurious
for that region, and giving the room a
really homc-lile appearance, with posi-
bilities for future improvement from her
woman's touch.
They had decorated the walls with ever
green's and in one corner small Christ
mas tree bore acceptable fruit for the
children, wooden toys, cheap picture
books, such as the primitive mountain
store afforded, and bag of real candy,
which had been distributed 80 as to make
all the show possible
Mrs Newell looked about her in tho
most perfect aston instrument rs Sam Collins,
who had appointed himself spokesman for
the occasion. called out heartily: ''This is
Christmas present fox We, ma'aIn. from
Camp Nogood, an we hopes yell take as
| much comfort livin' int as we hev in a
fxin' it for ye"
1t was most surprising state of affairs.
and Mrs. Newell could hardly find her
voice to thank them, and especially when
Burt threw open the lid of small nlelo-
doon and invited her to accompany him
with his violin upon it.
True, it was ricketty in the joints and