Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-12-21

on tho table thoughtfully. "Taiut one WON
an in n thousand thatd come up here an
be as pleased an clipper as that little
widder Is with her trouble TO bear, an
move that" and tho Speakers voice was
lowered, and n consultation followed which
was strictly confidential.
There wero mono OF these mon who did
not have memory of innocent pleasures
at Christmas time in their childhood, yot
tho sweetest and best of holidays had
been spent tho year previous in unusual
conviviality, which had ended In tho
nearest approach to n rough and tumble
| fight that the camp had ever known,
There was something in the presence OF
tho widow, tho touch of the innocent
childish hands which had met theirs with
confiding trust, which made such celo.
braton Of the day repugnant to them, and
Sam Coll ms brought his fist down ON the
table with whack as he said: 81 toll
| 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 hev Christmas worth hevin', OF they
air up in the mountingsw slapping fifty
dollars worth of gold dust upon the table
Us he spoke
stlngy miner is an anomaly seldom
seen, and the pile rapidly increased as
each added his contribution.
There were sounds of hammering and
saving going on in spot far enough from
the camp to be sheltered from its rudeness,
yet near enough for purposes of protec-
tion, and some one was evidently going to
have new cabin, and built in style no.
ticeably superior TO the rest of the shan
tics in sizo and convenience.
Nelly Newell stitched away at her scanty
nrpnurntinna for tho fnat. COMING Nyintpr
with scarcely thought of the matter, and
If she had srcculated uron the subject at
all she would have thought that Dan Voor-
hees was replacing the one he had so gem
erously given up to her.
As the miners had said, she had borne ior
troubles with patience and sweetness, tud
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 IL was.
There was town twenty miles away,
and week before Christmas Sam Collins
and Burt Mac comber 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 agreed, he
"knew more about wimmin's chicken fix
ins' than ary man in the camp"
Don't yo spar the money" was Dick
Gowdy's parting admonition. "Ef that
pile don't hold out, run yer face, an tho
rest kin follcr arterward."
The wagon came back tho next even
ing heavily laden, and the mea unloadel
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
Nn1I 10 At,,rr l,.,,.
mains of her little supper on Christmas
Eve when a smart rap sounded at her door.
She had been unusually Respondent all
day, as she contrasted this Christmas with
previous ones spent IN the Illinois home.
True, Brady had been away, but he had
sent her money to make the day happy
one for the children, with n long letter for
herself, and many times during the day
tears had filled her eyes at the thought Of
the loving heart and hand forever still in
the mountain grave.
Dan Voorhees, was at the door as sho
went to open it, and his honest face wore
q curious expression as he said: "The
boys wanted ye to step over N see the new
house we've been putin up. pll take the
babby an the kids kin foller."
Glad of any change in her monotonous
life Nelly put on her hood, wrapped up the
The house was lighted, and the sound of
Burt's violin saving away on "Home,
Sweet Homo" greeted her ear as sho
stepped in at the door.
"Wish ye merry Christmas, ma'am,"
called out Sam Collins as she was ushered
into the room which answered for par
lor. There was n real "store carpet" upon
the floor, a set of cane-seat chairs, n table
and couch, and through Burt's taste the
had been curtained with white
lace, all cheap, but absolutely luxurious
for that region, and giving the room a
really home-l.ke appearance, with possi-
bilit!cs for future Improvement from her
wOman's touch.
They had decorated the walls with ever
greens and in one corner small Christ
mas tree bore acceptable fruit for tho
wooden toys, cheap picture
books, such as the primitive mountain
store afforded, and bag of real candy,
which had been distributed so as to make
all the show possible.
Mrs. Newell looked about her in the
most perfect astonishmcnt 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 Nogood, an we hopes yell take as
much comfort livin' int as we hev in
hxin' 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 n small melo-
leon and invited her to accompany him
with his violin upon it
True, it was ricketty in the joints and