Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-01-11
cHRIsrMAs AT GRAHAM.
GRaHAM, Dec. %, '8a.


was clear and cold. In the early
morn the thermometers registered
eight degrees below zero. There
was about SIX inches of snow on the
ground-not enough for snowshoeing
or good coasting; quite different
from last winter at this time, but per-
haps this is on account Of the bright
faces OF the little youngsters here,
that grew brighter every day, and old
Sol consequently showed bis smiling
face so that old Saint Nick could get
here in time. We think that the la
dies and the willing gents who came
to their assistance should all be
thankful to them for the pleasant
time all enjoyed. The ladies cIubbed
together to see what could be done
in the way of having Christmas tree.
1t looked like a pretty tough prob
lem to tackle, for the town of Ora
ham boasts of no toy shop or other
bazaar which they could visit, pay
their money and take their choice of
gift; but a woman generally ac-
complishes what she starts out to do.
Their mode of getting Santa Claus
here was this: There are some eight
or nine carpenters here, to whom they
unfolded their plans and interested
them in their cause, and the way
these jack plane sharps did work for
about week was caution. They
turned out bureaus, chairs, wagons,
sleds, cradles, bedsteads, tables-in
fact all that could be made of wood,
nails and glue. With paint and var
nish some of these presents are very
fine. Then next they enlisted others
in their cause, one of these being an
artist, and the result was about twelve
doll heads, big and little, some bru-
nettes and others blondes, that would
make the artist who works for either
Prang or Puck blush with envy. An
other gent, being of an ingenious
turn of mind, caused much wonder
among his friends bv collecting bits
of colored glass, beads, &C., but the
children wondered more when each
one of them looked through kaleid-
oscope and saw the wonderful ever
changing colors for the first time in
its life, and all its very own. Other
gents cut the tree and dressed it.
The ladies IN the meantime were
making dolls, their clothing, cutting,
fitting and knitting, and making a
thousand things that go to make
Christmas thing of JOY forever. Mr..
Curtis gave the use of his hall, and
when the people began to gather in
exclamatious from all were, "Oh, my!
Well, who would have thought they
could have done so well?" The tree
was blaze of light, the hall decorat-
ed with Chinese lanterns, sc. Mrs
J. McCarty came forward and read q
poem in a very pleasing manner
then Mrs. U. P. Linville read a very
pretty letter that she had received
, from Santa Claus; then the music
+ consisting of an organ, (kindly loanel
by Mrs. Gee. Parsons and played By
Mr.. Wolters) and violin played by
, Mr.. Thos. Crofton. When the music
started up, in the distance was hearc
, the sound of sleigh bells, and in can'
Santa Claus, bowing right and left tt
the little folks, dancing all the time
$ peculiar step of the hornpipe, mon
! strous pack on his back, and with
beard of white that was of marvelou
length. Our SAINT Nicholas was pro
nounced by all to be the Iiveliest, jol
q liest fellow they had seen for many
day. After the presents were dis
tributed the hall was cleared for tn
e children, who played blind mans bu
and other games to their hearts con
tent. The most laughable of all tn
sports indulged in was that when
4 gentleman got on the floor to dance
f sailors hornpipe, and to his coat ia
-, was fastened bunch of paper an
announced that to any of the young
sters who would set the paper on fiji
with a candle while the gentlema
If was dancing a reward of money woul
l. be paid, and to see with what earnes
ness and vim they tried to captul
the prize would make the mo-
. gloomy dyspeptic mortal laugh b
g bilHousness forever away. After tn
l. the older folks had the floor and ell
n loved the "mazy may" until Chris
mas morn.
There are about seyenty-hve me
+, in camp, most of them at work, an
"a twelve families. Most of the work
w the mines is now done by contrac
and the ore taken out promises wei