Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1889-12-22
A MINERS CHRISTMAS.
HOW THE YULE TIDE Is CELE-
DRAFTED UP ~ THE ROCKIES.

>~~--~~~
Imagine a point In midair about tw,
miles above New York city. and 70,
have the elevation at which over LOO
miners in Colorado spend the holiday
season They are shut in by snow an<
ice, and for months to come they viii
know as little about what is going on 4
the busy world as though they were sal
-ors on some vessel frozen up for the win
ter amid the icebergs Of the Arctic re
gions. Early in the fall, before the
snow flies, they are housed in on some
of the lofty peaks Of the Rocky mount
aims, and not until May or June will they
again mingle with their fellow men.
tits often the case that some one of the
boys is good fiddler, and Christmas
night he will rosin the bow, tune up the
old fiddle, and with alternate ''pards" for
girls the boys will dance and make
merry.
But there are those who are not as for
tunate as the miners who are shut up in
the big mine for the winter. There are
the lonely cabins. up on the mountain
side, many miles distant from human
habitation. Here three or four men are
snowbound together for the winter.
Often there are just two ''pards," and
"pard" in the mining camps means al
most the same as "comrade" does in the
army. Their Christmas meal is frugal
. one, and with eager longings their hearts
viii reach out from that deep gorge
or lofty peak to eastern homes, and
wonder what the loved ones there are
doing It is at these holiday times that
the prospector and wanderer longs for
the old associations Of home and the
dear faces he has not seen for years
For months they have undergone many
hardships and privations, been through
:hairbreadth escapes and thrilling adven-
lures. and yet In the Christmas time all
the tenderness and love that comes with
thoughts of home Il In their hearta In
the mining camps Of the Rocky noun
'tains / have heard little groups sing
"Home Sweet Home" on Christmas eve.
How each felt iti Il was not sung -
much, as it was the melody each felt In
heart IS he thought Of home It was
yung In that dreamy kind of way. show
ing that the thoughts Of all were far
away, and each one was thinking a.
well a. singing. and that II q tear did
steal down some grim visaged face. there
was nothing unmanly in It, was therea
Twas writing about the lonely cabin.
The scene there Is not always one OF
merry making at Christmas. OF those
two who dwell there alone, far away
from all contact with the world-gold
hunter ascetics-one may be sick. II
you could force your way through that
wilderness of snow, lift the latch gently,
for it is never bolted, you will find one
nursing and keeping faithful watch by
his sick ..pard." 1t may be son watch
ing by the cot of a father. Why is that
old man Drawing all these hardshipsi
Aye, there is the mortgage on the eastern
"nme. If they find the precious vein by
h. next Christmas will find that old
5pfins. from debt Mr.. Banker, could
nome tIee n scenes as these, as
you witness so> 4 tell the old man
have done. you won.s easy about the
that you would be little. that has
Interest on that ar mortg1g>,
him so long.
One Christmas / spent up Cd the !
side with two or three others.
and there we had our holiday dinner.
and it was q wholesome meal. but want
ing In those delicacies that q mother OF
wife can best prepare. A snow storm
was raging along the mountains, but
with our cheerful fire and warm cabin.
~ cared nothing for Il
eff we had some flowers for the wish
able. said one Of the boys
We all wished the same.
"Get out your old letters, said one.
We all knew what that meant, for
many flower from the old house finds
= way in letters to the boys out west
)ne found a rosebud, another Q violet.
mother a daisy. and then another rose
vas found In mothers letter. Withered
md faded we're these tokens from the
I'd homes, but never did men value
lowers more than we did that withered
'ouquet
"Can't some oos Aay grace" said oos
{ the boys
No one volunteered. IL
The closing lines IN my mothers let
y, said boyish fello~, might do"
"Read them. .was The nesp0nss that
lme from all
Heads were bowed. around that frugal
hristmas board. and the young mar
I'D:
"0od bless you. my son. and God Edsu
all"
! then looked up and esw. team On tn
'seks Of weather. beaten facea-Depru
y. St Louis Globe Democrst
An Uaassaral Mp1hSe.
II bslisve I've 90 TIE assnsst ~ -
xnas
.wh.s did =. DR., i5G1 GGl-