Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-12-27
seen, and pile rapidly increased as
each added his contribution.

seen, duu ptc foptuts tucrco>Su -
each added his contribution.
There were sounds OF hammering
and saving going on in a spot far
enough from the camp.to be sheltered
from its rudeness; yet near enough
for purposes Of protection, and some
one was evidently going to have
new cabin, and built in style no
ticeably superior to the rest OF the
shanties in size and convenience.
Nelly Newell stitched away at her
scanty preparations for the fast-com-
ing winter with scarcely a thought OF
the matter, and il she had speculated
upon the subject at all she would
have thought that Dan Voorhees, was
replacing the one he had so gener-
ously 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 il was, which these men had
shown her, but she would probably
never knowwhat her presence and that
of her innocent children was doing
toward making the camp "a quiet and
orderly as it was.
There was town twenty miles
away, and a week before Christmas
Sam Collins and Burt Macomber
drove OF in a big wagon drawn by
four mules in its direction. Burt had
been chosen for this excursion because,
"a they all agreed, he knew more
about wimmin's chicken iixins' than
AIRY man in the camp"
Don't ye spar the money was
Dick Gowdys parting admonition.
"Ef that pile don't hold out, run yer
face, an the rest hin foller arter.
ward
The wagon came back the next
evening heavily laden, aud the men
unloaded it at the door OF tho new
cabin which was now completed, and
there were busy hands at work put
ting il in order for occupancy.
Nelly Newell was putting away the
remains OF her little supper on Christ
mas Eve when smart rap soundeda 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 the door as
she went TO open it, and his honest
face wore curious expression as he
said The boys wanted ye to step
over'n see the new house we've been
putin up. III take the babby an
the kids kin foller."
Glad OF any change in ber monot-
onous life, Nelly put on her hood,
wrapped up the little ones and went
out with him.
The house was lighted, and the
sound Of Burt's violin saving away
Oh Home, Sweet Home, greeted her
ear IA she stepped in at the door
WISH ye merry Christmas, ma Fam,
called out Sam Collins IA she was
usnered into tue room which answered
for a parlor. There was real
store carpet upon the floor, set
OF cane-seat chairs, n table aud couch,
and through Burt's taste the windows
mad been curtained with white lace,
ali cheap, but absolutely luxurious
for that region, and giving the room
a really home-like appearances, with
possibilities for future Improvement
from her woinan's touch.
They had decorated the walls with
evergreens aud la one corner small
Christmas tree bore acceptable fruit
for tie children, wooden toys, cheap
picture books, such as the primitive
mountain store afforded, aud bag
OF real candy, which had been distrib.
uted 80 as TO make all the show pos
sible.
Mrs. Newell looked about her la the
most perfect astonishment NJ Sam
Collins. who had appointed himself
spokesman for the occasion, called
out heartily: This IL n Chritsmas
present for ye, ma'am, from Camp
Nogood, an we hopes ye'Il take as
much comfort a livin' int as we hev
In tixiD' IL for ye."
IL was n most surprising state OF
affairs, and Mrs. Newell could hardly
find her voice TO thank them, and es-
pecially when Burt threw open the
lid OF n small melodeon and invited
her TO accompany him with his violin
upon IL.
frue,. IL was ricketty la the joints
aud squeaky la tone, but IL was still
capable Of giving sincerest pleasure
as the miners crowded around IL
while Mrs. Newell played her simple
airs Upon il, not daring to trust her
voice TO sing. The children took the
opportunity to explore the rest Of the
house while she was playing. and
came back proclaiIniDg: "Oh, mann
ma, there's cupboard Ia the other
room with lots o. vittles Ira IL an
great big turkey" and 80 IL came
about that, In spite Of inauspieicus
circumstances, there was merry
Christmas for the widow aud the faith
erIess even at Camp Nogood.
Give Him Time.