Arizona republican., 1890-12-25
A FRONTIER CHRISTMAS
MRS. CUSTER TELLS OFA YULE-TIDG
 ON THE PLAINS.
Connecting Presents in Camp Making Gifts Under DitGculties-HOw Cavalry Bride Made a SmOking-Jacket.

WC AsiN AO NAAiRNihs N''Nf w point out to us by their beguiling beauty what would be ''just the thing" for this or that one. "My brain reels," said one of my pretty friends, and she ran her fingers through her bangs in a most reckless manner, furrowed her brow, thus proving that the "reeling" was going on, and knew that the rapid ap- proach of December 20 was the cause. "I have made John a smoking jacket, slippers, and all the stereotyped presents for men, and last summer, while the campaign was keeping our people in the field, l made him rO6e-de-aua that he said was so beruitled and beirilled he knew he would mistake his identity, and that if 1 clothed him in such purple and fine linen-lor l even put in lilac ribbon-he would surely take himself for somebody else, which meant me. Now, what shall 1 make this year." This despair was brought to an end by happy thought. An old cap was ripped, the visor, which had survived the tooth os time, was rubbed and oiled into freshness, and the "eXact copy" we all pronounced equal to the best work of military natter.
 The really difficult part of this work was the insignia Of the crossed sabres for the cavalry, and the number of our regiment, underneath, worked in bullion. The latter was obtained by rubbing up pair of tarnished shoulder-straps, turn ing the golden thread, which was still bright, on the under side and using 1t for the new work.
 Whatever we did we were obliged to concoct under very trying circumstances, if we attempted secrecy, for our men were always in and out of the house dog ems of times day. We had no oppor- tunities for long, uninterrupted seasons of occupation, as do womenin the States, where the husband goes to his avoca- tions in the morning and does not ap- pear until six at night. The officers day began at revelle, when they went to roll-call, then came stables, guard mounting, inspecting the mess, drill, perhaps court-martial, duty and dress parade, stables again, retreat, and tattoo roll-call. It will be easily seen that they were flying in and out of their quarters between these various duties all day long.
 I watched for months horses head being stitched into canvas for a sofa-pil- low. No real horse had more active life. When the sound of clanking sabre and the jingle of spurs announced the arrival of the head of the house, the work was rolled in heap, thrust under lounge, or in drawer, with a celerity that increased with practice; for the quick movements Of an active cavalry man necessitated great haste on the part of any one who vied with him in speed.
 Seventh Cavalry bride attempted with great trepidation the manufacture of her first masculine garment--a smok- ing-jacket. It was impossible to make a success without innumerable trylngs on, so she impressed the striker (soldier servant into her service. He was 8 model of neatness and respect, and as he was about the size of his captain, and had little else to do but stand and be fitted, the garment was gradually smoothed into beautiful shape. While the scissors shipped and the needle flew in the busy fingers, the striker stood guard in the hall or on the porch. Ii he saw his captain coming home across the parade ground, he came to announce the arrival, but should he appear unawares from another direction a lively little tune whistled in the corridor was the warning that sent the jacket flying into the depths of the closet, while the little bride, with conscious blush, met her husband at the door, trying to look as if holiday presents had never entered her mind.
 The Christmas dinner was a feast that required long and earnest search in gathering the materials for it's construc- ton. If we chanced to be near a little tnurn-ap1 fasN fprta n thn frnptinr o r. without village just outside the very edge of Government treservation--noOn one rode through the place without throwing calculating glance into every yard, or about the dooryard of the less preten- tious huts. A chicken, duck or turkey was quickly noted, and the owner was called out to find booted and spurred cavalryman at the door, who accosted him with the usual frontier salutation, "I say, stranger, can l engage my Christmas dinner of youp'
 Once we were thrown into state of envy by one of our officers, who sur prised us on the lOng-lOoked-for holiday by roast pig. The apple that distended the jaws of the tOothsome little animal might well stand for the apple of dis cord until we found now much he paid for the piece de resistance Oi his dinner table. Naturally he would have to pay well, for every one out there in that country that was just begun, was anx- ious to increase his stock. That same dinner, we had as an ingredient of the soup tiny birds that were delicious. They reminded us forcibly of the nur- sery rhyme, -Four and twenty black birds baked in pie." That winter was extremely cold and there was no sign oiinsect or animal life on the bleak plains, except these hardy little snow birds. The ground about the stables where the horses were fed and grOomed was black with this swarming bird life They were very tame and settled themselves all over the horses. Sometimes an animals back was completely outlined from the ears to the tail with these tiny chatter ing creatures. But no one had thought until this Christmas feast of utilizing them.
 Though one of the remote garrisons in which we were stationed had enough people within it's limits to make good sized town, there were but three children of officers. The row of houses occupied by the laundresses had the usual orna- ments to the front d or and steps that are common to the lrishman, but the three youngsters in the garrison were all the child-life we saw. and they were idols in their way. One mother gave up from the start trying to celebrate with a Christ mas-tree, but the other persisted. Not withstanding that even on a summers day we looked as far as the eye could sec on the sunburnt grass of the plains, without tree, or hardly twig of green still the fond mothar somphow seemed