The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-12-26
JAMES HALEY,
.send the stockin. round the camp.

sSend the st0ckfn' round the cAmps
the boys are waitin' for I'll"
With o party ut his hecls, Jack went
from saloon to saloon. Games ceased
and tipplers left tho bars as they entered
each place, and miners, gamblers, specu.
lators, everybody crowded up to tender
their Christmas gift to- the. miners
widow and orphans. Any one who has
lived in the far Western camps and u
acquainted with the generosity Of West
ern men will feel no surprise or doubt
my t%ruthfulness when 1 say that after
the round had been made the little blue
stocking and the heavy canvas bag con.
tanned over 49, 900 in gold and silver coin.
Horses were procured and q party dis.
patched to tho larger town down on the
Costumes, from which they returned
near daybreak with toys, clothing, pro-
visions, etc., in almost endless variety.
Arranging their gifts in proper shape
of coin, the party noiselessly repaired to
tho widows humble cabin. The bar
was first laid on the step, and the other
articles piled up in a heap over It. On
the top was laid the lid of q large paste-
board box, on which was written with \
piece of charcoal:
sSanty Claus doesn't always Civ poor
y
Christmas morning dawned bright and
beautiful. The night had been q sting
ing cold one, and when the rising sun
peeped ovcr the chain of mountains to
the cast and shot its beams upon the
western range, the sparkling frost flashed
from the snow-clad peaks as though
their towering heads were sprinkled with
pure diamonds.
Mrs. Stewart arose, and . shade Of
pain crossed her handsome face as the
empty little stockings caught her
maternal eye. She cast o hurried glance
toward the bed where her darlings lay
sleeping, and whispered:
sOh, God! how dreadful is poverty!s
She built q glowing fire and set about
preparing the frugal breakfast. When
1t was almost ready she approached the
bed, kissed the little ones until they
were wido awake. and lifted them to the
floor. With eager haste lofty ran to
the stockings only to turn away, sob
bling as though her heart would break.
Tears blinded the mother, and, clasping
her little girl to her heart, she said in :
choking voice:
"Ncvcr mind, my darling: next Chris
mas / am sure mamma will be richer,
and then Santa Claus will bring us lots
of nice things"
sob! mammal"
Tho exclamation came from little Ben.
ny, who hal opened the door and wat
standing gazing in amazcmcnt upon the
wealth of gifts there displayed.
Mrs. Stewart sprang to his side and
looked in specchlcss astonishment. She
read the card, and then, causing her lit
tic ones to knecl down with her in the
open doorway. She poured out her soul
in o torrent Of praise and thanksgiving
to God.
Jack Dawson's purly form moved from
ehind Q tree q short distance away, and
snealled off up the gulch. great crystal
tears chasing each other down his face.
Tho fami y arose flom their knees and
began to move the stores into the cabin.
There were several sacks of flour, hams.
canned fruits, pounds and pounds of cof-
Zee, tea, and sugar, new dress goods, and
a handsome warm WOODEN shawl for the
widow, shoes, stockings, hats, mittena
and clothing for the children, and q great
big wax doll that could cry and move its
eyes for lofty. and q beautiful red sled
for Benny. All were carried inside amid
alternate laughs and tears.
"Bring in the bag of salt. Totty, and
that Is ALL" said tho mother. as not
God good to us?"
81 can't lift it, mamma; it's frozen to
the step!n
Tho mother stopped and took hold Of
1T and lifted harden. and harder, until
she raised it from the step. Her cheeks
b!anchcd as She noted it's great weight
and breatl,lcssly she carried it in and
laid it upon the breakfast table. With
trembling fingers she lcosened the string
and empticd the contents upon the to.