New-York tribune., 1891-12-31
CHRISTMAS EVE IN LITTLE MUDDY.

Delayed Christmas stories continue to arrive.
The latest comes in the columns Of The Little
Muddy North Dakota) Pioneer There were
no bears in the Little Muddy Christmas tree.
Neither did the tags on the presents become mixed
up as they did two years ago at Eagle Creek.
Illinois, when Uncle Abner Parsons eghty-four
years old, got red tin horse and pair of roller
skates, Baby Lathrop eighteen months of age, a
set of Shakcspcare's works and god-headed
cane, and the Rev. Mr. Harvard. meerschaum pipe
end a poker set. Nevertho less, the people OF
Little Muddy experienced great difficulty in gett
their presents, which only goes to show still fur
that greater care must he exercised in the manas
men of this popular form of entertainment. Such
carelessness may possibly he eXcusable in the
management of a railroad where only human life
is involved. but where personal property comes
i'm the account, il does in Christmas trees.
more caution must certainly become the rule.
According to the report Of the affair III the
local news columns of our contemporary, every
thing went smoothly until few minutes before
the audience began To arrive. Besides many pre- ents
for the children there were fine gold sin
shot revolyers put on the tree for Colonel Isaac
Sawyer and Bill McGovern, Winchester rifle for
Alec Dobson, embossed leather saddle for George
Fiddler, largc-szed pocket flask for Jddgc
Decker, half a dozen pairs of silver spurs for
miScc ,ncous people, and many other things, given
in in The Pioneer but which cannot
81 20 mention. The work Of adjusting the pres
cnts was being done by hanging committee, COM
posed so The Pioneer" gravely asserts. Of sew
eral members of the Yellowstone County Vigilance
Committee they being deemed better fitted for
the task than any Others but this, very likely,
may be only pleasantly on the part Of our
temporary But in any case the work was going
ON when Major Stiles arrived with a large dog.
n cross Detwcen IA mastfT and bloodhound, which
he wished to put on for his old friend Iawley
Bender The hanging committee somewhat
at loss how to proceed, and, after several vain
attempts TO mike him roost on one of the larger
limbs, like IA turkey, they told the maj jor that he
would have to he content 10 let the animal be
chained at the foot Of the tree. The major agreed
to this and went away.
A half-hcur later the schoolhOusc where the
entertainment was being held was crowded with
people There was the usual singing by the
children and remarks lby the superintendent Of
the Sunday y-school, after which this gentleman
turned 10 begin taking off the presents. lie was
met by the intelligent dog, which leaped for his
throat and would certainly have reached it had
not h. chain prevented. The superintendent
rctrear ii. The fact was, as expressed by The
Pioneer that the darned brute had got into
and yo. bet, he did it, Honcyed words by the
superin endcnt, such as good doggie" and nice
old fellow" produced no effect. Major Stiles
was called for to come and sooth the enraged
beast. but it was soon discovered that the Major
was not present Although the dog was intended
for Mr.. Bender this gentleman could not, of
course. do anything to calm him. Mr. Bender
i'd however, protest loudly when somebody sug-
.csted that the creature be shot. lie did more