San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1893-12-22
Whg Santa Claus Beard is
White.
ALrarNp. RYM. A R1nn.

+ ~ Deep down III INC OOsoAn
of the mountains was the
mine. Here the father had worked
each day from morn to night to feed,
even scantily, his wife and children.
Al last came a season of great dearth-
The miner fell sick. Sadly his wife
hung out of sight his leather work
suit
The cold winter with its cruel grasp
stole down from the mountain tops;
still the miner lay sick; still the dearth
of food throughout the little town; no
where mouthful to spare. The birds
in the trees lived and were merry.
Must the little children starve? Who
had done it? Il tell you. it's the
Gubich. king of dwarfs, who spoiled
the crops last year. / know his pranks,
curse him said the oldest of the min
srs. ''Who in summer steals all
the raspberries and Strawberries?
He never eats aught else, and
has lived like a prince, in his rocky
cavern up there among the holy frs,
ever since the old giant threw these
mountains out of his shoe because the
bit of sand hurt him. 1 tell you, the
Gubieh can make us sick with a
glance, touch or breath. Save me
from going near his homei Yet they
say the cones off his trees are good to
eat, and can be made into wondrous
pretty things which sell well in the
town below us. Starve or touch then?
Starve, sayl"
Dear husband" said the penitent
wife, thou knowest the holy frs; go
to gather their cones. I will sell them
and buy thee food which will make
thee well Children, care for thy
father while am gone"
Quickly throwing a shawl over her
head and taking basket on her arm,
out into the gathering GOODNESS of the
coming night stepped the mother. The
wind shook the alders at the cottage
door until they nodded and peeped at
the windows. It roughly ratified the
dried foliage of the stately oaks, whose
saeredness to the gods the elements
were thought to respect, and then died
away among the pines in soft, sad
music, that brought tears to the
mothers eyes. 1t was like the moan
the BARNS made for bread. The
tears broke into a sob; half-blinded,
with a bent head, she reached the edge
of the holy forest.
Pityingly. out from his bed of clouds,
the setting sun glanced warm and ten
der He shot his parting rays among
the frs, and filed their deep shadows
with a cheerful glow. Suddenly, into
the marked pathway of its light,
stepped a little man with snowy beard,
who gravely DOTTED his leathern cap and
waited for the sad mother to reach him. |
Good woman, what ail'st thou? |
Why so sad2'' broke upon her startled |
ear.
ooh sir, ! mean no harm. NY chill |
dren starve; my husband never again
will be well. cannot see them ask |
each day for bread and give them none.
20 to gather cones. Do let me pass
and fill my basket"
i would harm thee not, my friend" |
said the little man. And knowest |
thou where the best cones can be
founds Follow this path hundred
feet, and there they can be gathered
with'-but the mother was on herrav.
A knowing look, a caress of his white
beard, sniff Of the perfumed forest
air, and the little man had vanished.
with glad feet the mother hurried on.
Not sAopnd but the dropping of cones
broke thestilness of the forest. Faster
and thicker they seemed to fall at each
onward step. perfect storm of cones.
They dropped upoH>her head; they fell |
at her feet; they pelted her shoulders;
they filed her basket. Frightened, the
poor woman turned and fled, CHANGING
neither to the right or left. Heavier
and heavier the basket grew. Breath
less and exhausted she reached her cot
tage door.
The mother entered and quickly
barred the door. Husband, husband,
think what has happened: On the
edge Of the holy forest met n little
man with snowy beard who told me
where to gather the best cones. went
to find them, but the farther 1 went
the faster the cones fell from the frs.
They came about my head as thick as
snow fakes in midwinter; yet the trees
shook not. / was afraid and did not
stop TO pick up one; but some fell in my
basket, and here they are"
Hist, wife! Look, look thoul They
are pure silver. It's the Gubich thou +,
hEst mst"