St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1894-02-03
CRRISTmRS At SuaGToWN.
BY J. T. ALTE& US.

BY j. T. ALTE&Us.
Snagtown was a characteristic West
ern settlement in the Black Hills. II
had been established but short while
and the miners had had a hard time to
keep their foothold against the onslaught
of the Indians, who took tiendish de-
light in creeping down on them in the
night and destroying their huts and kill
ing them whenever they got chance.
But when the first Christmas came
around Snagtown was considered to be
on solid foundation, and the Snag
townites proposed to have roaring
good time It was decided that ire
mendous big feast should be given at
the Snagtown Arms, in which all should
take part, ON Christmas afternoon, and
Jack Billings, the only boniface in the
place, had been instructed that unless he
did his very best the boys would raise
particular Cain with him. A week be.
fore the event was to take place meet
ing was held and committee on arrange
ments was appointed, with orders to
spare no expense. "Git loads O. grub"
the chairman of the meeting said, as he
mentioned the names of those who were
to be responsible that the landlord of
the Snagtown Arms did his work prop
ely. The committee Immediately got
together to decide what they should
have at the feast. Jack Billings and his
colored cook were called in for consulta-
ton.
"Dere's loads O. ven'son, Marse jack"
Pete, the cook, exclaimed, San ducks
an rabbits, an uen dere's dat coon dat
Marse Field shot dis mornin'."
'That's only ordinary grub" one of
the committee rejoined. "We've got to
have something better than that. What's
a Christmas dinner without turkey and
cranberry saucer
''That's true enough, pard," another
member rejoined, "but think where you
are. There are no turkeys around this re-
gion and no cranberries. doubt even if
you could find one over at Fort Wales,
and that's 800 miles from here. We had
better put up with what Billings has,"
"Well have to-" said another.
During this conversation there was
member of the committee who had re-
manned quiet in a corner Of the room
sitting on barrel, with his legs crossed,
smoking his pipe and looking as if he
were deeply engaged in thought. He
was tall, broad-shouldered fellow, not
over thirty years of age, with heavy
black beard and long black hair, and a
face that intsie"sts..: :Ezt mtg ncnce and
honesty. He wore blue flannel shirt,
corduroy trousers, belted in around the
waist and the legs tucked into high
boots. A light sombrero was set on the
back of his head. This was Mike Field,
whom Pete had mentioned as having
killed the coon. He was general fay
orite among the miners, and his opinion
was much sought after in the decision
of difficult questions in which the bowie
knife and pistol did not enter, and for
this reason he was given the name of the
Judge, and whenever court was held
he was called upon to preside. Field
was taciturn man and never spoke
about his former life, but one could tell
from his manner of talking that he was
q fellow who had had the advantages of
good education.
''Look here, boys" Field said, as he
came up to the group clustered around
the stove, 'I'ye just been thinking
about this matter, and I'm of the same
opinion as Cummings, and that is that
we must have turkey"
All of them looked at Field, anxious
to hear what he had to propose.
ut enly lacks five days before it will
be Christmas, pard," one of the com
mittee remarked, as he blew Whit of
smoke from his pipe, and smile crossed
his face as he thought that for once in
his life Field would be stumped.
"That makes not the slightest bit of
difference Field rejoined. II wouldn't
careif it only was the day before Christ
mas. II this committee decided upon
having turkey for dinner it would have
TO be secured at any expense"
1T is we'll enough to talk that way,
Mike, but none Of us are magicians and
7 can see now we are going to get tur
key when none is around"
''Well, I'll tell you, boys, that we are
going to have turkey and I'm going to
get it." Field exclaimed, with look of
decision on his face. "Nate, will you
let me have your mustang"
''Why cert, ledge. I'll let yer have
anything that yer want" Nate Cummings
answered.
"All right. I'll start tonight. You
boys can go On with the arrangements
and have the other good things made
ready and I'll start for the turkey"
''Do you really mean it, Jedge," the
committee asked in a chorus.
81 was never more serious in my life."
Mike Field. when once his mind was
made up to do certain thing, always
proceeded to accomplish it. AS soon as
he had decided to start out in search of
q turkey he made Nate Cummings go and
bring up his mustang and he mounted.
He did not tell the others where he
was going or how he proposed to get the
turkey, and rode off. After he was gone
the men returned TO their places
around the stove. 1t was cold night
out, the snow was deep on the hills aud
in the valleys, and none of them cared
to spend much time in the open air.
II think that Mikes going to play
some joke, ?" one of the men remarked af-
ter they had seated themselves in their