Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-20
CHRISTMAS AT sNAGT0WN.

CHRISTMAS AT sNAGT0WN.
Snagtown was characteristic western
settlement i'll the Black Hills 1t had been
established but short while and the min
ers had had a hard time to keep their foot
hold against the on Taught of the Indians,
who took fendish delight in creeping
down on them in the night and destroying
their huts and killing them whenever they
got a chance. But when the first Christ
mas came around Snagtown was consider
ed to be on a solid foundation. and the
Snagtownites proposed to have a roaring
good time, 1t was decided that tremend-
Gus big feast should be given at the Snag-
town Arms, in which all should take part,
on Christmas afternoon and Jack Billings
the only boniface in the place, had been in
structed that unless he did his very best
the boys would raise particular Cain with
him. A week before the event was TO take
place "A m citing was held aud a committee
on arrangements was appointed, with or
ders to spare no expense. Cit loads o.
| grub an plenty o. lush" 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 properly. The committee i'm
mediat,l y got together to decide what they
should have at the feast. Jack Billings
and his colored cook were called in for con-
sultation. I've got loads of booze that
was brought out on the last coach from
Dawson's' Billings replied in answer to a
question of one of the committee in regard
to what he had on hand; but about the
grub, l hardly know what YOU went"
"Dere's loads o ven'son, Marse Jack -"
Pete, the cook, exclaimed AN ducks an
rabbits, an den 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 Gran
berry saucei"
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 three hundred miles from here. We
had better put up with what Billings has
''Well have TO, said another.
During this conversation there was a
member of the committee who had remain
ed quiet in a corner of the room sitting on
a barrel, with his legs crossed, smoking his
pipe and looking as if he were deeply en-
gagged in thought He was a tall, broai
shouldered fellow, not over thirty years of
age with heavy black beard and long
black hair, and a face that indicated intelli-
gence and honesty. lie wore a blue fan
mel shirt, corduroy trousers, belted in
around the waist and the legs tucked into
the high boots. A light sombrero was set
on the back of his head. This was Mike
Field whom Pete had mentioned as hav-
ing killed the coon. He was a general ia
vorite among the miners, and his opinion
was much sought after in the decision of
difficult questions in which the bowie knife
and pistols did not enter, and for this rea-
son he was given the name of the Judge,
and whenever a court was held be was
called upon to preside. Field was tact
turn man and never spoke about his for
mer life, but one could tell from his man
ner of talking that he was fellow who
had hal the advantages of good educa-
ton.
Look here, boys" Field said, as he
came up to the group clustered around the
stove, I've just been thinking about this
matter, and Pm of the same opinion as
Cummings, and that is that we must have
a turkey"
All of them looked at Field, anxious to
hear what he had to propose.
at only lacks five days before it will be
Christmas, pard, one of the committee re-
marked, as he blew a Whit of smoke from
his pipe, and a smile crossed his face as he
thought that for once in his life Field would
be stumped.
THAT makes not the slightest bit of diff
ference Field rejoined. II wouldn't
care if it was only the day before Christ
mas. If this committee decided upon hav-
ing turkey for dinner it would have to be
secured at any expense"
ut is well enough to talk that way,
Mike, but none of us are magicians and
can't see how we are going to get turkey
when none is around"
"Well, I'll tell you, boys, that we are GO
ing to have turkey and I'm going to get it, -
Field exclaimed, with look of decision
on his face, Mate, will you let me have
your mustangp
"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, Jedgel" the COM
mittee asked in chorus.
81 was never more serious in all my
life"
Mike Field when once his mind was
made up to do a certain thing, always pro-
ceeded to accomplish it. AS soon as he had
decided to start out in search of 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 a cold night out, the snow was deep
on the hills and in the valleys, and none OF
them cared to spend much time in the open
air.
81 think that Mikes going to play some
joke, " one of the men remarked after they
had seated themselves in their places and
ordered Billings to fill up the glasses with
hot toddy.
''He may, but l doubt it. He's got some
plan in his NOODLE, you can gamble on it,
another rejoined."
! 'I'll bet any un tibet Mike fetches tn