Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-12-26
NUMBER 26,

NUMBER 20
Mrs. A. S. Vorshamer, OF St. Louis
is visiting her grandparents, Gen'l an,
Mrs. r. F. Wingate-
Father Time has rolled another yea
around, and another Christmas Is q
hand, with its bright anticipations TO
| the young and its pleasant memories
for the old. OF all times Christmas Ii
the happiest. It rounds out the yea
| with jollity and goodwill. Th'
Christmas tree blooms and bears frui
throughout the land, the lights tina
adorn its branches beaming not more
brilliantly than the eyes of the happ,
children who surround it. 1t is q time
when the heart is unlocked aud chari
ty overhows the bounds that ordinarily
circumscribe it. When the most sor
did of men will have kindly thought
for his fellows who have not prospered
as he has. When Santa Claus visits
the homes of poor and rich alike, and
if his gifts to the children OF the poor
are not so costly, he seasons them with
a larger amount of goodwill and q
keener appreciation. At Christmas
time father denies himself many things
in order that mother and the children
may have something for Christmas.
and mother sits up until the hours oi
the early morning at work upon some
present for the loved ones, which. in
after years, will be treasured in loving
memory of her because it is the work
of her hands-hands that have long
since crumbled to dust perhaps. It is
a time when old friend ships are re-
newed, when sons and daughters re-
turn to the old home, to look upon the
face of father and mother once more.
A time when old animosities are
smoothed out of life and nothing but
its good and kindly things are remem-
bered; when every one has smile and
a pleasant greeting for his neighbor,
and a social glass of eggnog is indulg-
ed in by people who are total abstain
ers for the rest of the year. 1t is a
time when old scores are wiped out.
and we get ready for the new year by
taking rest at Christmas time. All
hail to Christmas! May the shadow
of its patron saint never grow less,
and may the Christmas tree blossom
and bear fruit forever!
Sam Cooley, who did lately preside
at the windlass at the public school
we'll now digging, is out of a job. Last
Thursday after dinner he lowered down
Dick Gouldlng and Gay Rusk. who are
finishing up the job SO unluckily be-
gun by Uncle Frank Sweezie. Then
Samuel concluded that, as it would
take an hour or two to put in the next
blast, he might as we'll go off and have
a good time in anticipation of Kris
muss, as to stand unneeded by the
windlass exposed to the shrill blasts of
the marrow-searching wind. So off he
went, and landed at first jump into the
lap of enjoyment spread out for him at
one of the saloons down town. He
warmed his outer man at the stove,
and solaced his inner sensibilities with
an overfowing cup of that that cheers
and inebriates at one shot. Then he
had the cup reilled, and quaffed again.
Once more to the breach, and Sam had
conquered every ignoble thought of
work and trod the upper air and solar
walk of humming glory. Forgotten
were the well, the windlass and all
thereunto appertaining, and the dig
gers, forty-two feet in the bosom of
the earth. They might search to the
bounds of China for water, but Sam
had struck richer vein and proposed
to stay by it. In the meantime Dick
and Rusk drilled, and swabbed and
tamped and primed, and another blast
was in readiness for touching off.
Then they yelled for ''Samw but no
Sam replied. Again and again the
Macedonian cry went forth toward the
light, only to be tumbled back again
unanswered to their appalled, senses.
Nor Caesar, nor Pompey. nor Sam was
there to respond. The rain by this
time was falling and water trlckled
down the sides OF the hole. Ever and
anon chunk of loosened earth went
plunging down, giving promise OF
larger chunks to follow. The rope
hung dangling down within reach OF
the diggers. and they endeavored to
reach the surface han6-over-hand; but
the cable was slippery with mud and
wet, and all attempts were vain. |
About this time. and just as darkness
began to spread her funereal wings ov.
er natures fair domain. relief came in
The person of Prof. F. M. Vance, re-
turning to the school house for for
cotton book. He heard cry faint
and wierd; doubted; listened; gave re-
sponse, and behold, again came the
sound of distress, plainly from the
mouth of the we'll. He manned the
windlass and drew the distressed min
,rs-we presume the word is proper
70 earth and air and freedom once
again. Their inquiries after ..that
Id niger" showed becoming So
icitude for his welfare, notwithstand-
ng the uncomfortable, not to say
critical, condition into which his
Iearch after happiness had plunged
hem for four mortal hours.
Old People.
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