The herald., 1897-12-19
A KONDIKE CHRISTMAS

city store. Mr.. Wilson sold his toys and
candy at his own prices, and so Santa
Claus managed to keep his contract
with the little folk In the Klondike for
one Christmas at least.
Well, Christmas day. 1895, came
around at last, and we got ready to drive
over to the mission. where the great
party was to be given. Thermometer at
its Klondike lowest, and frost bites for
any nose that showed itself above the
fur. We had about three-quarters of
mile to drive from our log house to the
mission, part of this distance being over
a river bridged by solid Ice thick enough
to bear the weight Of q locomotive and
train of cars.
My husband hitched up our team
consisting of half dozen sturdy sleigh
dogs, and I climbed In with the three
children enveloped in furs to their eye
brows. We made the trip to the mis-
sion buried beneath pile of furs, with
the dogs trottlng along at their best
pace. down the valley, across the frozen
river to the door where hospitable Mr..
Naylor awaited US. Inside all was mer-
riment and laughter. The members Of
the little half-breed colony, about .
score Of children, were in such q state Of
gleeful expectation that they were ready
to stand on their heads with Joy at ev-
cry fresh arrival. / had fixed the chill
dren up so rs to make their dresses look
pretty, but they had to paddle around
all the evening in their fur boots. The
half-breed children were all gotten up
in their Sunday best, and the scene was
most delightful one. But that Won
derful Christmas tree! Nothing like 1t
had ever been seen in the Klondike be-
fore. Mr. Wilson, the toy angel. had
done nobly. There were real dolls, gaily
attired and with genuine eyes and noses.
instead Of the featureless baseball heads
with which the Klondike children had
been used to satisfy themselves. There
were horses and wagons, dancing fig.
ures, tiny drums and all the other &C.
centric contrivances that bring JOY to
the juvenile heart. The toys were
packed in a bag made from mosquito
netting. that having been the only ma
terial available. Then Santa Claus
came down and distributed the toys. The
little half-breeds were making Santa's
acquaintance for the first time and
thought him perfection, but my eldest
girl was inclined to be critical. Santa
was gotten up for Yukon weather. A
huge furry "parka" with the hood
turned up around the face was Santa's
royal robe and in lieu Of u genuine white
beard he had powdered his own whis-
kers to make them look like the typical
appendage of the dispenser Of presents.
No one knew who he was. the "parka"
and the whitened beard Disgusting him
effectually. He did we'll with the dis
t,.it Of nd la
heart was gladdened.
After that we went In for series Of
old fashioned games. Blind mans buff
proved the favorite, the half dozen
adults in the room threw themselves
into the spirit of the occasion. and for
one confess that enjoyed 1t as much as
the children. The mission house. like
our own home. was built Of rough, un-
trimmed logs. but some attempt had
been made to decorate the interior, and
there being plenty Of light and warmth
and the cheerfulness Of childrens mer-
riment 1t needed no very strong stretch
Of imagination to forget about the
frozen earth outside, and fancy that
we were celebrating Christmas around
the warm fireside Of our old home in the
east. Refreshments were provided for
the children and the party broke up at
midnight, every one declaring that it
had been a thoroughly jolly Christmas.
Our three children fell asleep under the
rugs on the way home, but they all held
on tightly to their presents
These were my two Christmases in the
Klondilke. The notion that there is
necessarily much carousing In that re-
gion is entirely erroneous Every one
was quiet and well behaved, rowdyism
being a think unknown during my So
journ in the Yukon. But oh! the satis-
faction Of being in the east for Christ
mas time once more.
PHILLIE ENGEL.