Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-19

at last and we got ready to drive over
IA the mission where the great party
was TO be given. Thermometer at its
Klondike lowest, and frosts pltes Lot
onv nose that showed itself above the
fur We had about three quarters OF
r,iIa "a drive from our log house 10 the
mission. part OF this distance peing over
a. river bridged by solid Ice timex enough
TO hear the weight Of locomotive anu
train OF cars.
Nv husband hitched up our team, con-
sisting OF half dozen STURDY sielsh
dogs. and I climbed in with the three
children enyeloped in furs to their eye
hrows We made the trip TO the mission
buried beneath a pile Of furs, with the
dogs trotting along at their best pace,
down the valley, across the frozen river
TO the door where hospitable Mr.. Mayor
awaited u.s. Inside all was merrlment
and laughter The members or the httle
half-breed colony, about a score or emil
dren. were in such a state or gleetul
expectation that they were ready 10
stand on their heads with JOY at every
fresh arrival, / had fixed the children up
so as to make their dresses look pretty
hut thew had TO paddle around all the
evening in their fur boots. The half-breed
children were all gotten up in their sun
dav best. and the scene was most de-
lightf,,l one. But that wonderful CHRIST
mas tree! Nothing like IL had ever Deeh
seen in the Klondike before. MI. Nlisoh'
the toy angel, had done nobly. Ihere
u,era real dolls, gayly attired and WIN
Genuine ewes and noses. instead or the
featureless baseball heads with which
the EIondike children had been used 10
satisfy themselves. There were horses
that bring joy 10 the juvenile heart. me
| and all the other eccentric cohtrNahces
and wagons. dancing figures. tiny drums
toys were hacked in bags made from
MOSQUITO netting that having been the
| onIv material available. Then santa
! claus came down and distributed the
TOYS The little halfbreeds were making
| Santa's acquaintance for the nrst time,
| and thought him perfection, put my
eldest girl was inclined TO De crllical.
| Santa was gotten up for Yukon weather.
A huge furry '.parka,' with the hood
| turned I'D around the face, was Santa
| royal robe. and In lieu or a genuine
white beard, he had powdered ms own
| whiskers to make them look ike the typi-
cal appendage OF the dispenser OF pres
ents. No one knew who he was the
"narlxa" and the whitened beard dis
| guising him effectually. He did well win
| the distribution OF the toys, ana every
| little heart was gladdened.
| After that we went in for series OF
old-fashloned games. Blind mans bun
nroved the favorite- the half dozen ADULTS
| IN the room threw themselves into
| the spirit OF the occasion, and
I for one, confess that en-
loved II as much as the children.
| The mission house. like our own home,
was built of rough. untrimmed logs, but
] some attempt had been made to deco
rate the interior. and there being plenty
OF light and warmth and the cheerfulness
| OF children's merriment. II needed no
very strong stretch Of imagination TO for
get about the frozen earth outside. and
fancy that we were celebrating Christ
mas around the warm frUslde OF our old
home In the East. Refreshments were
| provided for the children. and the party
broke I'D at midnight. every one de-