The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

face shows that a juicy red pippln,
nan of hickorynuts, would have been more
acceptable than "all these smOthering fall
laIsp as the Westerner dubs the ample
tropical fare.
"If our Christmas ship had only come
in!' he remarked, and with fixed stare at
a comrade who had just come from town
"a stare with wink in 1.-THE observes:
STEAMER probably delayed, you told me,
Perkins,"
THAT'S what" is nodded.
All hands look savage at this. Christ
mas cheer was on it's way to them-or
that they had been advised by way OF
Hong Kong a week since-but the steam
er was overdue, probably delayed by
storm, and their holiday cheer from home
might not arrive till New Years day.
Still, as Grinnell watches the West
erner and observes him more than once
gaze covertly in the direction of the cor
duroy camp road, he wonders If he Is not
nursing some spirited surprise that he
will spring later on.
The stories begin, and soon all are en-
crossed One man tells Of Christmas at
a far Western acknowledgement fort,
where the event of the day was the steal
ing Of the only wild turkey in knowledge
from a sportsman savage. Another had
seen '04 in Alaska, where key of frozen
cider was the only reminder Of home. A
third described the best Christmas dinner
he had ever eaten, and all mouths water
ed, and here there is an uproar.
I'M - hon VUh
there is the snap Of whip, and, wav-
ing his whip and yelling to his mules, into
camp bursts the negro driver of the COM
missary wagon.
eli dah!' he grins, "am dis Camp
Jawge Columbus Christopher Washing
ton?'
"You know it is, you rascal!' roared the
Westerner, springing to his feet, aglow.
"Out with it! the steamer is in?'
"She am, sab. I waited, sab, as yo'm
dareckted. Dah's a pahcel fob de camp
dat Christmas consignment hab arriv-
emp
"Whoopv'
Pandemonium breaks loose. Over the
camp spreads the news. Half-dressed men,
riotous runners, make for the campfire, as
up to it, straining nightly under the
heavy load Of crates and boxes and bar
rels, puff and pant the mules with their
Christmas store Of membranes.
Even the camp dogs rally to the call of
the tumult. Then, surrounded by press
ing, eager crowd, the Westerner mounts
the load, Ratchet in hand.
He prizes open those "pahcels," he be-
gins to deliver them. Hearts gladden., lips
culver, eyes sparkle in the far
away Philippines Christmas had come!
'Pierce Grinnelr"-with tremulous
hands the young soldier receives his pack
age, and steps back a bit from the crush
to inspect it.
All! it is glorious to be remembered!
There is Bible from mother, watch
from father, dozen handkerchiefs from
16-year-old sister Sue, cookie, ribbon
tied, caraway-dotted, from 6-year-old
Nell-"all cooked by my own self"-and-
another parcel.
The soldier boys heart thumps nightly.
Well does he know who sent this last. It
is response to question that the loneli-
ness of the camp, time to think over how
dear pretty, winsome Claire Rushton at
home is to nina bomely, blunt, claire,
have meY"
Grinnen opens the PACKAGE pair of
dainty home-knit Smitts. What in the
world does he want Of mitts in the broil-
ing Filipino country! Still, the good in
tent is there.
Then his finger tips tingle and tremble
so as he feels a tiny note in one Of the
mitts, that he drops everything to the
ground.
Nelps cookie must have caught the sniff
Of hungry camp dog. 1t makes bolt,
misses the cookie, and grabs up and runs
off with-the mitts with the note in them.
stop him-sto-o-op himv'
"What is itY
eli, the \robberv'
A crowd catches on to the appalling
mishap. There is pursuit. They corner
the canine, but not until he has torn up
one mitt
'Why, there's note in herev' torments
the rescuer Of half one mitt, and Grinnell
devours torn fragment Of dainty, scented
letter paper.
T. II won't have"
and his heart falls
"Hey, Grinnell-here's the other halfv'
The poor fellow puts the two pieces of
paper together.
i won't have anybody but your
There is the sentence, complete. De-
spite himself, the happy soldier boy ut
tered fervent, relieved yell of delight.
Whats bit you-a tarantula 2" de-
mands staring comrade.
MOP shrewdly guesses the jolly West
erner, reading between the Santa
Clausv