The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25
PUBLISHED BY ARRANGEMENT
Dick Spindler's Family Christmas.
IIA
BY BRET IIARTE.
Copyright. 1925. by Bret Harte.)

There was surprise and some disappoint-
ment in Rough and Ready when it was
known that Dick Spindler intended TO give
family Christmas party at his own
house. That he should take an early or
portunity to celebrate his good fortune and
show hospitality was only expected from the
man who had just made a handsome
'strike" on his claim, but that it should as
sumo so conservative, old-fashioned and re-
spectacle form was quite unlookedfor nv
Rough and Ready, and was thought by some
a tribe pretentious. There were not half a
dozen families in Rough and Ready; nobody
ever knew before that Spindler had anv
relations, and this ringing i'm of strangers
10 the settlement seemed to indicate at least
a lack of public spirit. HE might urged
one of his critics. "hev given the boys-that
had worked alongside o. him in the bitches
by day, and slung lies with MIN around the
camp fire by night-he might hev given
them square blow out and KEEP the
leavin's for his old Spindler crew, just as
other families do. Why, when old man
Scudder had his house raisin' last year, his
family lived for a week on what was left
over, arter the boys had waItzed through
the house that highland the Scudders
war't strangers either" 1t was also evident
that there was an uneasy feeling that Spin-
dler's action indicated an unhdllowed lean
ing towards the minority of responsibility
and exclusiveness, and desection-without
the excuse of matrimony-of the convivial
and independent bachelor majority of Rough
and Ready.
Eff he was stuck after some gal and was
kinder looking ahead, I'd hev understood
It," argued another critic
Don't We be too sure he amt" said Uncle
Tim StaTbnCk QlOonlilu o. 6n1 fhak
some blamed woman is at the bottom of
this yer fammerly' gathering. That and
trouble eZ almost all they're made for!"
There happened TO be some truth in this
dark prophecy-but not of the kind that the
misogynist supposed. In fact, Spindler had
called a few evenings before at the house of
the Rev. Mr.. Saltover, and Mrs Saltover
having one of her "Salcratus headaches"
had turned him over to her widow sister,
Mrs. Hubby Price, who obediently bestowed
upon him that practical and critical atten-
ton which she divided with the stocking
she was darning. She was a woman of
thirty-five of singular nerve and practical
wisdom. who had once struggled her
wounded husband home from a border af-
fray, calmly made coffee for his deceived
pursuers while he lay hidden in the loft
walked four miles for that medical assist
ance which arrived too late to save him.
buried him secretly in his own quarter
section" with only one other witness and
mourner and so saved her position and prop
erty in that wild community who believed
he had fled There was very little of this
experience to be traced in her round, fresh
coored brunette cheek her calm black eyes,
set in a prickly hedge of stiff lashes, her
plump figure, or her frank, courageous
laugh. The latter appeared as a smile when
he vplc SnfndIPr 'fSha hadn't
seen him for a coon's age" but ''reckoned
he was busy fixin' up his new house."
well, yes" said Spindler, with a slight
hesitation, I'VE see I'm reckonin' to hev
kinder Christmas gatherin of my" he
was about to say folks but dismissed it
for relations" and finally settled upon
relatives" as being more correct in
preachers house.
Mrs Price thought it very good idea
Christmas was the natural season for the
femiIy to gather to "see who's here and
who's there, who's gettin' on and who isn't
and who's dead and buried. 1t was lucky for
them who were so placed that they could
do so and be joyful" Her invincible phiIos-
ophy probably carried her past any dam
gerous recollections of the lonely grave in
Kansas, and holding up the stocking to the
light she glanced cheerfuly along it's level
TO Mr. Spindler's embarrassed face by the
fire.
We'll, / can't say much ez to that" re-
sponded Spndler still awkwardly, for you
see | don't know much about it any way"
How long since you've seen emp" asked
Mrs. Price, apparently addressing herself to
the stocking.
SpndIer gave a weak laugh. "Well, you
see, eff it comes to that I've never seen
emr'
Trc DIT Al ste tn, ho,~I Ion,
and opened her direct eyes on Spindler
Never seen emp" she repeated. ''Then
they're not near relations?"
There are three cousins" said Spindler
checking them off on his fingers, "a half
uncle, kind of brother-in-law-tha is the
brother of my sister-in-law's second hus-
band-and niece. That's six
But if you've not seen them, suppose
they've correspondent with your? said Mrs
Price.
They've nearly all of 'em written to me
for mOney-seeing my name in the paper
havin' made a strike returned Spindler,
simply, and hevin' sent it, L jest know
their addresses"
OH said Mrs. Price, returning to the
stocking. Something in the tone of her
ejaculation increased Spindler's embarrass-
ment but it also made him desperate. 'You
see, Mrs. Price, he blurted out, II oughter
tell we that reckon they are the folks that
hewitt got on don't you see, and so it
seemed only the square thing for me- ez had
got on, to give them sort o. Christmas
festival Suthin, don't We know, like what
your brother-in-law was sayin last Sunday
in the pulpit about this yer Peace and Good
will twixt man and man."
Mrs Price looked again at the man before
her His sallow, perplexed face exhibited
some doubt yet certain determine ton re-
garding the prospect the question had opened
TO him. "A very good idea Mr.. Spindler
and one that does you great credit" she
said gravely.
I'm mighty glad to hear you say So Mrs
Price," he said. with an accent of great re-
lief for / reckoned 10 ask you great
favor! You see," ne fell into his former
hesitation that is-the fact is-that this
sort o. thing is rather student to me-a little
outer my line. don't you see. and was gon
to ask ye eff you'd mind talin' the hull thing
in hand and runnin it for me-"
Running it for you?' said Mrs. Price,
with quick eye-shot from under the edge