The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-25
DICK SPINDLER'S FAMILY CHRISTMAS
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyrighted. lsos. by Bret narte.

known that Dick Spindler intended 20 give
a Family Christmas party at his own
house. That he should take an early OPP
poTtunity 10 celebrate his good fortune
and show hospitality was only expected
from the man who had just made a hand
some STRIKE" on his claim, but that II
should assume so conservative, old-fash-
toned ana respectable a form was quite
unlocked for by Rough and Ready, ana
was thought by some a trife pretentous.
There were not half a dozen families III
Rough and Ready; nobody ever kne" be-
fore that spindler had any relations, and
this ringing in of strangers to the set
tement 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 him around
the camp fire by night-he might new
given them square blow out and KEEP
the leavin's for his old Splndier 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, after the boys had waltzed
through the house that highland the
Scudders warnt strangers, either" 1t
was also evident that there was an I'M
easy feeling that Spindler's action indi-
Gated an unhallowed leaning towards the
minority of responsibility and exclusive
ness and desertion-without the excuse
of matrImony- of the convlvial and in
dependent bachelor majority of Rough and
Ready.
EFF he was stuck after some gal and
was kinder looking ahead, I'd hev under
stood it," argued another critic.
Don't We be too sure he amt" said
Uncle Jim Starbuck, gloomily. Yen find
that some blamed woman Is at the bottom
of this yer fammerly gathering. That
and trouble ez almost all they're made
for!'
There happened 10 be some truth i'm this
dark prophecy-but not of the kind that
the misogynist supposed. In fact. Spin
der had called a few evenings before at
the house of the Rev. Mr. Saltover, and
Mrs. Saltover having one of her "SalcTa-
tus headaches" had turned him over to
her widow sister, Mrs. Hubby Price, who
obediently bestowed upon him that prac-
teal and critical attention which she de-
Vided with the stocking she was darning
She was a woman of 80, of singular nerve
and practical wisdom, who had once Snug
gled her wounded husband home from
border affray, calmly made coffee for his
deceived pursuers while he lay hidden in
the loft walked four miles for that medi.
cal assistance which arrived too late 10
save him. buried him secretly in his own
quarter section" with only one other
witness and mourner, and so saved her
position and property Ia that wild COM
munity who believed he had fed. There
was very little of this experience to be
traced in her round, fresh-colored bru-
neite 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 she
welcomed Mr.. Spindler. "She hadn't seen
him for a coons age" but "reckoned he
was busy fixin' up his new house"
We'll. yes" said Spindler with a slight
hesitation, ''ye see I'm reckonin' TO hev
kinder Christmas gatherin' of my" he
was about 20 say folks" but dismissed
it for relations" and finally settled upon
relatives" as being more correct in a
preachers house.
Mrs Price thought il a very good idea
Christmas was the natural season for the
family TO gather TO 'see who's here and
AID who's dead and buried. 1t was lucky
for them who were so placed that they
could do so and be joyful. Her invinclbe
philosophy probably carried her past any
dangerous recollections of the lonely grave
in Kansas, and holding up the stocking
to the light she glanced cheerfully along
its level to Mr.. Spindlers embarrassed
face by the fire.
Well can't say much ez to that" re-
sponded Spindler still awkwardly, 'for
you see l don't know much about 1t any
way"
How long since you've seen emp ask
ed Mrs. Price, apparently addressing her
self TO the stocking.
Spindler gave a weak laugh. "Well,
you see, ef it comes to that, I've never
seen 'em"
Mrs. Price put the stocking in her lap
and opened her direct eyes on Spindler.
Never seen emp" she repeated. Then
they're not near relations?'
There are three cousins" said Spind-
Ter, checking them off ON his fingers, "a
half-uncle, kind of brother-in- law-that
is the brother of my sister-in-law's second
husband-and niece. That's six"
"But if you've not seen them, 1 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 ez havin' made a strike" returned
Spindler, simply, land hevin' sent it, l
jest know their addresses"
"Ohr' said Mrs. Price, returning to the
stocking.
Something in the tone of her ejaculation
increased Spindler's embarrassment, but
1t also made him desperate. You see,
Mrs. Price" he blurted out, 81 oughter
tell we that l reckon they are the folks
that hewitt got on don't you see and so
1t seemed only the square thing for me. ez
had got on to give them a sort o. Christ
mas festival Suthin, don't We know. like
what your brother-in-law was sayin' last
Sunday in the pulpit about this yer Peace
and Goodwill twixt man and man"
Mrs. Price looked again at the man be-
fore her. His sallow, perplexed face ex-
hibited some doubt yet a certain determl-
nation regarding the prospect the quota
ton had opened to him. "a very good
idea. Mr.. Spindler, and one Mat does YOU
great credit" she said, gravely.
I'm mighty glad 10 hear you saw so
Mrs. Price" he said, with an accent of
great relief, 'for l reckoncd to ask Won a
great faVOri You see" ne faU int 1T.