The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-12-22
Written for the DenOciat-Star,
The Child Who Tried to
Take Her Mothers
Place.
A True Christmas Story
From a Seni-Bar-
baric Race.

AS the time draws near to the cele-
brati0n Of the birth Of the One to
whom we owe all that our nature pos
sesses OF love. OF faith, Of hope and
charity, and we speculate, and plan
and work to make our little ones and
those around us happy for the time,
l will relate an occurrence which took
place on Christmas day only one short
year ago. And ask you, dear readers of
the "Old Reliable" after you have
finished reading and kissed your little
ones and laid them to rest after lis
ten!ng to their prayers for special re-
membrducc of those in need; that as
you sit resting from your labors, to
think, II you can, of some one near
you who has been less fortunate than
you, to whom you can let in little
ray of sunshine TO their hearts and
homes by sharing your good fortune
with them. For truly has our blessed
Lord said "As ye give, SO shall ye re-
ceive."
The order for loading I've army wag-
ons with provisions for the starving
Cubans farther in the interior had
been faithfully carried out, the mules
were hitched to the wagons, the SOL
dicrs as guards fully armed to
protect the provender, mounted to
their places; the drivers caught up
their reiDs, and with the loud crack.
ing of the several whips the start was
made and soon the intervening hills
shut them from the view OF the bay
and the town.
In each of the wagons there were
barrels of potatoes, rice, coffee, tea,
sugar, -four, meal, hard tack, onions,
canned corn, tomatoes, meats, con-
densed milk, evapOrated cream, soap,
starch, bacon and medicines for I'M
mediate use; simple remedies that so
often produce such astonishing re.
suits.
Il say, boys, do you know what
day this is? BY jove, IL Is the 25th
day Of December. What are our folks
doing at home do you reckOn?'
"Oh shut up. Sam, smell mothers
plum pudding right now. Oh, how
my mouth waters for a taste of it,"
sand how every one OF our mothers
are wishing we were there to have
sOme," yelled Bob from one Of the
other wagons. For the ground was
very soft, aud the wheels sinking into
the yielding earth sent back a soft
sound that was not unpleasant.
One boy with his back turned To
those in front said never word; and
who shall blame him or call him soft
hearted because OF the great tears
which filled his eyes and lost them-
selves In hig splashing drops on the
butt of his gun which rested across
his knees.
II say, CHARLIE" called the first
speaker, 81 have just discovered who
we are. We are. Santa Clauses! de-
you know it, and we are going to I'LL
the swell no, not stockings In this
case; they don't wear 'em. It's hel
lies, without soul to blush at the
name. Yes, sir, they shalf<tnye q
square meal to-day some of thd oeh
lieutenant" This last to th660m
mander who just then rode alongside
on his splendid horse.
Eyes, George, as many Of them
as we can reach" (.
Then backing his horse, be rode
across behind the back Of the wagon,
and said In low tone:
s'Brace up. Dick. my poy, a'l our
hearts are hungry for home faces to-
day, but us part Of soldiers life,
| you know, God bless you" ."and rude on,
| Just touching the boys haud with his
rauntlob z a Bling. That touch Of
lsynuathsls II |as sunk deep Into