Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-12-26
"Not tonight, DEAR"
Won't we see papa Tonight"

! in the car tonight, and we'll not see
papa till morning."
But what will Santa Claus do if
we don't get there?"
Perhaps Santa will wait for u.s."
said the mother. "We must not
think about him, dears, until we get
to papa"
One OF the women went forward
and talked to the mother for a few
minutes, and apparently learned a
part OF the family's history. At any
rate she told the clergyman that the
mother and children were from Ohio,
and that they were on their way to
Chadron, where the father had gone
nearly q year before to take up o
homestead.
The children ate their lunch,
played awhile in the aisle, and then
began to grow sleepy.
Mamma, can't Santa Claus find
US here on the train?" asked the old
est.
"Tm afraid not, dear"
But can't he try, mammal"
"Pm afraid he'll look for US where
papa is"
But can't we hang our stockings
up here SOS if he comes he'll know
it's us?"
Yes, but I'm aftaid he'll not find
them, dears."
But the little ones insisted, and two
little stockings were securely pinned
to the rack overhead, and two little
heads were soon pillowed on the vel
vet cushions.
About 9 o'clock the cattlemen came
trooping back, having been warned
that the coal supply was low and not
sufficient to keep two stoves going for
any great length of time. As they
came in one brawny man happened
to see the stockings and he stopped
in surprise. He did'tsay word, but
pointed to them and smiled. The
men gathered in the rear of the com.
partment and talked in subdued whis-
pers. Finally one of the travelling
men went forward and talked to the
mother, and when he came back he
told a story full of pathos. 1t was
the old story OF man striving to
make home on the frontier and en-.
countering even more than one mans
share OF hardships. But he had
managed to get enough money to
send for his family.
Them kids has got to have a
Christmasl" calculated one OF the
cattlemen.
That's whatw said another.
And then there was some scheming.
One OF the travelling men represented
. grocery house and he happened to
have few samples of confectionery.
These went into the "pot." Another
fished up q couple Of pairs OF pretty
gloves out Of his sample trunks, and
the other one produced two pretty
bottles of perfume from his sample
case OF drug sundries.
"I've got few toys up ahead that
l got in Omaha for my kids" said one
OF the cattlemen, "but I can get some
more in Chadron. I'll chip them in"
He brought back little doll buggy
and China doll wonderfully dressed,
and Noah's ark full OF impossible
animals.
Zone of my girls is boy" he ex-
planned, $50 l can't dig up but one
doll"
The newspaper man dug up two
measley little oranges from his grip,
remarking that if he had known what
was coming he would have bought a
crate. cts the best can do for the
babies" he said, but the oranges were
received with suppressed delight.
The women we're allowed to con.
tribute and one gave q little lscs
handkerchief and another contributed
. silver thimble.
II amt got nothin' but chewin'
terbacker," remarked one Of the cattle
men in an injured tone OF voice, "and
l reckon that don't 60 in this pot"
eff it did I could chip in some
considerable myself" said another.
IL ain't got no kids-nor wife
neither" said another. "That's why
I amt stocked up considerable on
Christmas fixin's. II had 'em I'd be
so tickled I'd have q box-csr full
ahead"
Perhaps you could contribute what
. few toys would cost" timidly ven.
tured the clergyman.
"Say, parson. you're brick!" said
the cattleman. I'd q never thought
OF it. Ill just chip in the price OF
steer" And he tossed bill with two
"X's" on it into the little pile.
"I'll see that raise" said another.
"I'll have to stay" said third.
"I'll have TO call for sight," re-
marked the newspaper man as he
added small bill to the pile, the
travelling men following the example.
Then the two women we're called
into requisition and we're delegated to
fill the stockings. The mother was
shown the contributions, and her eyes
filled with tears.
"God bless all Of you," she said.
"Amen" echoed the clergyman,