The Newark journal., 1902-12-26
TIE SNO INBOUND TRAIN
Christmas Story --- How Santa Claus rIanaged to Save
 His Reputation.

western part Of Nebraska, was one of that class commonly called ~mixed." It was made up of a few box cars, and on the rear was combination passenger coach. The compartment ahead was filled with cattlemen who smoked al- most as prodigiously as the little engine, and in the rear compart- ment were several woman,a clergy man, two or three Omaha travel ing men ant newspaper man who was going up into the "Hllls" ill search of material for sketches.
 The train was hours behind its schedule time, and the passengers were grnmbling and growing be- cause those living far up the line saw all hope of getting home in time to spend Christmas eve with loved ones disappearing, It was terribly cold and the frozen snow dritted before the fierce north wind, heaping up huge banks on the curves and filling the cuts level full. Every now and then the lit. tie engine would buck into drift, shiver and stand still. Then it would back off, take another run and drlve still further into the drift. Usually the second CT third effort would clear the track and the little engine would give a shriek of triumph aud gather speed for the next one.
 1t WAS the day before Christmas late III the day, too, for the sun had dipped far into the southwest and already the chill gray of the December twilight was over all. What the belated cattlemen m the smoking compartment said Is not necessary to relate. But they said their say in lund language that hetokened easy familiarity with the method of expression. The travelling men anG the newspaper man played "cinch' and '1hearts' when not talking about the wealth CT, and the women gazed out into the gathering darkness and looked gloomy.
 But there was plenty of lite and jolIity Tn the car. A little, care worn woman had two children, both girls, the eldest not more than nine years old aud the young CT one about four. They romped up and down the car aisle, mak- ing frequent trips to the water cooler, aud every time the brak ke- man came in to stir up the fire in the little stove they watched him with childish awe for his brass buttons and jaunty cap. They did not make friends readily, but Wher spoken to replied hashfully and sought refuge with the tired mother.
 Think we'll get through, old man?' asked d travelling man of the conductor.
 Don't look like it. The drifts are getting deeper and we're likely to buck into one that will hold us"
 Well, that's what we get for venturing out the day before Christmas,' said another travel ing man, 1 wanted to go home for Christmas, but the house or ,lered me to Chadron to sell fei- low who's getting ready to open q new store"
 This set the men to talking and the way they grumbled at not be- ing able to spend Christmas at home was remarkable.
 Just as the brakeman came in to light the lamps the train slowed up with il jerk that threw the passengers out of their seats, and fairly made the windows rattle. Then, instead of backing up tor d Jew start, the tram quivered for
 moment, and the whistle gave q
 pairing vail. The brakeman
 ed out, and when he returned
 minutes later it Was to re-
 tight n drift and the