Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-12-26

and f1er Two children Beat with Joy-A
Happening Which Shows the World Akin.
The train, putting bravely and
pushing over the new road into the
new and sparsely settled northwestern
part OF Nebraska, was one OF that class
commonly called "mixed." It was
made up OF 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 en-.
gine, and in the rear compartment
were several women, a clergyman, two
or three Omaha travelling men and a
newspaper man who was going up
into the Hills" in search of mater
ials for sketches.
The train was hours behind its
schedule time, and the passengers
were grumbling and growing because
those living far up the line saw all
hope Of getting home in time to spend
Christmas eve with loved ones disap.
pearing. It was terribly cold and the
frozen snow drifted before the fierce
north wind, heaping up huge banks
on the curves and filing the cuts
level full. Every now and then the
little engine would buck into a drift,
shiver and stand still. Then it would
back off, take another run and drive
still further into the drift. Usually
the second or third effort would clear
the track and the little engine would
give shrek OF triumph and gather
speed for The next one.
1t was the day before Christmas
late in the day, too, for the sun had
dipped far into the southwest and al
ready the chill gray of the December
twilight was over all. What the be-
lated cattlemen in the smoking COM
partment said is not necessary to re.
late. But they said their say in lurid
language that betokened easy famil-
iarity with the method Of expression.
The travelling men and the newspaper
man played "cinch" and "hearts'
when not talking about the weather.
and the women gazed out into the
gathering darkness and looked gloomy.
But there was plenty OF life and
jollity in the car. A little, care worn
woman and.two children, both girls,
the eldest not more than nine years
old and the younger one about four.
They romped up and down the car
aisle, making frequent trips to the
water-cooler, and every time the
brakeman came in to stir up the fire
in the little stove they watched him
with childish awe for his brass but.
tons and jaunty cap. They did not
make friends readily, but when spoken
to replied bashfully and sought refuge
with the tired mother.
"Think we'll get through, old manf"
asked travelling man Of the conduc-
tor.
"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 ven.
turing out the day before Christmas" !"
said another travelling man. II
wanted to 60 home for Christmas.
but the house ordered me to Chadron
TO sell fellow who's getting ready to
open q new store"
This set the men to talking and the
way they grumbled at not being able
to spend Christmas at home was re.
markable.
Just as the brakeman come in to
light the lamps the train slowed up
with . jerk that threw the passengers
out OF their seats, and fairly made the
windows rattle. Then, instead of
backing up for new start, the train
quivered for . moment, and the
whistle gave = despairing vail. The
rushed out, and when be
returned . few minutes later it was to
"Stuck tight in . drift and the
nearest station eleven miles off,"
When he went in and told the cat.
tlemen not even tho thick partition
and the closed door could keep out the
echo OF their lurid remarks.
"What are we to do?" asked one Of
the women.
1--WE can't do nothing" replied the
"We's got TO stay here till
q snow .plow can get Us out, and that
may be twenty.four hours from now"
This calamity produced a silence
that was thick enough to cut with q
knife. Then one of the travelling men
arose with the remark that he had .
few things to say that he would much
better be said outside.
The idea Of spending the night on
the bleak prairie without supper or
breakfast was enough to daze every
Wonder what them kids ill do?"
whispered the brakeman.
But this query was answered when
the tired mother opened q basket and
began dealing out lunch to the little
girls.
Mamma. when will we get homer"
asked the oldest.