The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-05-15


h0ANY strange Christmas days
IM have l seen, but that wild
~ Black Rock Christmas stands
~ out strangest of all. While
was reveling in my delicious second
morning sleep, just awake enough to
enjoy it. Mr.. Craig came abruptly, an
nouncing breakfast and adding:
Hope you are in good shape for we
have our work before us this day."
"Hellow l replied, still half asleep
and anxious to hide from tho minister
that l was trying to gain few more
moments Of snoozing delight. whats
abroadT ..
'The devil" he answered shortly and
with such emphasis that sat bolt up.
right, looking anxiously about.
"Oh, no need for alarm! He's not
after you particularly-at least not to-
day." said Craig. with a shadow of a
smile. But he is going about in good
style. can tell you"
BY this time was quite awake.
"Well, what particular style does his
majesty affect this morning"
He pulled out q showbiIl. "Pecul-
iarly gaudy and effective, is 1t not?"
The items announced were sufficient
iy attractive. The Frisco Opera COM
pany was to produce the screaming
farce" ''The Gay and Giddy Dude"
after which there was to be q grand
hr%aduring which the "Kalifo-'' e-
n time lle-s" were to DO An go WY
Res; 1Is' whole tonDe ~ wed BY q
big supper" with two free drinks to
every man and one to the lady" and
all for the Insignificant sum Of 81.
Cant you SO one better" said.
lie looked inquiringly and a little
disgustedly at me.
what can you do against free drinks
and dance, not to speak of the high
kickers?" he groaned. NO" he con.
tinued. 'Its clean beat for us today.
The miners and lumbermen will have
in their pockets $4,000 and every dol.
lar burning hole, and Slavin and his
gang will get most Of 1t. But" he
added, 'you must have breakfast.
You'll find tub in the kitchen. Don't
be afraid to splash. 1t is the best I
have TO offer you"
The tub sounded inviting, and before
many minutes had passed l was In q
delightful glow, the effect Of cold water
and rough towel and that conscious
ness of virtue that comes to a man
who has had courage to face his cold
bath on a winter uefning.
The breakfast was laid with nRs
taste A diminutive pine tree in a pot
hung round with wintergreen stood in
the center uf thstable.
~Well now. this looks sood-porridge,
beefsteak. potatoes, toast and marina.
lade." -
Il hope yoa VIA en,oy Il all"
There was no< much talk over eur
meal. Mr.. Craig was evidently preocs
cupied and a. blue az his pollteness
would allow hims1 elavin's victory
weighed upon h,S spirits. Finally be
burst out; Look herei canx-I
eoa't stand I'll Something must b
donA Last Christmas this town was
Tor two weeks, as one Of the miners
said. a little suburb Of. hell 1t was
something too awful. And at the end
Of Il all one young fellow was found
dead in his shack, and twenty or more
crawled back to the camps, leaving
their three months pay with Slavin
and his suckers. I won't stand It,
sayw He turned fercely on me. whats
10 be doneT
This rather took me aback, for I had
troubled myself with nothing Of this
sort in my life before, being fully oc-
cupied in keeping myself out Of diff.
Guilty and allowing others the same
privilege. So / ventured the consola-
tion that he had done his part and that
a spree more or less would not make
next moment wished had been slow
er in speech, for he swiftly faced me.
and his words came like a torrent:
"God forgive you that heartless word,
Do you know But, no; you don't
know what you are saying. You don't
know that these men have been clam
bering for dear life out Of fearful pit
for three months past and doing good
climbing, too, poor chaps. You don't
think that some Of them have wives,
most of them mothers and sisters, in
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k1N Best Cough Syrup. Tastes Good. Use ~
EG in time. SOLD oy druggists. I&t
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