The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-12-25
HOW THEY CELEBRATED.
The Four Travellers, snowbound on
Christmas Eve. Made the Two
Chiidrcn Happy.

Four travellers who were snow
bound in western passenger train
on Christmas eve speedily became ac-
quainted with each other, and sat
about the stove at the end of the car
TO "talk it over One of the men was
. drummer, another a cowboy, the
third a big cattle man, and the last
the minister who tells the story.
They finally fell into conversation
with poor woman and her two
children, the only remaining passen-
who had tried to maintain herself
by sewing since her husbands death,
was giving up the unequal struggle
and going home to live with grand
ma"
The little threadbare children, says
the Youths Companion, had been
promised n joyous Christmas there,
and when they found that the block
ade would prevent their getting
farther, for the present, they cried
bitterly until sleep quieted them.
Just before they dropped off the
drummer remarked:
"Say, parsou, we've got to give
these children some Christmas"
THAT'S what" said the cowboy.
"Im agreed" added the cattleman.
The children were told to hang up
their stockings.
I'VE amt got none," quavered the
little girl "ceptin' those we've got
on, and ma says it's too cold to take
em off,
"I've got two pairs of new wooden
socks" said the cattleman, eagerly.
81 amt never wore 'em, and you're
welcome to 'em."
The children clapped their hands,
but their faces fell when the elder
remarked:
"But Santa Claus will know they're
not our stockings. He'll put in all
the things for you"
Lord love you!" roared the burly
cattleman. He won't bring me
nothin' One of us'll sit up, anyhow,
and tell him it's for you"
Then the children knelt down on
the floor of the car beside their i'm
provised beds. Instinctively the
hands of the men went to their
heads, and at the first words of Now
[ lay me-" hats were off.
The cowboy stood twirling his hat,
and looking at the little kneeling
dgures. The cattleman's vision
seemed dimmed, while in the eyes
Of the travelling man shone a distant
look-a look across snow-filled prai-
ries to warmly-lighted home. The
children were soon asleep. Then
arose the question of presents.
ut don't seem to me I've got any
thing to give EN-" said the cowboy,
nournfully, "unless the little kid
might like my spurs. I'd give my
gun to the little girl, though on gen
eral principles l don't like to give
up a gun"
"Never mind, boys" said the drum
mer, ''you come along with me to the
baggage car"
So off they trooped. He opened
his trunks, and spread before them
such an array of trash and trinkets
rs took away their breath.
There" said he, "iust pick out the
best things, and I'll donate the lott"
"No, you don't!" said the cowboy.
Pm goin' to buy what | want and
)ay for it, too, or else there amt
soin' to be no Christmas round here"
That's my judgment, too" said the
cattleman, and the minister agreed.
So they sat down to their task of
election. They spent hours over it
n breathless interest, and when their
gifts were ready there arose the
question of a Christmas tree. 1t had
topped showing, and tramping out
nto the moonlit night, they cut
lown a great piece of sage-brush.
Fhe mother adorned it with tinsel
laper, and the gifts were prettily
disposed. Christmas dawned for two
IF the happiest children under the
un, and happy mother, too, for inside
he big plush album selected for her.
he cattleman had slipped a hundred
lollar bill.