Sharp County record., 1902-12-26
HOW THEY CELEBRATED.
rhe Four Travellers, SnowbOuhd on
ChrlEtmas Eve. Made the Two
ChlIdren Happy.

-Four travellers who were snow
bound in a western passenger train
on Christmas eve speedily became ac-
quairted with each other, and sat
about the stove at the end OF the car
to stalk it over" One OF the men was
q drummer, another cowboy, the
third 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 a joyous Christmas there
and when they found that the block
cde would prevent their getting
farther, for the present, they cried
bitterly until sleep quieted Them
DUST before they dropped off the
drummer remarked:
Say parson, we've got to give
these children some Christmas"
That's what" said the cowboy,
I'm agreed" added the cattleman'
The children were told to hang up
their stockings.
1--WE amt got norle," 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 woolen
Socks" said the cattleman, eagerly.
II amt never wore 'en, and you're
welcome to EN-"
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!" roated the burly
cattIcman. "Uc won't bring ME
nothin', One of usll 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. ihstinctively 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
figures. The cattleman's vision
seemed dinuned, while in the eyes
of tie travelling man shone distant
iook-a look across show-flled praiA
fies to warmly-lishted home. The
children were soon asleep. Then
arose the question OF presents.
"lt don't seem to me I've got any
thing to give EN-" said the cowboy.
mournfuly. "uhless the little kid
might like my spurs. I'd give my
gun to the little girl, though on gem
eral principles l don't like to give
up gun"
Never mind. boys" said the drum
tt,er, you come along with me to the
baggage car"
oo VIZ ''cy 'ToOpeu. ne opeueo
his trunks. and spread before them
snch an array OF trash and trinkets
as took away their breath.
There" said he. "just pick out the
best things, and III donate the lott"
mo, you doE'tl" said the cowboy.
"rm goin to buy what want aud
pay for it, too, or else there amt
guin' to DE no Christmas round here"
That's my judgment, too" said the
cattlcnan, and the minister agreed. |
So they sat down to their task Of
selection. They spent hours over it
in breathlcss interest. and when their
gifts were ready there arose the
question of Christmas tree. It had |
stopped showing, and tramping out
into the moonlit night, they cut
down a great piece of sage-brrSh.
The mother adorned it with tinSel .
paper, and the gifts were prettity
disposed. Christmas dawned for two
OF the happiest children under the
sun. and n hap mother. too, for inside +
the big plush album selected for her,
the cattleman had slipped hundred
l,,Jl