The daily Republican., 1902-12-09
HOW THEY CELEBRATED
The Four Travellers, SnOwbound on
thristmns Eve. Made the Two
Children HAPPY.

Four travellers who were snow
bound in d western passenger train
on Christmas eve speedily became ac
qlainted with each other, and sat
about the glove at the end Of the c"t
to talk it over One Of the men was
drummer, another cowboy. th,
third big cattle man. and the la,
he minister who tells the story
They finally fell into conversation
with Il poor woman and her two
children, III" 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 thrnaAbare children, SAYS
the l"uth's Companion, had been
promised a joyous Christmas there,
and when they found that the bloch
ade would prevent their gettE2
farther, for the present, they crirt
bitterly until sleep quietcd them
just before they dropped off the
drummer remarked:
"S"N. pHrson, we've got to giyr
these children some Christmas"
"!hat's what" said the cowboy.
m 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
en- OIL
'Ivc got two pairs of new wooden
socks, said the cattleman, eagerly.
- aint never wore EN-. and you're
welcome to EN-"
The children clapped their hands,
but their faces fell when the elder
remarked:
"I'ut Santa Claus will know they're
rot our stockings. Iie'll pat in all
the things for you.'
"Lord love you!" roarcd the burly
cattleman. He won't bring me
n"thln'. One of ns'II sit up, anyhow,
and tell him It's for you"
Then the children knelt down on
the floor of the ear beside their i'm
proNiSed 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 twirlng his hat,
and looking al the little knceling
figures. The cattIeman's vision
seemed dimnIed. v4le in the eyes
of HE travelling man shone a distant
look a look across snow-flled prai-
rjcS to "A warmIy-liphted home. The
children were soon asleep. Then
ar"S" the question of presents.
"It don't seem to me I've got any
thing 10 give EN-" said the cowboy.
mnnrniuIly, ''unlcss the little kid
might like my spurs. I'd give my
gun to the little girl. though on gen
cral principles ! don't like to give
up gun"
NEVER mind. boys" said the drum
ncr, "you come along with me to the |
baggage car
:" Of they truopcd. He opened |
his trunks. and spread before them |
such an array Of trash and trinketS |
az took away their breath.
"Ihere," said he. ''just pick out the
best things. and III donate the lot"
"NU, you 0ont!' said the cowboy.
"1'm guin' to buy what | want and
pay for it. too. or else there amt |
goiu' I" b" no Christmas round here"
"Thats my Judgment, too" said the
cattleman. and the minister agreed.
So they sat down 10 their task Of
selection. 1hrN spent hours over it
IN brcatlI"sS interest, and when their
gifts were ready there arose the
question If a Christmas tree. II had
stopped showing, and tramping out
into the moOnlit night, they cut
down a great piece Of sage.brush.
The mother adorned it with tinsel
paper. and the gifts were prettily
disposed. Christmas dawncd for two
OF the happest children under the
sun, and happy mother, too, for inside
the big plush album selected for her,
the catt'emGn had slipped a hundred
dollar bill.