Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-12-23

When a Christmas story is rea!
the reader naturally expects TO find
depicted in words a pleasing OF
happiness and good cheer. in which
large. juicy turkeys. garnished with
the accomplishments usual AZ such
tines. roast pigs holding the proven,
bial sprlg of spinach or a red apple in
their mouths, plum pudGingS and 9th,
er indigestiblc delicacics galore, are
dominant ideas in that portion OF the
narrative regarding the appetite, and
the ideal story OF this gladstone per
iod is one OF fcasting, relaxation from
care and general rejoicing. To the
average westcrner this idea ol Christ
mas seems a fixed reality, for he has
nearly always been accustomed to the
best things of life at those times. ana
the departure from the old custom OF
having a good time on Christmas
would seem unreal M him, Yet,
strange TO tell. in This very land Of
prosperity and plenty whore 1t may
be said that nature has opened her
cornucopiea OF BLESSINGS ana spread
them broadcast there arr many per
sons Twins within us confines who
remember Q Christmas in one of our
towns when a turkey vas unknown
and a roast OF beef could not have
been found on Il singh table, and had
it not have been for the ready adap.
liability o. the population to circum.
stances the day would have been
one of sorrow. rather than Of glad
ness.
Ten years ago just such a Christ
mas was experienced by the residents
OF the good mining camp of Gilt Edge
Three hundred people lived in the
camp al that time and among then
all there was not cash available "a
have furnished a good Christmas din,
ner fo. one family. The original com
pany operating tie Gilt Edge mines
had failed to pay It's employees, the
sheriff had seized the property of the
company, ard 10 every resident the
outlook was clUudCd with the posi-
bility OF actual suffering want OF fol
Onlmon necessities OF lie. Through
cut the state ard country generally
business was s~taguated and Casl
counted as The only medium of pur
chase, but nowhere was this stagna
ton and depression more iorcibly ap
parent Than in the now prosperous
camp OF Gilf Edge.
sin. with the truly American char
aCtoris'ic of making Tho best al
things, when Christmas arrived th'
inhabitants OF the little town prepared
to meet the ~'yigonCi"s oi the Casl
boldly and enjoy themselves as bos'
they might. 30 invitations were is
sued 30 bachelors TO take dinner viii
their married friends. for ryorybod!
was hI-tling 10 get dinner for him
sell; hut the feeling Of good will pre-
vailed NOR, strongly than it w0ult
in more favored places, misfortune
haviug a tend nCy to bind men NOR,
closely in kindly relationship one 10
ward another. and the Christina
greeting was given with a greater in
tensity of true feeling than common
The TWO saloons that were runnin!
did not have the usual bowl OF Ton
ami Jerry, o being supplied viii
the appurtenances thereuntO belong
ing, but a traveller came along during
the day and brought with him a gal
Ion of the fluid that maKes life seen
like a continuous Christmas. and. un
happily for him. fell into the hands
of some of the most energetic rustlers
of the camp: when he left he was shy
his whisky but laden with a most