Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-08-28
KEEPING CHRISTMAS.
the way IL was Do.e o, . saesv
Bound Rnspepwer T1mip.


The Way IL Was Done on = Snow
Bound Rnssepger Train.
-Four travellers who were snow bound
In western passenger train on Christ,
mas eve speedily became acquainted
with each other and sat about TIE
stove ut the end Of the car TO 'talk n
over" One Of TIE men was drum
mer. another q cowboy, the third bin
eattleman cnd the last the minister
who tells the story. They finally fell
into conversa ticn with poor woman
and her two children, the only remain
Ing ..passengers, and found that the
mother, who had tried to- maintain her
self by sewing since her husbands
death. was giving up the unequal strug-
gle and going home % live with grand
ma
| The little. threadbare children had
teen promised q joyous Christmas
there, and when they found that the
blockade would prevent their getting
farther for the present they cried bit
terly until Sleep quieted them. just
before they dropped or the drummer
remarked:
Say, parson, we've got to give these
children some Christmas"
THAT'S whatw said the cowboy.
*l'm agreed" said the cattleman.
The children were told 70 hang up
their stockings.
"we Amt got none," quavered the
little girl, "'ceptin those we've got
ON. and ma says It's too cold to take
iem or"
eve got two pairs of new wooden
socks" said the cattleman eagerly. 81
ain't never wore 'em, AMI you're vel
come to 'em."
The children clapped their hands. but
their faces fell when the elder remark
ed:
"But Santa Claus win know they're
not our stockin's. He'll put in all the
things for you
"Lord love your roared the buriy
cattieman. "He won't bring me moth
In. One OF us'il sit up. anyhow. and
tell him it's for you"
Then the children knelt down on the
floor OF the car beside their improvised
beds. Instinctively the hands OF the
men went TO their headss~and ut the
first words of Now ] lay me" hats
were OF.
| The cowboy stood twlrllng his hat
and looking at the kneellng figures.
The cattleman's vision seemed dimmed.
while in the eyes OF the travelling man
shone a distant look. a look across
snow filled prairles to n warmly light
ed home.N The children were soon
| asleep. Then arose the question of
presents.
cit don't seem. TO me I've got any
thing to give EN-" said the cowboy
I mournfully, UNLESS the little kid
might like my spurs I'd give my gun
to the, little girl. though on general
principles I don't like to give up q
gun" @
"Never mind. boys" said the drum.
mer; you come along with me 90 the
baggage car"
So OF they trooped. He opened bis
trunks and spread before them such
M array of trash and trinkets as took
away their breath.
There" said he, 'just pick out the
best things. and III donate the lotp'
/ mo. you don'tr' said the cowboy.
Pm goin to buy what want and pay
for Il, too. or else there amt goin TO be
20 Christmas round here"
THAT'S my Judgment. too" said the
cattleman, and the minister agreed.
SO they sat down to their task of Sc
lection. They spent hours over it In
breathless interest. and when their
gifts were ready. there arose the ques-
ton OF a Christmas tree. 1t had STOP
ped showing. and tramping out into
the moonlit night they cut dowa a
great piece OF sagebrush. The mother
adorned 1t with tinsel paper, and the
gifts were prettily disposed. Christ
mas dawned for two OF the happiest
children under the sun and u happy
mother, too. for inside the big plush
album selected for her the cattleman
had slipped hundred dollar bill
Youths Companion.