La Junta tribune., 1905-12-20
n CHRISTMAS
STOR%
. HE wagon was an old. ram
shackle affair and creaked dis


the obscure prairie road. Their harness
was a combination Of ropes and well
worn straps. whose hard edges had
rubbed off patches of the sorrel hair
from she animals lank sides and sharp
backs
The wagon cover was soIled and
patched in many places. and through
its center protruded a short. rusty
otovepipe. from which issued a thin vol
ume of blue smoke which stretched out
in a long wake behind, held in form
by the chill December air.
Now and then fiocks Of brown spar
rows would rise up out Of the dead
grass and whirl away Ike withered
leaves borne aloft on an autumn
breeze, while near the roadside saucy
little prairie dogs perched above their
holes and chattered and bsrked defi-
ance at the dilapidated vehicle as II
went numbering by.
On a board across the front part Of
the wagon. lines in hand. sat a girl ap-
pAYently not more than nineteen years
old. though she was In reality twenty
one. A mass Of dark gold curls peeped
from under the hood that covered her
shapely bead. her eyes were bright
hasei. and the breath Of chill wind that
crept up under the canvas gave q vivid
color to her pretty cheeks.
Faith. how much farther n II 70
Uncle Ethan'sy' snxiously inquired .
youth Of ten who occupied low bench
that stood I'm the center Of the wagon
hsd.
"A long way yet. dear. ! am afraid"
replied the girl More than 4 hundred
miles. l should say
Then We tan't have NO Trismus."
plaintively sighed u curly haired mite
scarcely more than i've years old. who
hy half buried In the folds Of a huge
buffalo robe.
I'm afraid our Christmas Will be
rather dresry. Bessie" responded
Faith. u momenfary shadow crossing
her fair face. but let us be thankful
We have such a nice shelter from the
cold" she added quickly. casting her
eyes about the Interior Of the canvas
covered wagon. then out across the
dreary stretch Of houseless prairie up
on which n few scattering fakes OF
snow were beginning TO fall
AT the rear end of the wagon was
pile OF bedclotbes. while in = clear
place near the middle stood a small
heating stove. In which a cheerful wood
nre was burning ON the ridgrpole at
the top Of the bows hung several cook
ing utensils. and under the front seat
was n good sized provision box. con
taining part Of a sack OF -four. some
sides OF bacon. tea. sugar and few
other necessary articles OF food.
A little less than a year prior TO the
present time Faith Haskins' father had
died, leaving her alone on a bleak Ne
braska claim and with her little broth
sr and sister. Clinton and Bessie. TO
care for. Their mother had been taken
from them only eight months before
her husband. The condition was q
serious one. ns they were left very
poor. and there seemed nothing in the
future sufficiently hopeful TO mitigate
their grief. Faith. however. true to
her name. did not despair. but went
hravely to work to support herself and
the children. During the summer. with
Clints help. she cultivated a small
patch of ground. and the winter pre-
vIous had earned small sum By teach
ing n short term Of school Realizing
that IL would be almost impossible for
them TO continue this mode Of life for
any length Of time. she had written to
her mothers brother. Ethan Bartiey.
who lived on a ranch In southwestern
Kansas. and he had advised her to sell
their small property and come with
Clint and Bessie and make their home
with him.
Very gladly had Faith accepted the
oeer. but. finding IL Impossible to con
vert their few effects into cash. she
l~ft the place in charge Of a renter and.
not having money for railroad fare. de
cidesi to make the journey by wagon
There were a score OF young claim
hol.iers who would have been very
well pleased to retain the girl as
hou.eke<oer for themselves. but she
cared for none Of them and would not
marry simply for q home
II vas . great undertaking this jour
~ Of theirs and at this sessen Of ths
pear. but t seem~i preferable to an
cher winter on the claim. and they -
sst In appafpafiy eood spirits H.
ySuneer oaeD were indeed happy, - al
eAiBdrva are at the prospect OF
dang. They Asd BEEN travelling FOR
ahuue toe weeAs asd had rssched .
psfnt pear IT, ceate9 Of wOtern kan-
- aDA we're pressing On toward ~Cn-
els E1Aan's rasch- ae fast - The nsw
1oAsa ouIes could tahe sAs1~
II vas Q loneiy ssd oesolate sioAf
Aae ~ FaitA-s eyes n they wandered
Ouneny ever the brown. cAeersss plain
~ n1uD ana nfIes arsund no sisn -
. boDnn habatnsiea beuke the Doooee-
sase Ise<Fvab wAes some abasdsned
- sAaafy - duusst could Be dinly
oun. ososgs1y 6ise3uuussAabbe ffUo sAR
oRvwn oR1O Wiki sUsT0uDded II.
n<se ~ - - . setf1eDs.f