Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-12-22
OUR CHRISTMAS STORY
Written Expressly for the Imperial
 Valley Press

journey through very desolate and barren country. Ills friends tried to dlssuade him from undertaking the journey, It was so perllous and danger ous, but the man was determined to 20 so taking his little son with him and bidding his friends good bye he set out. After passing through many hardshlps and much suffering the man and his son reached the most desolate and for bidding part of their whole journey. Here, when their resources were just about exhausted and their hardshlps were very severe, they were set upon by bold and powerful robber named Seedeeco, who demanded that they pay him three million dollars or he would not let them pass on upon their journey. Now three million dollars Is very large sum of money, so large that neither the man nor his son had ever seen so much money in all their lives. But the robber was upon them before they knew it and he was SO strong he overpowered the poor simple minded man and soon had him at his mercy. While his father was strug- gllng with the mighty robber the poor little boy was dreadfully frightened and he cried just as loudly as he was able. Now there lived In another part of the world tender hearted old gentleman who had very sharp ear for the cry of little boys in distress, and although he lived long ways off he heard the cry of this poor little boy and like the great and benevolent old gentleman that he is he hastened to his help. With his big stick he soon drove the robber away and permitted the man to pass on his journey. The little boy was very grateful to the good old gen. tleman and loved him very much. He begged him to go with him and his father and help them through their jour- ney. But the old gentleman said, no, he had to go back to his home and could not do so. The little boy begged so hard that the good old gentleman promised him that if trouble ever came upon him again he would help him out of it if he would only call him. And then the good old gentleman went back to his home and the little boy and his father went on their journey. But the little fellow often thought of the good, kind old gentleman who had driven the robber away and remembered the promise he had gwen to help them in case they were troubled anymore. Now, after while another man came to them and said. "Behold, the river has broken In and the whole country will be flooded and you will be destroyed unless you give me million dollars to go and fix It." And the man was very much cast down and did not know what to do. The man was very insist ent and stormed and threatened, de- rhanding that he be given the money at once and the poor traveller was very much troubled. Then the little boy remembered the good old gentleman and his promise and he took courage and said to his father, Papa, don't you remember the good old gentleman who drove the robber away when we were in that awful place back therep We'll, he told me his name was Uncle Sam and that If we ever needed help to call on him and he would help us. This man looks good deal like that rob- Der, old Seedeeco from whom Uncle Sam delivered us before. Now, let us ask Uncle Sam to shut the water off. l know he will do it and he won't charge us for It. And the man llsten- ed to his son and did as he asked and the good and great hearted Uncle Sam heard their request and he went at once to their assistance. And 1t was at the glad Christmas time when the whole world Is celebrating the coming of our Saviour in the guise of little child. And the man and the little boy gather ed around the fire in their little camp on the prAat desert And thA man