The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-12-26
a Christmas Tree
in a Zig Forest

great country was Inhabited from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, end when eX-
tensive forests stretched over great
tracts of land, through which the foot
of white man had not left its print,
the frontiersman living in the outer
settlements had small chance to cele-
brate the Yuletide season. He, with
his family, composed a small world,
which was too seldom entered by an
outsider NeiahbOrs were at great
distances apart, AMI their time was all
occupied in clearing the land which
was to become tho fine, rich fields
from which their children and grand
children should reap such rich har-
vests.
In the early forties sturdy farmer
or frcnticrsman as those "pathfind-
crs" were called-movcd from the
outer borders of what was termed civ
iliZatiOn TO a new country. where as
yet the woOdman's AK had not been
heard or the curl Of smoke from the
log cabin been seen by the red man,
lurking about on the watch for the in
truding paleface. Into the depths OF
shadowy forest the frOntiersman, ac-
companied by his family of wife and
two sturdy sons, went, hunting suit
able location for a camp.
After many days of weary travel
they halted near a beautiful spring
that came from rocky cliff overhang-
ing stream that promised to be full
of fish,. Here the father and sons cut
down trees and built a cabin.
One evening, as the family sat
around the cheerful fire of logs, chat
ting of the past, present and future,
the mother quickly said: "Well, de-
cleare, Christmas is almost here, and
I'd forgot to think about it."
"Yes, so it is" agreed the father.
Just three days off.
The two sons. aged, respectively,
fourteen and sixteen, were not yet too
old to enjoy the excitement and pleas
ure attending the holiday season, al
though they had had small OppOrtuni-
ty TO do so since they were in their
teens, for their father was man who
was ever looking toward the setting
sun, following it farther and farther
as the settlements grew and prOspered
and dangers became less about him.
We'll, I'd like to be back at Berton-
ville," declared Samuel, the elder son.
"There'I lie great times there, I'll war
rant. Neighbor Higgins girls will
have Christmas tree and tafy.
pull
"Ah, yes sighed Thomas Peter. the
Younger sen. And over at Neighbol
Van Smiths therell be big wild
turkey dinner and lot of the friends
will have an invite there. Do you mind
last Christmas, mother?'
Yes. the mother minded" and il
sent a pang through her good, tender
heart to recall the pleasant and socia
bic times they had enjoyed while liv
inc on the outskirts of the little vii
laee.
The nextSi!ay Sam and Tom wen
viii. their guns to hunt for game, the
ONLY kind of meat the family had fOl
their table in this wild part of the
weird As they trudged along San
sad: y wish we could give mothel
some little surprise Oh Christmas. Blu
reckon it's out of the question:
Father never cares about sucl
things" said Ton. He's might,
smart and brave man and has no mine
for foolish things. But l am like moth
er-I enjoy friends and a sociabl
time Wish there were some neigh
bors near
"Lcok!" interrupted Sam, pointin
to curl of blue smoke to be seen ris
ing to the sky through the leaf1es
trees That's not an Indian cam
fire. White people are where tina
smoke comes FROM
1T must come from around tina
hill" declared Tom. Lets go cal
tiously, for you can never tell wha
kind of an Indian surprise is awaitin
you."
Like two Indians, the boys stol
round the hill, which was almost bar
of timber. They crept on their ston
achs, making no noise. When the
rounded the obstructing point ther
came into view several covered wa.
ons and a newly built cabin, with tW
or more in course of construction.
number of stalwart men and boy
we're busy at the building and nun
th>