Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-12-30

ION, ARE YoU ALYvDf"
was an old familiar tune. and the
words stirred a responsive chord In
him:
Good news on Christmas morning!
Good news. oh. children. dear!
Christ was born In Bethlehem
And Ia living now and here
The voice and song trailed of until
lost entirely to the ear. When silence
fell around the man vaguely wondered
II this were death. He had often
thought Of death He had seen 1t in so
many different forms that the fear Of
Il had seldom disturbed him. Now he
dreaded it-nO; wished for 1t, for the
pain was past endurance. and there
was no release from his prison.
He seemed to wait and listen eagerly
for the song again. but all was silence
around. A great dreary blank drifted
across his mind. and he was uncOn-
scious OF pain or suffering. How long
this stupOr lasted he could not say, but
when consciousness returned again an
agOnizing pain shot through his leg
and body. He grOaned and tried to
change his position.
Then close to his lips little sobbing
voice cried out: Lob. are you alive?
thought was too late. Wait q minute
and / will get the leg free"
1t was dark all around, but Carston,
looking up, saw stars shining over
head. They came through a big hole
In the wall Of rocks. His leg was SO
numb that feeling was nearly gone,
but he was conscious Of little hands
digging and tearing ut the dirt beneath
the crushed limb. Then suddenly q
great weight was lifted from 1t and
the little sObbing voice said:
Nov poll with me-"
How the little hands worked the dirt
and rocks loose from the bowlder and
how the two Of them strained and
pulled to extricate the mans body
from the death trap Carston could
never clearly understand, but after an
hour Of agony be felt himself lying on
the surface Of the earth with q little,
slim. slender creature by his side,
gasping and painting from exertion.
Tiny drops Of moisture trickled on
Carston's face. but they were blood
from lacerated hands and not tears.
The little sobs were dry and fearless.
Carston swooned again In spite of
his heroic will to light back the weak
ness. In the interval the stars shone
down upon him In their cold, hard
blilliauce. and the soft, cool air filed
his painting lungs with healing
strength.
They carried the man to the nearest
mining camp and gave him such med.
ical attendance rs he needed. After a
week Of fever and delirium Carst0n's
strong constitution brought him
through successfully. His first thought
was Of the child who had rescued him.
Bring that merry Christmas young.
ster to me!' he almost shouted.
where is he? Don't keep me wait.
Ing"
Rugged old Carston. black by name
and character. flung his arms around
ne slender neck and. with q great sob
IN his voice. cried: Merry. merry
christmas! A merry Christmas. young
stef. and God bless you!"
Hut even then he did not know that
his faint merry Christmas!" uttered
In his feverish dreams when impris-
oned In the rocks had flrst attracted
Tho little 9inGersa attention and ~es
responsible for his rescue. That was
long ago. and Carston now celebrates
the Christmas season With religious
zeal and ceremony, and there II a.
ways q little MERRY CHRISTMAS" 70
help him. for nothing could satisfy him
but to nickname his rscuer Merry
Christmas"