The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-12-15

cNT ting in front Of fire.
lu place. which occupied
Sd Ia one whole end OF tho
best cabin in camp" Her seat wac
a fat pieco OF pine log. Lying close
90 her was a big St. Bernard dog.
Miner Bob says that Santa Claus
comes down the chimney; but now,
She took hold Of the dogs collar, and
turned his head toward the fireplace.
"Eyen If he should get down the chin
ney, he'd be burned up. He could not
bring anything with him without get
ting II black and dirty. I'll put the
IRE out tonight with that pail of
water"
Rover got mp and took lap or two,
snd then came back and waited for
the rest OF the story.
She continued. But don't believe
any Santa Claus Will come away out
here. where there is only you and me.
Here she stooped and whispered in
the dogs ear. Wen leave the win
Sow open or course, Rover, / don't
mind telling you why am so anxious
tor Santa Claus not 10 come down
that chimney You see ! want a doll.
Miner Bob says that Santa Claus
brings you what you wish for. I
never saw real dolls, hut they must
b. beautiful things. This picture I
rut out OF n magazine is doll, go
Miner bob says Whow, II mustn't
rome down tho chimney. Rover II
mustn't"
In few minutes the dog and the
little girl were both fast asleep. This
time the chlld's head was pIllowed on
Rovor'a shaggy coat and in her hand
she tightly held an advertisement OF
Christmas toys.
Two men sitting AZ a pine tabl0 in
The other end Of the cabin were talk
Ing I'm low. mysterious manner.
we are most out Of food, you
know" said one; "only FIVE potatoes
left. We paid 500 for the last stick.
but we could not got another stick for
love or money We have been showed
In now for three months and we've
rot TO count on four weeks moro be-
fore there IS any hope Of getting out
OF here"
Yes know IT," replied his com.
panion, hut I'm going to do It lust
the same"
You know tho boss orders" spoke
M the first man. who was Miner Bob
"We1l catch It II We disoboy. especial.
Is when starvation Is staring us in .
the face" :
81 cant help IT," was the reply, .
put It all on me; I'll stand the
blame"
Tho mon drew their chairs closer :
together, and there they worked for
several hours. stopping Just long
enough to lift the little girl from the
floor TO her cot. where she went on
dreaming Of Santa Claus and the .
beautiful doll
II was bitter cold niEht--a regular
blizzard Several miners lost their .
way going from one camp to the .
other and we're frozen TO death AMI .
mails that failed 10 get under shelter .
were found dead next morning. /
The little girl remembers TO more .
OF that most terrible storm in the his .
tory Of the camp but next morning F..
che was awakened carly by her father /
trying to close broken window He ;
said It had been crushed I'm by the
storm, but the little girl said NO,
Santa Claus did a."
Hes been here" she cried and in
her excitement fairly rolled from her
cot over the floor to the chimney
With cries Of IT'S ioll--a doll"
she clasped 10 her heart the most
beautiful thing she had ever seen.
ITS my doll, all mine; and It's got
eyes. and a nose and mouth and
ears and hair-and such a beautiful
red flannel drcss!"
She kissed It again ard again. and
no heart ever came so near bursting
with Joy as the heart Of that little
ri-l. wny out In the gnowedin mine.
with death and starvation all about
her
TIE two miners had come in. and
were listening 10 the wonderful story
as Il fell again from the childish lips.
You used them ALL" interrupted
the father. gazing s'ornly mt the ran.
Yes" said Miner Bob. I'VE used
them NIL"
1T was wrong, very wrong?"
I'VE could not help It," replied the
other miner. 1T WAS the only way
to make It, and we'd rather go hungry
the rest of our days than have the
Kid disappointed
The kid" oblvious Of anything but
the blessed joy OF possessing a doll,
was telling Rover: Father thinks the
wind broke the window forgot to
open 1t; but you see, Santa Claus
knows Just what you want. so he
brought the doll through the window
to save her from getting dirty coming
down the chimney"
Little did she realize that OF all the
dolls found that Christmas morning in
the stockings OF the little ones all over
the United States not one was made
NJ n c Drapinuq material nc barg Oh.