The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1910-12-20

ID many men, but only one
ttS-TsL - little girl. She was sit |
~ ting in front of a ire
j0 place, which occupied /
81 "a one whole end of 'the
best cabin in camp" Her seat was
a fat piece of pine log. Lying close
to Ter was a big St. Bernard dog.
miner Bob says that Santa Claus
comes down the chimney; but now,
Rover, we know better than that.
She took hold of the dogs collar, ana
turned his head toward the fireplace.
Gwen if he should get down the chin
ney, he'd be burned up. He could not
bring anything with him without get
ting it black and dirty I'll put the
fire out tonight with that pail OF
water"
Rover got up and took lap or two,
and 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 stopped and whispered in
the dogs ear. We'll leave the Win
dow open. Of course, Rover, | don't
! mind telling you why I am so anxious
for Santa Claus not to come down
that chimney. You see, want doll.
Miner Bob says that Santa Claus
brings you what you wish for.
never saw real dolls, but they must
be beautiful things. This picture |
cut out of a magazine is doll, so
Miner Bob says Whew! 1t mustn't
come down the chimney, Rover, 1t
mustn't"
In a few minutes the dog and the
little girl were both fast asleep This
time the child's head was pillowed on
Rover's shaggy coat and in her hand
she tightly held an advertisement OF
Christmas toys.
Two men, sitting at a pine table in
the other end of the cabin, were talk
Ing in a low, mysterious manner.
, 1--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 get another stick for
/ love or money. We have been showed
: In now for three months, and we've
got to count on four weeks more be
fore there is any hope of getting out
Of here"
Eyes, I know it," replied his com
panion, "but I'm going to do it JUS
the same"
"You know the boss orders, spoke
I'D the first man, who was Miner Bob
"We1l catch it if we disobey. especial
e ~ when starvation is staring US IL
e the face"
a at can't help it," was the reply
It "put it all on me; I'll stand th-
p blame"
II The men drew their chairs close
% together. ard there they worked TO
d several ho1rs. stonning just Ion
enough to lift the little girl from tn
l. floor to her cot, where she went O
a. dreaming of Santa Claus and tn
S, beautiful doll.
ID It was a bitter cold night-a regula
~ Blizzard Several miners lost TIE,
lie way going from one camp to tn
at other and were frozen to death. An
:? mails that failed to get under shelte
le were found dead next morning.
at Inc girl I6uCIIDS12 ho MIA
ct Of that most terrible storm in the hi
n, tory of the camp. but next mornir
Id she was awakened early by her faith
ch irving to close broken window f
We said it had been crushed in by tt
ST. storm, but the little girl said. IN
in Santa Claus did it."
Hes been here" she cried, and
g. ~ I'D h
cot over the floor to the chime
With cries of Its a doll-a doll
she clasped to her heart the mo
beautiful thing she had ever see
tits my doll, all mine; and it's g
eyes, and a nose, and mouth, a.
( ears and hair-and such beautif
red flannel dress!"
3 She kissed it again and again, al
no heart ever came so near burstil
with Joy as the heart of that lit
girl, way out in the snowed-in mir
with death and starvation all abo
} her.
The two miners had come in, a
= we're listening to the wonderful sto
as it fell again from the childish Iii
~~ "You used them ALL" interrupt
the father, gazing sternly at the ms
on, "Yes," said Miner Bob eve US
them ALL
me "It was wrong, very wrong?"
So 1--WE could not help it," replied t
lei other miner. at was the only W
to make it, and we'd rather go hung
= the rest of our days than have
kid disappointed.
The kid" oblivious of anything
the blessed joy of possessing d.
in was telling Rover: Father thinks
or wind broke the window. / forgot
ons open it; but, you see, Santa Cls
mas knows just what you want, so
all brought the doll through the wind
nth to save her from getting dirty com
uch down the chimney"
Little did she realize that of all
eet- dolls found that Christmas morning