Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1910-12-08

! I J !: !:
C@ mining camp in the
N@Y Rocky mountains. fortv
)IkR7 years ago. There were
~ %l many mon. but only on
~ little girl. She was sit
~ ting in front of are
Uu place, which occupied
- - one whole end OF tho
best cabin in camp" Her seat was
. nat piece of pine log. Lying close
to her was 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. an6
turned his head toward the fireplace
Even II he should get down the chin
ney. he'd be burned up. He could mo-
bring anything with him without get
ting 1t black and dirty. Ill put the
fire out tonight with that pail O
water"
Rover got up and took lap or two
and then came back and waited TO-
the rest Of the story.
She continued: But don't believe
any Santa Claus will como away ouf
here, where there is only you and me
Here she stopped and whispered If
the dogs ear. We'll leave the win
dow open. OF course. Rover, dom
mind telling you why am so anxious
tor Santa Claus not to come down
that chimney. You soc, want a 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 I
cut out Of magazine 10 q doll. sc
Miner Bob says. whew! It mustn't
come down the chimney, nUver, 1t
mustn't"
In few minutes tho 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 pine table IN
the other end Of the cabin. were talk
ting in low, mysterious manner.
I'VE are most out Of food, you
know" said one; only FIVE potatoes
left. We paid 800 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
got to count on four weeks more be
fore there Is any hope Of getting out
of here"
Yes, know f." replied his com
panion. but I'm going to do 1t Just
the same"
You know the boss orders" spoke
up the first man, who was Miner Bob
"We1l catch It II We disobey. especial
ly whom starvation is staring us In
the face"
II can't help It," was the reply
"put 1t all on me; I'll stand the
blame"
The men drew their chairs closer
together, and there they worked 70 5
several hours. stopping Just Ions
enough to lift the little girl from the
floor to her cot. whore she went OF
dreaming Of Santa Claus and the
beautiful doll.
1t was bitter cold night-a regular
BLIZZARD Several miners lost Their
way going from one camp to the
other and wsro frozen 10 death. Ami
mails that failed ia get under shelter
were found dead next morning.
The little girl remembers no more
OF that most terrible storm in the his
tory of the camp, but next morning
she was awakened early by her father
trying to close broken window. Nc
said 1t had been crushed in BY the
storm. but the little girl said, mo,
Santa Claus did it,
He's been here!" she cried, and H.
her excitement fairly rolled from her
cot over the floor to the chimney
With cries OF IT'S a doll-a doll!''
she clasped to her heart the most
beautiful thing she had ever seen
Its my doll, all mine; and IT'S go
eyes. and a nose. and a mouth, and
ears and hair-and such beautiful
red flannel dress!"
She kissed 1t again and again, and
no heart ever came 80 near bursting
with Joy as the heart of that little
girl. way out in the snowed-in mine
with death and starvation all about
her.
The two miners had come in, and
were listening to the wonderful story
as 1t fell again from tho childish lips
you used them ALL" interrupted
tho father, gazing sternly at the man
yes" said Miner Bob, I'VE used
them ALL"
ut was wrong, very wrong?"
we could not help IT," replied the
other miner. at was the only way
to make 1t. and we'd rather go hungry
tho rest Of our days than have the
lid disappointed.
Tbs ssiA ohltsious of anything but
the blessed Je. Of possessing a doll
was telling Rover: sA... thinks the
wind broke the window l lcrgot 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 comins
down the chimney"
| Little did she realize that of all the
dolls found that Christmas morning Ia
| TIE stockings of tie little ones all oye,
the United States not one was mad
of as precious material as hers. ST
was clasping to her bosom the "onl,
/ five potatoes in camp" They had beel
carved into Miss Doll" by Miner Bob
and dressed in pieces of the only goot
red flannel SKIRT that the other mar
1 possessed.
Forty Christmas days have passes
since then, and they have all beer
| hanny ones hfft tho nec,,l,,r ona -,