Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-12-08

fNANS years ago. There were
"A 9GSoETx many men, but only one
S4TsIS - little girl She was sit
|9 ting in front of a fire
u place, which occupied
e. tS one whole end of the
best cabin in camp" Her seat was
fiat piece of pine log. Lying close
to her was n 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, and
turned his head toward the fireplace.
"Even 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
my Santa Claus will come away out
here. where there is only you and me.
Here she stopped and whispered in
the dogs ear Wen leave the win
dow open. OF course, Rover, | don't
mind telling you why I am so anxious
Tor Santa Claus not to come down
that chimney. You see. 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
cut out of a magazine is a doll, so
Miner Bob says. Whew! 1t mustn't
come down the chimney Rover, it
mustn't"
In 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 low mysterious manner.
I'VE 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. | know IT," replied his com
pauion. but I'm going to do it just
the same"
"You know the boss orders" spoke
up the first man. who was Miner Bob.
Wen catch 1t If we disohey. especial
~ when starvation is staring us in
the face"
"I can't help it," was the reply,
"put it all on ne; I'll stand the
blame"
The men 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 a bitter cold night-a regular
blizzard Several miners lost their
way going from one camp TO the
other and were frozen to death. AMI
mails that failed TO 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 70 close a broken window He
said II had been crushed In by the
storm. but the little>girl said. NO,
Santa Claus did IT,"
Hes been here" she cried. and IN
her excitement fairly rolled from her
cot over the floor 10 the chimney
with cries Of It's a doll-a doll"
she clasped 10 her heart the most
beautiful thing she had ever seen
ITS my doll. an mine; and It's got
eyes, and a nose. and a mouth. and
cars and hair-and such beautiful
red flannel Dress"
She kissed it again and again. and
no heart ever came 50 near bursting
with Joy as the heart OF that little
girl. way out Ia the snowodin mine
with death ana starvation an abOu,
her
The two miners had come Ia. and
were listening 20 the wonderful story
a. n fen ueuln from the childish ups
the father. gazing steruly az the man
eyes" said Miner Bob eve used
them all
"lt Waa wrong very wrong"
1--WE could not help o." replied the
other miner "lt was the only way
go mako lt and wc'd rather go hungr,
the rest of our days than have the
lid disappointed
The "tid." obliyIous of anything bui
the blessed JOS ~ possessing = doll
Wa telling Rover Father thinks the
wind broke the window forgot I'd
oueu o.. huf sou see. Santa CLAUS
knows lust ahar son want 20 he
brought the doil through the window
to save her from getting dlrty comiua
down thc chimney"
IitHs 4id sbr realize thsf ~ sIT ths
dolls fauld tHat Christmas morning III
the ffaraIuea ~ fhe liffls ones atl oyei
thU IH.frt states HDf ane saa u. is