The Ordway new era., 1911-02-03
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T WAS Christmas eve u
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IIhRS years ago. IneEe "o1e
II IN many men. but only one
t6L little girl. She was sit
~ ting in front Of hre-
Qn place, which occupied
q q one whole end Of "the
best cabin in camp" Her seat was
a 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. ana
turned his head toward the fireplace.
"Even II he should get down the chin
ney. he'd be burned up. He could not
bring anything with him without get
ting 1t 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 Tor
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 Gar. We'll leave the win.
dow open. or course. Rover. ! don't
mind telling you why 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. l
never saw real dolls. but they must
be beautiful things. This picture ]
cut out Of magazine Is a doll. 30
Miner Bob says. Whewl 1t. mustn't
come down the chimney. Rover. It
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
the tightly held an advertisement Of
Christmas toys.
Two men. sitting at = pine table IN
the other end Of tho cabin. were talk.
Ing in . low. mysterious manner.
I'VE are most out Of food. you
know" said one: "oniy nve 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 moro b.
fore there IL any hope Of getting out
Of here"
Eyes, I know IT," replied his com.
panion. but I'm going to do It Just
the same"
you know tho boss ORDERS" spoke
up the first man. who was Miner Bob.
"weIl catch 1t II We disobey. especial.
" when starvation 10 staring us in
the face"
II can't help It," was the reply.
put II all on me: Ill 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 he
floor to her cot. where she went on
dreaming OF Santa Claus and 'he
beautiful doll.
1t was bitter cold night-a regu ar'
blizzard! Several miners lost their
way going from one camp to he
other and were frozen to death. AMI
mails that failed to get under shelter
were found dead next morning.
Tho 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. He
said It had been crushed in BY the
storm. but the little girl said. mo.
santa Claus did It."
Hes been hers!" she cried. and IN
her excitement fairly rolled from her
oot over tie door 70 the chimney.
With cries OF ITS . aoll-a doll!"
she claspsd to her heart the most
beautiful thing she had ever seea.
It's my doll. all mine: and it's got
eyes, and . nose. and . mouth. and
ears and hair-and such . beautiful
rsA flannel drsss!" ~.--'
She kissed It again and again. and
NO heart ever came % near bursting
with 10y % the heart Of that little
girl. way out In the snowed.in mine.
with death and starvation all about
her.
i Tho two miners had como in. and
were listening to the wonderful story
a. It fell again from the childish lips.
"You used them ALL" interrupted
the father. gazing sternly at the man.
YES" said Miner Bob. I'VE used
them ALL"
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 60 hungry
the rest Of our days than have the
kid disappointed"
The kid" oblivious Of anything but
the blessed Joy Of possessing doll.
was telling Rover: Father thinks the
wind broke the window. I forgot to
open 1t: but. you see. Santa Claus
knows just what you want. so he
brought the doll through the window