Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1911-01-07


the thing with an abandonment that
was pathetic when enc considered the
barrenness Of the ground upon which
they tried to graft a Christmas. What
ever else the occasion lacked, the
Yuletide spirit was there.
When DuCie Case emerged from the
kitchen with the thoroughly cowed
Sam Huh In his train they were laden
with plates of red apples and yellow
oranges, plates of crisp cakes fresh
from their paper boxes and large
dish of candy, which DuCie placed in
the middle of the table.
Bring in the coffee. SAM when |
holler" said Ducie tremendously.
Then he turned to the grinning cow
punchers surrounding the fire. Lets
see what Sanity Claus has got for us,
eh, boys?"
"You first, Ducie." they insisted, and
they watched him delightCdly as he
brought forth from the stocking pa
per of his favorite tobacco. which
Storrs also carried, and silver watch
chain.
"That was n great idea of mine
chuckled Ducie after he had identified
the givers and thanked them warmly.
II have feeling that this here is to be
a kind of n merry Christmas. even if
the mail don't get in
After that there was no end to the
fun. Each man found several Surpris-
ing gifts in his stockings. and there
was much merriment in identifying the
glvers and more interc hangc of good
feeling than the Double Star had known
In some time.
Presently Sam Huh brOu hit in pot
Of steaming coffee. and they gathered
about the board and ate of the refresh
ments and toasted Mr.. lucie in the
stimulating black liquid with much
flattcry.
When the meal was concluded Ray
mond Storrs sang a song i'll his line
tenor voice 1t was Il Christmas carol,
one that they all knew, and they joined
in the chorus with a vim. frankie de,
livered an aLNlsing monologue. and the
taciturn Miller gave an abSurdly funny
imitation of a fashionable lady buying
a hat There were other songs and
recitations and the quatling of Il weird
ly constructed bowl of punch that sam
Huh had laboriously put together from
several cookbOokS and unlimited ad-
vice from the different members of the
party.
"What's the matter with this Christ
mas?" demanded frankie eXcitedly as
II o'clock was struck on the tall clock
in the corner.
"Its all right! It's been bully one:
Couldn't be better! Up to us to thank
Ducie. were some of the comments
on the occasion.
There was the sound of hoOfS pound
ing in the snow outside and loud
shout. Every man was on his feet
with interested faces.
"The mail Mt last.' cried Miller eX-
citedly "Now We'll see what's what!'
They crowded about the door as Mr.
West came over from the big house to
open the mail bag. 1t had stopped
showing. and the stars were blazing in
a cold, clear, dark sky.
Letter for you and you, and you,
ratified Mr. West as he tossed letters
here and there among his employees
They grasped them eagerly and then
tucked them away for private perusal
1t happened that each one received at
least one letter, and Raymond Storrs
received several with San Francisco
postmark, as we'll as wooden case
that was dumped on the floor ere the
letter carrier drove away.
Storrs ripped off the cover while they
hung breathlessly over him. From nu-
merous careful wrappings he drew
forth large phonOgraph with morn
ing glory horn and a collection of wax
music rolls. Deity Storrs fitted the
parts together and placed the machine
on the table and wound 1t up. There
was n cylinder in the machine, as If
his sweetheart, who had sent 1t, had
left 1t there that he might hear the
continuation of a melody she had been
singing.
There was a low. buZZing sound, and
then there came forth from that in
strument of wood and metal a sweet
soprano voice singing with delicate
violin accompaniment:
"Oh, holy night. peaceful night
AS the hymn rang out every hat was
whipped off and the little group stood
bareheaded in the open doorway look
ing out at the same brilliant stars that
had shone down over Bethlehem that
long ago holy night when the first
Christmas was sung over one who
brought peace and good will into the
world.
Afterward, as they followed Mr.
West across the yard toward the big
house where he said Il feast awaited
them, Frankie nudged Ducie Case with
a razor-like elbow.
Il learned one thing tonight" admit
ted frankie graciously, "and that was
you can have Christmas cheer most
anywhere, provided you've got the in
gradients in your heart-eh?'
Ducie nodded. Everybody has got
the ingredients to make happy
Christmas In their hearts, only they
don't stir 'em together to make 'em
work properly. Haven't they, Nor
man?" He shot this question at the
tall young man walking beside him
with radiant face upturned to the
stars.
Storrs pressed the phOnograph that
had registered the singing voice Of hiN
sweetheart close under his arm anG
smiled contentedly.