The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-12-17

- sitting in the desoaton OF the office OF
the Keersburg House with two long hours to
wait for train time-damp, depressed, tired, hud-
died up to the old cannon stove in the center OF
the barren room.
The Keersburg House was like other small
country hotels, only more so. There was the
same old wet place on the office ceiling-by it
you could tell the exact situation of the wash
stand in the sleeping room above; the same
cheap, spring balance clock, surrounded by crude
y lettered glass signs telling travellers to go to
Livermore x Bacon for fine meats, Peeg Hos
tetter for fine livery Steve Hawkins for fine fur
niture and undertaking, and Tom Hawk for
choice wines, liquors and I5-ball pool.
There was the same grease spot on the wall
back OF the counter where the proprietor rested
his head while he sat and dozen, waiting for the
Sly night tram There were the same smells oil
wood smoke, stale tobacco smoke, coal oil,
musty cellar and country cooking.
The only companion OF my solitude was
little old man that sat opposite. He had not
spoken to me, or | to him There was no sound
except the ticking OF the clock, the popping OF
the wet wood in the stove and the rush OF the
rain against the front windows Of the office.
This old man was dressed in what looked like
new homespun, but wasn't. lie wore crun,-
pied felt hat and boots He had a short, white
beard and pair Of sharp, blue eyes looked out
tal citizen, thought, one OF those carly Hoosier
settlers that had knocked out his fortune by hard
labor on the farm and had found his education
and consolation in genial observance OF human
nature.
was only aware that he was regarding me in
my dismal reveric, when he said suddenly
Great mystery amt it"
"Whatr | asked
Everything" he returned and set his serious
gaze again on glowing crack OF the stove.
"But there's agreeable mysteries as well as
disagreeable ones, the old man at length went
on "Spose YOU never heard OF the mystery oil
who gives Christmas to KeersburgP
mo but I'd like to, il its an agreeable mys-
terry" ! said I'D like nothing better right now
than TO hear Of anything agreeable"
well its always been mystery, and big
one too" picked up the old man as he twisted
toward me in his chair; "for Keersburg always
has big Christmas the poorest, the
youngest child gets its toys, the oldest wash
woman get her calico dresses and good warm
things and all the needy ones get all they can
eat that day an supplies to last EN- for some
time after
even all them old folks out on the poor farm
get theirs to put little pleasure into their weary
waitin time
"'The afternoon before Christmas we have
big tree over in the X. r. hall, all the school
children have a celebration with music and rec-
tatons an an some to help me give out the
toys and the candy.
ITO see them children in there all big-cyed,
gigglin' an happy. rich an poor alike, an the
poor ones happier " anything than the rich ones
an, we'll | amt exactly man OF sentiment,
but once in awhile ! have to stop givin out
presents an go behind somethn' an cry.
"But" and here the old man paused and point
I'd hent fnreftuper AZ iunnree eiVelv ''Vhpre
does il all come front
eWho pays the Sanity Clausi
who gives Christmas to keersburgp
didn't know and felt and looked very blank
for an ntcrminable period until the strange little
old man. never taking his eyes off my face, took
up his story
"'lhats what nobody knows, At least, they
didn't until-well I'll get around to that later on
at takes some money, ! tell you an the pos
sibe guesses as to what it is are mighty few
hut everybody in Keersburg Is happy at least one
day in the year, and that's more'n people in a
whole lot of towns can say.
"All the buyns done an all the bills is paid
by Elum Browns bank, an even old Eum him
selft don't know for he says the money in bills
and the list OF the most needy ones in a strange
handwre is mystcriously put on his desk every
year that he just goes ahead and sees that the
money is well spent which by the way is no small
job-an' that's all he knows about it, He says,
though, that he has snspicions, that he suspects
a lot OF things in this town both good and bad
mostly bad, but that he amt sayin' much about
'em.
"Some says Il is old Elum himself, but he says
II amt an his word Is as good as his check
"lts pretty well covered up, but It's somebody
that knows about everybody, Tor this Is old
town with a good many old people still hangin
on, an amongst EN- lot Of wilder ladies that
amt actually in want but don't have much be-
You'd the necessities Of life, an there amt one
but don't get some knek-knack, book or some
little comfort that they wouldn't get u II wasn't
for the one that gives Christmas TO Keersburg."
The old man swung around and pointed out
the window. "You see that place over there"
he demanded