Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1917-12-21

~ how q Christmas tree cur be any
more real than the one you had
last year. 50 | shall explain that the
tree Ralph and Rhoda had by accident
one winter WIS rooted Ia the ground
In the Lake Superior woods.
First you must he told that the town
children M there had the good times
Ia both summer aud winter. hut the
miners boys and girls had the hard
times all the year around. aud that's
the reason why mother said to Ralph
and Rhodn the day before Christmas: Il
q" don't see how you two ARE going 10
hAvc II hnppy holiday when the chill.
dren M NJ the mines do not expect TO
have any tree nj all. How would you
like T. "a M the mountain aud take
them II lot ~ presents and things?
You can get back before dark. | Will
telephone the mine captain that you
are coming"
Just the very thing said the chli
dreh. And away they went soog
with II sled londcd with everything
can think NJ for a jolly Christmas
lots Of gifts aud royal trimmings
tree.
They were making good
the mountain side when
hled over u root.
When she tried (,
ankle would not
Of curse IN
leaving the mi
mas In the ;
home. So IA.
Halfway store f.
place wns locked
they decided on y
Of the mine cllldl
the rond. II seem,
phone message hau
mrnt of youngsters.
we've rome 10 help
mas M the mountain. IL u hard pun
farther along" they explained.
When they found that Rhodn was
hurt they wanted to take her home.
hut she wouldn't listen Ia II word of IL.
I'm going right up ~ see that tree
property trimmed aud hung with these
things announced that young lady
and. being ~ the sturdy and determln.
ed kind, tried Ia forget the pain.
So the swiftest runners of the mine
boys started hnck "a get u sled to cur.
ry lihodn to the summit.
Before the ambulance corps could re.
turn, down came one Of those bowling
bllZZarls so dreaded IN the rough
northern country, and there was moth
ing for II but to retreat and take refuge
In the Halfway store. This old log
l..tt9.. ,.ta.ks..I 81. lu.l ,.,t 81. ....t. t..A
Ralph finally managed to get In
through n rear window and soon had Il
roaring fire going In the big stove. The
plucky lads got back from the noun.
tain. aud everybody thanked his lucky
stars To he snfe aud warm. Out
side the storm roared aud the trees
bent low IN the gale. All the evening
l,lOdn stood the nche bravely aud said
II was nothing. but Mary Martha Muir.
ply knew better, When all wa quiet
she brought II pail of water 81 hot that
l,h0ia squealed when her nurse put
the swollen ankle into II. aud these
two girls, one who had II lovely home
and rich furs aud many other line
things and the little poor girl with 4
wnrm Irish heart. sat up nm "nll hours
During the night the storm turned 10
rain. aud then II became cold. go very
cold that the forest was covered with
an ley coat. In the morning the hliz.
zarl drifts were many feet deep.
So the only Thing Ia Ice done was
Ia walt TN Il rescue party cume ont
for them with %sllovels aud horses aud
snowplows. Aud then II great thought
occurred To lhodn.
\ giant hemlock tree stool right In
front Of the store, IN u place swept
clear hy the wind that l.. II had been
a hrlnlook before II hccumc one great.
dulZling emerald with prnrly lcicles
hanging nll over II.
When night rame. clear nnd perfect.
~ still and inky black. the rescue pur-
IS found u celebration going on the
like Of which had never been known.
The children had taken hundreds u
miners candles from the store and
had wired them an over the hpmlock.
All the presents aud the gilt ropes aud
the other ornaments had been hung
about the branches. aud the candles
lighted.
Rhnda. hair smothcred In furs and
tucked M on a high seat. was mistress
nf ceremonies, while n ring VI singing,
dancing children clrcled around the
tree. and In the background. all about
the dense forest, shot back millions OF
sparks Of light.