The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-08

1876, taught by Miss Dola Grund-
man were given individual assign
n.ents of writing original stories
dealing with the Yuletide season.
The results were most gratifying as
the following stories indicate:
A Happy Christmas on the
Prairie
Leona Emmeck
It was December and the chill
wind beat furiously against the
humble little cabin, standing alone
in the vast prairie land Of North
Dakota.
Within the little cabin it was al
most as cold and cheerless as the
prairie land, stretching for miles,
an unbroken expanse Of snow, ex-
cept in the dim distance where
the little town of Sales broke the
monontony of the prairie country.
There was five in the Foster fam
lily, a Is year old boy, an 11-year-
old girl and two smaller boys. The
people were poor, barely managing
to pick up small living in this
dry country.
An oil lamp burned on the table
and scattered throughout the cabin
were their few chairs.
"Oh, dear" sighed the girl, as
they huddled around the stove for
warmth. Cant we have any Christ
mas at ALP"
I'm afraid not" said the mother
gently. "But you'll tell us the story,
won't you mother?" begged the old
est boy eagerly.
She had told it many times be-
fore but they never tired of listen
ing to the beautiful story of how
the Christ Child was found in the
manger at Bethlehem.
ooh yes, my dears," said the
mother and she started.
isn't that NICE" sighed the
children, when it was ended.
Eyes, yes, but you must be off to
bed" said the mother in her gentle
voice. For years she had wanted
to give them real Christmas, and
it was as hopeless as ever.
She bundled the children into
their humble beds and went off to
talk awhile in the kitchen with her
husband.
Not an hour had elapsed, when
suddenly they heard the sound Of
bells ringing, merrily out over the
snow.
IT believe it is coming here. Now
what"
But suddenly there came a knock
Of }Ia I11r o~I Ar ,roen -,
open it.
Hello" said a cherry but sub
dued voice, for the person surmised
the children were asleep and did
not want to wake them for some
reason, which we shall soon know.
Mr.. Foster stood aside and there
stood young girl and behind her
was a man, her father, the Fosters
thought.
I'VE have come to bring a few
Christmas things for the children"
said the girl cheerily.
"Oh," stammered Mrs. Foster.
Then she said:
please come in it's dreadfully
cold"
They did and with them came
bundles and packages of every de-
scription. The man came in drag
ing a Christmas tree.
They deposited their things on
the table and the girl said.
1--WE though the children would
like the few things we brought"
ooh, you dear kind people. Yes, to
be sure. They will be so happy and
thankful as my husband and are"
II am glad they WILL" said the
man as he proceeded to set up the
Christmas tree and deck it with
the things they had brought.
There" said the girl when they
had finished. For there on the floor
was a sled, a book, some beads,
top and just lots of other trinkets,
besides heaps of nuts and candy.
AS they were ready to depart Mrs.
Foster said
Aren't you the Havens we have
heard so much about?"
yes, we are, but we must be
going"
1--WE can never thank you as
much as we feel" said Mr.. Foster.
ooh, that's all right. You must
come to see u.s."
Eyes, we will, thank you said
Mrs. Foster as they bundled into
the sleigh and went away, the bells
jingling just as merrily as when
they came.
1t was very happy family that
next morning gathered around the
beautiful Christmas tree, the little
children's screams Of delight filling,
the little cabin.
Eyes," said the mother "and 7
hope the thine may come when
we'll be able to bring as much hap
piness as the Ravens have brought
us this Christmas tide.