Year: 1877

following simple story, by word of
mouth, for several reasons. In the first
place, it is as strictly true as it is
strange in the next, it enables me to
justify gratitude in quarter where JUS
ti6cation is seldom accorded and again
because it places our patiently suffering,
much abused John Cbinaman in better
light, and shows him to be as fully sus-
ceptible to humane and generous treat
ment as his more fortunate fellows of
less slanted optics and less pronounced
expression of nose and cheek-bone.


AS the winter holidays of 1856 ap-
preached, they found me in very un-
enviable state of mind.


was living. with my family, in the
little mining town of Red Gulch, not a
hundred miles from Marysville. Califor-
MIA. A continued run of i'll fortune had
reduced me from the proud position of a
mining speculator on my own account to
the superintendency of small average
paying quartz mill. 1t was barely suf-
fcient to subsist on in the provoking
hard times that prevailed. Long con-
tinued i'll success had broken my spirit
and undermined my individual energy,
and it was only by observing the strict
est economy In everything that my good
wife and l managed to make both ends
meet in the conduct of our household,
and at the same time send our three
children to respectable school, and pre-
serve an outward semblance to the thrift
and decency that had distinguished us
in our prosperous days.


And one of our sources of annoyance
just at the time of which was speaking
was that our little ones would have to
be put off with their Christmas tree, to
which they had been accustomed once a
year from the time they were born. But
they took it better than could have been
expected when their mother prepared
them for their disappointment before
hand.


Tommy, the eldest. who was a verita-
bic little philosopher in his way, stout
ly asserted that he had Outgrown such
childish luxuries, and would manage to
make merry enough if we would treat
him to new pair of boots, of which he
was sadly in need, poor fellow.


Bella also pretended to think nothing
of the disappointment; but if little Jen-
ny, whose brief recollection could not
include more than two Christmas trees
at the furthest, looked little down-cast
when told that Santa Claus would this
year have nothing for her but a cheap
doll and picture book, she did not
whimper about it, but bore it like a
trump.


"Still, l know that they feel the dis
appointment bitterly at heart" SAID my
wife, sadly; "and hope we shall be
able next Christmas to make amends to
them"


Suppose cut one of the dwarf frs
out on the mountain, and hang it over
with sugar plums and cheap candies o.
| suggested at would be better than
nothing"


IL don't think it would after the beau
tiful and expensive trees to which the
darlings have been accustomed"


Then let US think and say no more
about it" said |, with some impatience.


81 wouldn't mind their disappoint.
ment so much" continued my wife, ''ii
1T was not constantly aggravated by the
Cameron children, next door, who are
forever Growing over our chicks by de.
scribing the magnificent tree their par.
ents are going to provide for them.'


81 have notion to move to the Other
end of town." | exclaimed, biting my
lip, for Mr. Cameron was one os my EN-
ployers. and the one who most persist
emily reminded me of my dependent po
sition, having known me in other days
when | was as we'll off as himself.


THAT would cost more than vel
loaded Christmas tree, l am afraid,
said my wife.


Just then Master Tommy came stump
ing in from school, with his satchel OF
his arm, and brighter look on his fac
! than l had seen it wear for some time.


"HoOray p he cried. we're going t.
have Christmas tree after all l''


"Yes indeed - exclaimed Bella, VIII
just then made her appearance at hi
heels, towing in Jenny. whose eyes wer
also dancing in her head ga better ant

more wonderful tree than is in all Cali
fornia."


"And where is it to come from ?" sal
| in much surprise.


"Ah Kin is going to give it to US.


But my wife and myself burst ou
laughing at this.


"Ah Kin was simple minded. CHR
ese laundryman. who had formerly bee
employed by me in my little shaft o
Feather River. when was delving fc
gold on my own account. He had bee
taken with dreadful fever, from whic
only the most unremitting care on ou
, part. together with fortunate docterins