lit i iter BSob's <£tft fT WAS Christmas eve in a mining camp in the Rocky mountains, forty years ago. There were many men, but only one little girl. She was sit ting in front of a fire place, which occupied one whole end of"the best cabin in cam p." Her seat was a flat piece of pine log. Lying close to her was a big St. Bernard dog. ".Miner Rob says that Santa Clans roinos down the chimney; but now, Rover, we know better than that." She took hold of the dog's collar, and turned his head toward the fireplace. "Even if he should get down the chim ney. he'd bo burned up. He could not bring anything with him without get ting it black and dirty. I'll put the tire out tonight with that pail of writer." Rover got up and took a lap or two, end then came back and waited for the rest of the story. She continued: "But I don't believe my Santa Claus will come away out here, where there is only you and me. Here she stooped and whispered in the dog's ear. "We'll leave the win- Sow open. Of course, Rover, I don't mind telling you why I am so anxious Tor Santa Claus not to come down that chimney. You see, I want a doll. Miner Bob says that Santa Claus brings you what you wish for. I never saw real dolls, but they must be beautiful things. This picture I cut out. of a magazine is a doll, so Miner Bob say 3. Whew! It mustn't come down the chimney, Rover, it mustn't." In a few minutes the dog and the little girl were both fast asleep. This time the child's head was pillowed on Rover's shaggy coat and in her hand she tightly held an advertisement of Christmas toys. Two men. sitting at a pine table in the other end of the cabin, were talk ing in a low. mysterious manner. "We are 'most out of food, you know." said one; "only five potatoes left. We paid SIOO for the last stick, but we could not get another stick for love or money. Wo have been snowed In now for three months, and we've got to count on four weeks more be fore there is any hope of getting out of here." "Yes. I know it," replied his com panion. "but I'm going to do it just t!:r same." "You know the boss' orders." snoke rip the fir!-t man. who was Miner Bob. "We'll catch it if we disohey. especial ly when starvation is staring us in the face." "I can't help it,"was the reply, "put it all on me; I'll stand the blpme." The men drew their chairs closer together, and there they worked for several hours, stopping just long enough to lift the little girl from the floor to her cot, where she went on dreaming of Santa Claus and the beautiful doll. It was a bitter cold night—a regular blizzard! Several miners lost their way going from one camp to the other and were frozen to death. Ani mals that failed to get under shelter were found dead next morning The little girl remembers no more of that most terrible storm In the his tory of the camp, but next morning the was awakened early by her father trying to close a broken window He said It hud been crushed In by the itorrn. bur the said, "No. Santa <~"laus did it." "He's been here!" she cried, and In her excitement fairly rolled from her rot over the floor to the chimney. With cries of "It's a doll a doll!** ■he clasped to her heart the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. "It's inv doll, all mine; and It's got eyes, ami a no e. and a mouth, and ears and ! air and such a beautiful re I flannel dress!" She kissed It ugaln and again, and »in heart ever came *o near bur-ting with Joy ai tli«» heart of that little Klrl, wa> out In the snowed In mine with death and starvation all about her The two miners had rom« lit. nnd were listening to the wonderful story a i' fell ;■ it' from the childish Il|» "You lined them all." Interrupted the father K.i'lng >ternly at the man "Ye#," maid Miner Mob "we used them all " "It wax wrung. very wrong?" "We could not help It." replied the other miner It was tic only way to i:• l>• It uii t inlher go hungry the rest of our days than lave lh« kid dUapt • in'ed " The "ktil obln hum of anything but the hle»»«d ]o> nf |o«*esNl lt|- ' doll h,i> telling Hover "Katl.er think* the wind broke the window I forgot to open M . bu« >ou Santa » hilts know it just you want so lie brought the doll through the window to i>ave her from getting dirty •ottiing tl, i| the » ney " | ml. did he raali* of «II tb* d<»ls i itid thai <'hr im,, n ..ruing In th* MiK *lftr i of the Inilr one* all otrr the i nlt«4 Ml ate* not one *... of a» t«f« . incM material a ■ Iter* Mtie < t«wplng to her b«, uni the only fit* . in amp" Til#* had b. »n ran *4 iuto Miss by Miner Hob a; 4 dr«*» *4 l«» i uf tH* only gust*! M Manual shirt tbot the <*< bet mag paiisned rut (y «'Mt»ltoa« 4i \ lave \t* ted • " **"> ' 0-a all i n kepi 112 «' • W M 'he i au4 «"t .««!•»« 'Km i ». km i. full taa Meter H. a • i . V "Betty rs tiC* BilUken" As Beity looked up from her em broidery, a letter was thrown into lier lap. "Hurrah!" cried Billee, "here's a letter from mother. She Is not a bit angry about our runaway match, and writes beautifully. She wants us togo down for a visit and stay over the Christmas season. Will you go. Betty?" "Of course, I will!" she cried de lightedly; and then, a little wistfully, "Do you think your mother will like me, Billikin?" "She will adore you. How can she help it? And I am sure you will love her. Do you think we could start tomorrow?" "Tomorrow? Well, I guess wo could. We can pack at once. Let mo see, what clothes shall I take? Are they very gay down there, or must I be terribly demure? "Let me know my role and I shall play it to the letter. I once took part in a Sunday school entertain ment and was the hit of the piece. I think I was somebody's spinster aunt, and said 'Land sakes' every five min utes. I simply must get on with your mother." Billee smiled. "It isn't a case of land sakes exactly, though I'll admit mother is a little old-fashioned, and there Isn't much doing down there. "Oh, I see," sighed Betty ruefully. "I could take my black tailored gown, and my blue rajah, a couple of quiet blouses and skirts. It was almost tea time when they arrived, cold and tired after their long journey. When they were shown to their room Betty was delighted. "Oh, isn't this delightful, after a 10x12 flat! And, Billee, I think your mother is a dear!" "I knew you would like her, and she will absolutely dote on you; I feel it in my bones!" But Betty was not. so sure. More than once she felt her mother-in-law St—i SSfS "Here They Are," Exclaimed Betty. gazing at her in a sort of mild disap proval, which was both annoying and perplexing. In the meantime Rillee had noticed It, too, and cornered his mother on the first opportunity. "Now, mother, what Is It you don't like about Betty? I am sure you do not approve of her In some way." "Why, I did feel a little disappointed lhat you. being so young and lively, had chosen a girl of her age and with so little life and spirit." "Of her age!" exclaimed the aston ished fellow. "Why, Betty Is only nineteen and I am twenty-four. Did you want me to rob a kindergarten? And lively? Why. Betty Is the most spirited girl you ever saw." "Well," she said finally, "If that Is the way she appears to you, I am very glad for your sake; but she really Is shy and Isn't quite her natural self, or that the wny she wears her hair and dresses makes her seem older and more staid than she really Is." "Oh!" exclaimed her son in a tone that spoke volumes. "Mother. I I thought that von did not care for | folderols and vanities." "Well. I atn an old lady," she an- I swertd with a toss of her head, "but ! w hen I was young I wore my share of ' vanities with the best of them Yon 1 see how it h. Billee; I had told all our , friends here that you had married | em h a so lety lieJb and that she was stylish and pretty and—" "Aml lie doesn't look the part"* With a peal of laughter he rushed out of the room and up the stairs. "Come out of It. Hetty; It's all a mistake (let on vour war paint You • lid bring a few thing with you. didn't you ?" "What do you mean?" demui'ded an fl St i ' tubed Hetty. "Hetty." I." begun gravely, hut end ed In another peal of laughter, "we're on the wrong track. The mater say* VOII depr« s her You lack youth and gaiety It all my fault, wretch that I niu. she I n't old funhloue.l at all." When the. burst Into the sitting roam a few minutes later tlu- old lad) looked up in Miiia/> irieiii Kor a bide iniii :ie khe airveyed them, then laughed till the tears ran down her pink ebt eks "You pour >hild' And to think that | >on went to all thai trouble to gain my regard'" "Ye . aud l'»a been positively suf i ferlng fur a good laugh and afraid to ibe my natural self for fear you would >»« shorkeil." added Deny dole I NH I'lie M< i' The *er» I4ea» Mot I've been I .fferln# 'or a little life and fftiri .ad ha»o looked to IHIIet .nd 1,1, eto bl i.g inn t»i (niu tb ji i|* ly ..'4 k u e and to M I lor vole Hit ilia'* HI all wo make the rafters r(«a *" u< e* a gar < ball* age f<» i "t **»• it to ug * s»t it Mtlliklu CAMERON COUNTY PRESS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1910. Chcir Christinas Bighce chil dren looked at the \ |b3 river, and gave ' i up *'l hope of JjKl Christmas. The / i steamboat went rj by on its dally s-fj trip, breaking the way through the crust Auring the night, and leaving behind a highway of drifting Ice. On the bank beyond they could see the houses and the church, but could not go there. "We may even forget when Christ mas comes," said Hen, "unless we notch a stick, like Robinson Crusoe." "I shall not forget," said Delia. "Nor I," said Mamie Scudder. The Bigbees lived on an island. There was one house besides their own, where Mrs. Scudder and Mamie lived. Mamie never crossed the wa ter in cold weather, but the Bigbee children rowed across every week to Sunday school, until December brought lee and snow. People living on a small island must take boats instead of carriages when they goto church or post office or market. But the Bigbee children did not think that a hardship. "We want clear water all winter," said Delia. "I hope you will have it," said the teacher, "at least till Christmas. We are going to have carols and a Christ mas tree." This was great news to the Bigbees, who had never seen a Christmas tree. They talked about It, and told Mamie Scudder. They knew there would be candles on the tree, • and shining things among the boughs. But the first Sunday in December a blinding snowstorm kept them at home. The next Sunday and the next there was ice tossing in the river, so that no little rowboat could venture abroad. One more Sunday, and then Mon day would be Christmas. All the happy children across the river would goto church and there would be the tree full of gifts. "It's a cold day and growing cold er," said Mr. Bigbee on Saturday. The family kept close round the fire. None of them spoke of Christ mas. There had been no secret prep arations, no shopping trips. Money was scarce in the Bigbee family. When Ben and Delia went to their beds at night. Paul, who followed soon after, cntne hack into the kitch en with a serious face. "Mother." he said, "they have hung up their stockings!" Mrs. Bifjbee set her lips tight. Then she put her arm round Paul, and kissed him. "Never mind," he said. "We can pop corn and crack nuts." Mrs. Bigbee stayed up late that, night. By 11 o'clock she had made cookies shaped In various ways— birds, dogs, balls, boys, horses, ele phants, camels, hearts, sheep and rabbits —and not one too big to slip easily into a child's stocking. She put 12 into each of her chil dren's stockings. hanging Paul's up also She glanced toward Mrs Scud der's. but the lights were out. "Merry Christmas! Merry Chrlnfc mas!" shouted the children the next morning The house rang with laugh ter and mirth. There was great ex citement over the stockings. Even Paul was interested and amused "Dear little mother," he said, softly. Mamie came with her stockingful. and the children played menagerie, Noah's Ark. and farmyard for hours. The steamboat made no trip that day. A few skaters were seen. "I guess the boat skips Christmas the same as Sundays," snld Paul After dark he went to the window "I hear the hells." he said "And the church windows shine." A silence fell on the group. "If we knew the carols we would sing them ourselve#," said Mrs Big bee. From time to time the children went to the window. It was starlight. "See the lights In the road!" ex claimed Delia "The folks are going home with lanterns." "They're coming down the bank'" said Ben. A little line of lights moved steadily along They were certainly on the fro/en river They were coming toward the Island. "Why father, father!" shouted Paul "The river must hi* frown hard all over, and that's why the boat didn't go'" "It happened so once six years ago," said Mr Bisbea. Mrs Ki udder ran over from her house "Thuj're slnglug!" she cried "Listen!" The sweet Christmas i-siols sound ed i learer and elenrer as boys nnd g,rls came up the bunk up to the very house "Cmite In' Coma in'" said Mr |t|g bee, throwing the door open It wi< as If church, tree, festival, c hi Ist in..* and everything had coma to Ho Hlgbeca, and H. udders \\'n • ut off a bough full of i aintles to he your tree " said the boys Thi y et |i up lit a corner and lighl> I tha . audita anew • \V» brought your present*," said the girl lining ea> h a book an I hot It no late when, with merry fare Mel deputed stDtflng carols whit* mi light* mr m, and some sugar, and —let me see —got any can •aad goods, pears and peaches and the like o' that?" The day before Christmas was clear and bright. The troopers were walk ing about their carapflre, their guns stacked, hut within easy reach. The sergeant was not there. Pretty soon the little girls came out from the cabin, hand in hand. They had hard ly reached the camp when the cap tain of the guard suddenly straight ened up. "Halt!" he cried, "who comes here?" The soldiers sprang for their guns and stood across the trail. Climbing down a hill bordering the trail was a man with a long white beard and a fur cap. He was laden with parcels Susie saw him, and uttering a glad cry ran to him and stood between tfdftta Claus and the soldiers. "You sha'n't shoot hint," she shout et; "you sha'n't shoot Santa Claus!" The soldiers grounded arms and lauglted until they couldn't laugh any more. Just then there was a sound of a horse's hoofs on the rocky trail It was an unusual thin*, there was no Joke this time The soldiers straight ened up, ready for action Santa Clans dropped his parcels and gripped his revolver. In a moment the rider was among than. It was a high officer In th- Federal army, and he glared about lu angry surprise. "What means all this buffoonery?" he growled, his keen eyes boring through Santa Clans. Santa Claus. entirely unabashed, told the story, niulttlnic nothing lie said the father of the little girls was In the Confederate army and they and their mother were alone in the inoun tains; that the winter had come on ihein unprepared, and he had ordered the quartermaster to gci together Noutq things to tile them over Christ mas The gold braided officer looked lllt< the feat , e>es of the sergeant, thi» | men standing respectfully ahum him and theu at the half clad little glrli snd their blue hands and lips It's all riKht, bovs," lie said, "en tirely all right | got a couple o' 111 lie chaps o' my own back In the hills of K'-iil ||< ky i.i"l I hope 'be ' 1 ord will i I • .(■ friends lor em same •s yuu l«!k* have b. en to the a (lood hjtf Then he r<>d" en doau the trail > That night (he Vanke.» mh| t| little mountain • shta Christmas 3Pmrtj cTnle * TJBT T was Christmas eve. fv-' From the high hills came no wind to howl across the white world at the farmer cSwi ~M _ through his every li U A window or to shake La u—.—& the door as if to say, "I am King Wind, let me in!" or to harass the animals as they stood in their chilly stables. No wind, but cold, oh, so cold! The moon was steel blue as if frost bitten. The stars blinked with the cold. It was 10 be low zero, the village folk said, and that is very cold. Two travelers trudged the road that wound up and around the hill. "Swing your arms, Sigurd," said one, and him self commenced slapping his armpits. "We will try at the next house,"he continued. " 'Tis Christmas eve, and how can they turn us away on such a night?" Ahead a farmhouse threw a wel come yellow glare on the snow. The travelers hurried on, encouraged. Soon they stood under the eaves of the lit tle house so alone In the snow, and before the door. Fridthjof pulled the old brass knocker down heartily. "Oh, ho, within," he cried. "Have you food and bed for hungry travelers this Christmas eve?" They heard a bus tle and stir inside. The door swung open ani the farmer, a huge man with a big voice, peered out. "Come In," he said. The two stamped the snow off their feet and entered. The best hearth seats were given them and the farm er's daughter appeared, bearing a pitcher of steaming, home brewed ale. Along with it came smoked mutton and goodly piles of flat brod. Sigurd and Fridthjof toasted their shins dreamily content. Behind them the farmer's wife and daughter clattered diligently with silver dishes and a bountiful Christmas feast. Sigurd looked up in surprise. "Do you eat your Christmas dinner at night?" he asked. The farmer settled into his creaking armchair and his Jovial face became serious. "Years ago," he began, "the goblins, or the hill people, came down, took posses sion of my farm and demanded that I turn my place over to them every Christmas night. Before we go we must set them a feast with silver dishes. I dared not disobey them, lest they run off with my horses and ruin crori c a "i. you Fee, I have no real Christmas ever." Then he added "you cannot stay, for they will kill you, too." "Do they come every Christmas?" asked Sigurd. "Every Christmas." Sigurd turned to Fridthjof. "What shall we do," he asked, "get out or stay?" "Stay by all means," asserted Sigurd. "As you please, gentlemen," the farmer exclaimed. "My sleigh Is ready at the door. Good night and a merry Christmas to you." Left alone, the two guests undressed and went to bed. Pretty soon away over the hills they heard the silvery Jingle of gob lin sleigh bells Sigurd drew the cur tains. Nearer and nearer came the Jingling and now they could hear shouts and hoof beats. Then they heard them draw up in front of the house with a great clatter of har nesses. hoofs and sleigh hells. They could hear the goblins putting their tiny ponies into the farmer's sheds. Then with a great shout they entered the house The two luckless fellows In bed kept very still and barely breathed Noisily the goblins seated themselves and started to eat with an uproar of clattering dishes, working Jaws and spirited conversation Many a mys tery of disappearing hay bundles sheep or farm tools long discussed among the village and fisher folk was explained by boastlne mirations of the evil. Jabbering goblins below. At last Sigurd dared peek over twlxt the curtains. He saw little white bearded men with red noses and glittering eves, high peaked hats and fat bellies To one end at the head of the table sat the chief, whose bigger red nose, fatter belly, higher hat and gruffer mn f nner characterized him as such. When he bellowed forth his orders for food the others stepped right lively. Of a sudden the chief cried out' "Wuf. I smell Human " Immediate!* the room became chr"»s Search was made everywhere, under < hairs In cupboards everywhere The chief himself was the most dill gent searcher, and presently he made straight for the curtains that covered tha beds Our travelers lay tense almost scared to death Sigurd gripped a shoe co.ivul !»aly by the toe when he saw the chief approach The gobllii looked into the lower berth and then, climbing In a stool, he leered Into the upper one lie could Just manage to get his nose on the edge of the bed and Sigurd brought his shoe be«l down Hlug' Itlng' awful hard on that good goblin's red tender no-« lie let out one tremend ous yell and His men dismayed at fear In thalr leader stanti>*ded out of the house to the sleigh The . hief followed the in Higurd and fridthjof could hear them franih ally hitch up ,md he.ird ; them drive off singing dolefully until the giaal White kl lt'll » of tha hills I »» -llo*i*d them up as* never again bothered bv n, a wl. led hill peoplw but lived happily aver «fi> iw.ud with hi* family a. ®l\ristmas JStorg Finding myself far from home one Christmas eve night, I halted at tho nearest farm house and asked admit tance. An old man and his wife were the only occupants. They bade me enter and gave me hearty greeting. I found them to be one Ephraim Gogard, and his wife, Tabitha, 40 years married. After the good wife had spread a bountiful table with good cheer for the inner man, and we had enjoyed the delicious viands to the fullest ex tent, we drew our chairs nearer the hearth and prepared for a sociable evening. These good old people told me of their children; of the good times when Christmas Eve found them all at home hanging up their stock ings and getting to bed early, hoping to stay awake till Santa Claus should come. "But that was long ago!" sighed the mother. "Willie went to sea, and aft er a few years of ssflling up and down the world, we heard nothing more, and we have long mourned him as dead. Rose went to the city and, growihg fascinated with the stage, became an actress. She succeeded better than we had ever hoped, but her laurels did not prevent her from making a silly marriage. An Italian prince, a penniless adventurer, carried her off to Italy. "We fear she is either dead or en during a living death in extreme pov erty, with all her illusions and her bright youth gone. We are both too old now togo in search of her." "Alas! alas!" groaned the old man. "Our baby boy, our best beloved, grew Impatient of the old home and its slow, conservative ways. He went to the great city and succeeded for a time, his bright whole-souled ways brought friends without number. But these very social graces became the cause of his downfall. He learned to gamble and drink at card parties and A Stalwart, Seafaring Man, Wearing the Garb of a South Sea Islander. at banquets where women make bold to do these things. Both these hablta grew on him till they possessed him body and soul. He went from bad to worse, until at last he killed his best friend at the gaming table. He now wears the stripes and is eating his heart out in the state prison." When I had retired for the night I found myself in a large luxuriously appointed sleeping apartment, on the hearth a fire of cheery logs, the fac simile of the one below. As I sat and pondered, what was my surprise to see a stalwart, seafar ing man enter, wearing the garb of a South Sea Islander. I knew he was an "old salt" by the lurch In his walk. Following him came a train of at tendants. They put upon the table great jugs of liquor. Taking no notice of me they went on hilariously cracking their jokos and taking great swigs from the jug. Just as I was wondering if the lead er could be Willie, whom the aged couple had mourned as dead, I was attracted by a sound at the door, and. looking In that direction, I beheld a very beautiful young woman, attlrod as Shakespeare's Ophelia. She came forward and began to repeat her linos as to a crowded house. The strange company ceased their prattle unil gave her the most devoted hearing. They were about to give her nil encore when there entered a dissolute-look ing young fellow, with refined feat ures, bleared by the excessive use of stimulants. Willie stepped forwutd, and, calling him broth< r, embraced him as one does after a long absence. The younger man produced a bottle of champagne nnd began to treat all round. A disreputable looking Italian had followed Ophelia Into the room, und when he saw the champagne flowing, hU eyes glittered with an uuholy light. I had at least collected my wits enough to realise that among this strange gathering were the three chlW liren to whoui my hosts had just In troduced me. I ha|l Just about shaken myself free of my weird surroundings and had summoned strength to move from my seat that I might go below and send the dear old people to enbrsce their children when a nols* sudden and loud took my breath away Instantaneously my strange guests vanished. I opened the door to see If I could catch a glimpse of their de parting figures, hut no creature wis la sight. Whence csme the noise which had ■tallied them Into evaporating? Ah, tsuln It cstus' I' ws» but the rattle uf the wind upon the casement I luoked and, lo' my «re was re. duced to embers. I knew only too well that I bad t*ee» dreaming that my trange company had been but the Jihsuiouis of dte mis, that I bad b«e« asleep and tbst I •»» sot to gi»« iuf Stud b Hand h. te»» the |»le„ tire of 7