Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1901 — KEEPING CHRISTMAS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KEEPING CHRISTMAS

Eour travelers who were snow-bound In a Western passenger train on Christmas Eve speedily became acquainted with each other, and Bat about the stove at the end ot the car to “talk it over.” One of the men was a drummer, another a cowboy, the third a big cattleman, and the last the minister who tells the story. They finally fell into conversation with a poor woman and her two children, the 1 only remaining passengers, and found that the mother, who had tried Jto maintain herself by sewing Bince her husband’s death, was giving up the unequal struggle and going home to live with “grandma.” , The little threadbare children had been promised a joyous Christmas there, and when they found that the blockade would prevent their getting farther, for the present, they cried bitterly until sleep quieted them. Just before they dropped off the drummer remarked: "Say. parson, we’ve got to give these children some Christmas.”. “That’s what!” said the cowboy. “I’m agreed," .added ’the cattleman. The children were told to hang up their stockings. “We ain’t got none,” quavered the Vttle girl, “ ’ceptln’ those we’.ve' got

on, aud ma Bays it’s too cold to take ’em off." "I’Ve got two pairs of new woolen socks,” said the cattleman; eagerly. “I ain’t never wore ’em, and you’re welcome to 'em." The children clapped their hands, but their faces fell when the elder remarked: “But Santa Claus will know they’re not our stockings. He’ll put in all the things for you.” “Lord love you!’’ roared the burly cattleman. “He won’t bring me nothin'. One of us’ll sit up, anyhow, and tell him it’s for you." Then the children knelt down on the floor of the car beside their Improvised beds. Instinctively the hands of the men went to their heads, and at the first words of “Now I lay me," hats were off. The cowboy stood twirling his hat, and looking at the little kneeling figures. The cattleman’s vision seemed dimmed, while in the eyes of the traveling man Shone a distant look—a look across snow-filled prairies to a warmly lighted home. The children were soon asleep. Then arose the question of -presents. “It don’t seem to me-I’ve got any-

thing to give ’em,’’ said the cowboy, mournfully, “unless the little kid might like my spurs. I’d give my gun to the little girl, though on general principles I don’t like to give up a gun.” “Never mind, boys,” said the drummer, “£ou come along with me to tiie baggage car.” So off they trooped. He opened his trunks and spread before them such an array of trash and trinkets as took away their breath. “There,” said he, “just pick out the best things and I’ll donate the lot!” “No, you don’t!” said the cowboy. “I’m going to buy what I want and pay for it, too, or else there ain’t goin’ to be no Christmas round here.” '‘That’s my Judgment, too,” said the cattleman, and the minister agreed. . So they sat down to their tank of selection. They spent hours over it in breathless interest, and when' their gifts were ready there arose the question of a Christmas tree. It had stopped snowing, and tramping out into the moonlit njght, they cut down a great piece of sage-brush. The mother adorned it with tinsel paper and the gifts were prettily disposed, Christmas dawned for two of the happiest children under the sun, and a happy mother, too, for Inside the big plush album selected for her the cattleman had slipped a hundred-dollar bill. ' After ChrUtmaa. As a general thing affectionate fathers and mothers rejoice in the happiness of their children, but the rule has its exceptions. “Is Mr. Smart at all given to drink?” inquired a merchant, anxiously, of his confidential clerk. “No, indeed!” was the decided answer. “He never touches a drop.- But what put such a suspicion into your mind?” “Why, I noticed that he has been two hours late for the last three mornings,- and h~e looks for ..all the world as it he had been on a regular spree.” “Oh, that’s all yight,” said the clerk. “He gave his boy a drum tor Christmas.”

"NOW I LAY ME—”