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THE PUBLIC LEDGER, . - . . . ' f r, w ,- ioj I dm i v) S4NTA r.i ai is EXPERIENCE. TO A 1 -Taw.-. DEAD IN THE DESERT. A CHRISTMAS STORY BY ALFRED R. CAL HOUN. Copyright, 1S91, by American Press Associa tion. T WAS the 24th of December, "1870. 1 was at that time in charge of a division of en gineers who were making a survey of the Mojave desert from the Needles or the Great Colorado to Los Angeles on the Pacific. For a month the officers and men had been eacrerlv looking V1L forward to spending the Christmas holi days in the beautiful town of San Ber nardino, on the other side of the Sierras. On the f?3d the wagons, pack mules and all the men, excepting three who remained back to complete some work with myself, crossed the range that separates the Mojave (pronounced Mo-hav-ee) desert from the flowering and fruitful paradise of southern California. For six weeks we had been working in the desert, running lines, taking elevations and plotting our work at night by the smoky light of dried creosote and sapless sage brush. At times we were sixty miles from the nearest water, and when obtained the water was alkaline. Many of our pack mules, maddened by thirst, broke their ropes and wandered further into the desert to die. Hard tack and bacon, and not too much of that, had been the only food of the men since we entered the desert, and so the most cheerful became grum, and the skin of the youngest grew dry and parched as that of a mummy. We did our work in silence; even the officers came to speak in whispers, for our throats were dry and our lips cracked. Everything with moisture in it parched as if in a furnace. The alkali on the level expanses looked like dazzling snow. The fantastic hills and mesas were crumbling and burning up in the forceful and persistent fires of oxidation. And amid all this the mirage would appear to mock us with lakes and streams in which were reflected the spires, domes and minarets of grand oriental cities, such as might have been built by the genii of architecture. It was half past 5 in the afternoon, and we hoped to reach the pass by dark, where fresh horse3 would carry us to the town before midnight and Christmas day. As our horses staggered on, we saw three vultures rising from a dark object a little to the right. A glance through my field glass prostrate man revealed the outlines of a and horse, stretched out side by side. Years of this wild life had accustomed us to such sights. Yet as onr hearts were full of thoughts of the joyous Christmas days of the past and of the rest, fresh food and water for bathing, whiih we were to enjoy on the morrow, there was sornethin: inexpressibly sad in the presence of death at such a time and at the foot of the purple mountains, , beyond which lay Eden. 1 We reined in our thin, panting horses and dismounted. In that atmosphere no organic substance decays it shrivels up and becomes as hard and indestructible 1 as the glistening volcanic rocks that sur round it; but enough remained to tell us that the horse had once been a noble creature, and the saddle and equipments were such ;s the wealthy Mexicans of southern California delight in. The man was of medium height, and the carbine, pistols and knife, still belted : about his shrunken waist, indicated abil- j ity to resist. He was young. The long, dark hair and the silky mustache, through, which the white teeth gleamed, told this. We opened the saddlebags and found $200 in gold, the titles to a lot of California mining lands made out to one "Louis Bolton," and a bundle of letters tied with a blue ribbon. In the middle of the bundle there were two vignettes one that of a sweet faced, motherly lady, the other that of a beau tiful girl, the name "Dora" at the bot tom of the picture being surrounded by a delicately painted wreath of forget menots. These letters were dated at "The Elma." but, as the envelopes were de Mr A J stroyed, there was nothing to indicate the town, state or land. One read as follows, and, curiously enough, it was dated Christmas eve, a year before: "My Darling Boy I think of you at all times, but on Christmas eve you fill my heart so that I can think of nothing else, and if it were not for Dora, who has come to cheer me, I fear I could not stand it. 'Where is my Louis tonight?' This question haunts me, and ! picture you out in the deserts of that wild land, homeless and friendless, still hunting for gold. Ah, my boy, come back! Better poverty than this awful anxiety. But we cannot be poor where there is so much love." The letter continued at length in this vein, and it ended, "With love and kisses and blessings from Mother." The next letter was also written at "The Elms" on Christmas eve, just a year before. I cannot pretend to quote it in full, but every line bespoke a noble womanhood and a profound love for the absent Louis. "Do not think me impatient," she urged, "but I feel more and more that wealth does not mean happiness, and that the noblest manhood is not devel oped in the fierce struggle for gold. And then, my darling, the world is not so full of objects worthy our love that we can afford to live our brief lives apart. "You must not think that I am indif ferent to the self denial you exert and the sufferings you endure. I often fancy myself a man out seeking my fortune in that land of wonders; but I shudder when I think that you are surrounded by the dangers which my fancy conjures up. "Nero, grown fat and lazy, lies at my feet as I write. I call your name, 'Louis! my Louis!' and the dog start3 up and 'J:'-.! STRETCHED SIDE BY SIDE --Si rushes to the door with 0 a joyous bark, but he hears no loved voice or footstep, and he comes back dejected and lies down with a moan. Ah, dear boy! if that dumb brute mourns vour absence, how must it be with us?" And so the letter went on, full of love and gossip and gossip and love, till it ended with "Ever and forever, Dora." We laid the body at the base of a vol canic cliff, and covered it with stones to save it from the vultures, then we dis tributed the arms and saddlebags, so as to save our horses, and resumed our march for the west, where the peaks of the purple Sierras glowed like mighty fire opals in the light of the setting sun. We found fresh horses at the pass, and then, although quite tired, we pushed on with all speed for the beautiful town of San Bernardino. We were out of the desert. The odoi of orange blossoms and perennial helio trope filled the air, and the ripple of water came to our ears whenever we reined in onr Vinraoo We found the hotel ablaze with light. There were ;sfg. wreaths and ban- Sggy V ners over windows and doors. There were flowers and A WEDDING PRESENT. S? the faces of beautiful women and handsome -PA k ; - ik- men wherever one turned. From the wide parlors came the rythmic fall of feet and the swell of music. Here was Eden, but on asking the landlord the reason for these festivities, he replied: "It is a wedding. Mr. Louis Bolton, whose bride and mother reached here yesterday from the east, was married to night." "Louis Bolton?" I repeated, and 1 thought of the dead man out on the desert. "Yes; here he is. Let me introduce him." The landlord introduced me to a tall, handsome young man, and I at once took him to my room and showed him the arms and saddlebags. As st on as he saw the titles, he threw his arms about my neck, and to my sur prise he kissed me and shouted: "You have brought a wedding present that makes me rich, rich as any honest man wants to be!" Briefly, Mr. Bolton's papers and much of his ready money had been stolen six months before by a Mexican desperado named Guan Chauz. The man was chased into the desert where he perished, and so my sympathy was wasted. I met the dear mother, and I met "Dora" that night, and I drank to their health and prosperity as the church bells rang in Christmas day. ICarlv Christmas Carols. Christmas carols have been sung ever since the rude tribes of Germany were converted to Christianity. There are books by the scoiv cousaiiiin hundreds of them. Bishop Tajdor observes that the "Gloria in Excelsis," the well known hymn sung by the angels to the shep herds at our Lord's Nativity, was the earliest Christmas carol. Bourne cites Durandus to prove that in earlier ages of the church the bishops were accus tomed on Christmas day to sing carols among their clergy. The original of the Anglo-Norman carol (translated by Douce) of the date Thirteenth century is in the British museum. It begins: Now, Lordings, listen to our ditty. Strangers coming from afar; Let poor minstrels move your pity. Give us welcome, soothe our care. In 1521, Wynkyn de Warde printed a set of Christmas carols. One of them was "A Carol bryngyng in the Bore's Head." Chaucer alludes to it in his "Franklein'a Tale:" James sittetb by the fire with double berd. And he drinketh of his bugle-horne the wine Before him standeth the braune of the tusked CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS. Copyright, 1891, by American Press Associa tion. From heaven to earth at night's high noon There flashed a ray of sacred fire, And Nature's voice was all a-tune With songs of sweet desire. O wondrous nightl O holy mornl When peace and harmony were bornl The anthems of all nations ring Over the seas from shore to shore; The song the Christmas joy bells sing Echoes forevermore. O Christ, to think Thy baby hands Could grasp and hold so many lands! May Joy abide in every breast! May loving thoughts and kindness sway The souls of men to quiet rest. For Christ was born today! Let bitterfiess and envy cease. And all His children be at peace! O spirit of this Christmastide, Abide with us, and give us power To conquer upon every side The battle of life's hour. And grant that we may know with Thee The joy of immortality! Helen S. Conant. OLD TIME RHYMES. Some Quaint Christmas Verses of Other Days. It was Thomas Tnsser who, nearly three and a half centuries ago, advised all people to at Christmas play and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year, in his quaint book, entitled "Five Hun drede Pointes of Good Husbandrie," but it was previous to this that there had been issued a mock play called "Alexander and the King of Egypt," the conclusion of which is given in Ray's "Collection of Proverbs," as follows: . Bounce Buckram, velvets dear. Christmas comes but once a year; And when it comes it brings good cheer. But when it's gone, it's never the near. Note Bounce Buckram is equivalent "throw away your old clothes."! Again, in a rare tract published to in 1653, are the lines: Let's dance and sing and make good cheer. For Christmas comes but once a year. Herrick, in his "Hesperides," treats: Of Christmas sports, the Wassell Boule That tost up, after Fox-i'-th'-hole; Of Blind-man buffe, and of the care That young men have to shooe the Mare; Of Ash-hcapes, ia the which ye use Husbands and wives by streakes to chuse; Of crackling laurell, which fore-sounds A plenteous harvest to your grounds. A writer in The Gentleman's Magazine f.jr May, 1784, tells us that "the drink ing the Wassail bowl or cup was, in all probability, owing to keeping Christmas in the same manner they had before the Feast of Yule. There was nothing the northern nations so much delighted in as carousing ale, especially at this sea son, when nghtmg was over. it was likewise their custom at all their leasts for the master of the house to till a large bowl or pitcher, to drink out of it first himself, and then give to him that sat next, and so it went around." In Poor Robin's Almanac for 1G77, in the beginning of December, he observes Now blocks to cleave this time requires 'Gainst Christmas for to make good fires, which salutary advice is still to be heed ed in northern latitudes. The Yule log figures largely in all the poetry of the Thirteenth. Fourteenth and Fifteenth centuries, and of this Herrick says: Come, bring with a noise. My merry, merrie boys. The Christinas Log to the firing. While my good Dame, she Bids ye all be free And drink to your heart's desiring; "With the last year's Brand Light the new Block," and For good success iu his spending, Ou your psalteries play. That sweet luck may Come while the Log is a-teending. Drink now the strong beere. Cut the white Ioafe here The while the meat is a-shredding: For the rare mince pie And the plums stand by To fill the paste that's a-kneading. Albert P. Southwick. Can't Have Too Much of a Good Thing. Clara Did you get my Christmas card, dear? Maude Yes; and I have always ad mired that card so much. I told Ethel Swansdown when she sent it to you last fear that I thought it was so pretty. Better Still. First St. Louis Girl I want to hang up my stocking on Christmas, but I am afraid it isn't big enough. Second St. Louis Girl Why don't yon hang up your ear muffs? A Short Wait. "Why are you sitting on my piazza? What do you want?" "That's all right. I thought I'd make irwself comfortable until the sun comes 4t." THE SON COMES OTJT. Too Slow. 'Say, aunty, do get a move on you. Run like the horses do." "Qh, no, Frankie; it wouldn't look well for me to run like that." "Then you might as well take me home again. This pace is just killing me," Life. BILLY'S SANTA CLAUS EXPERIENCE, F COURSE don t believe in any such person as Santa Claus, but Tommy does. Tommy is my lit tle brother, aged six. Las Christ mas I thought I'd make some fun for the young one bv playing Santa Claus, but as al- w a y s happens when I try to trot myself into amuse anybody trouble. I went to bed mas eve so as jes pretty early on Christ- to rive mv parents a chance to tret the presents out of the closet in mamma's room, where they had been locked up since they were bought. I kep my close on except my shoes, and put my nightgown over them so as I d look white if any of them came near me. Then I waited, pinchin myself to keep awake. After awhile papa came into the room with a lot of thinsrs that he dumped on Tommy's bed. Then mam ma came in and put some things on mine and in our two stockings that were hung up by the chimney. Then they both went out very quiet, and soon all the lights went out too. I kep on pinchin myself and waitin for a time, and then when I was sure that everybody was asleep I got up. The first thing I went into was my sister's room, and got her white fur rug that mamma gave her on her birthday, and her sealskin cape that was hanging on the closet door. I tied the cape on my head with shoestrings and it made a good big cap. Then I put the fur rug around me and pinned it with big safety pins what I found on Tommy's garters. Then 1 got mamma's new scrap basket, trimmed with roses, what Mrs. Simmons broid ered for the church fair, and piled all of th.e kid's toys into it. I fastened it to my back with papa's suspenders, and then I started for the roof. I hurt my fingers some opening the scuttle, but kept right on. It was snow ing hard and I stood and let mjTself get pretty well covered with flakes. Then I crawled over to th '-himney that went down into our rooi: 1 climbed up on top of it. 1 ha 1 ....iglit my bicycle lantern with me and I lighted it so as Tommy could see me when I came down the chimney into the room. CLIMBED UP ON TOP OF IT. There did not seem to be any places inside the chimney where I could hold on by my feet, but the ceil ing in our room was not very high and I had often jumped most as far. so I jes let her go, and I suppose I went down.- Anj'way, I did not know about anything for a long time. Then I woke up all in the dark with my head feelic queer, and when I tried to turn over in bed I found I wasn't in bed at all, and then my arms and legs began to hurt terrible, mostly one arm that was doubled up. I tried to get up, but I couldn't because my bones hurt so and I was terrible cold and there was nothing to stand on. I was jes stuck. Then I began to cry, and pretty soon I heard mamma's voice sayin to papa: "Those must be sparrers that are mak ing that noise in the chimney. Jes touch a match to the wood in the boys' fireplace." I heard papa strike a light and then the wood began to crackle. Then, by jinks! it began to get hot and smoky and screamed: "Help! Murder! Put out that fire lest you want to burn me up!" Then I heard papa stamping on the wood and mamma calUng out: "Where's Billy? Where is my chile?" Next Tommy woke up and began to cry and everything was terrible, special ly the pains all over me. Then papa called out very stern: "William, if you are in that chimney come down at oncer and 1 answered, cryin, that I would if I could, but I was 6tuck and couldn't. Then I heard papa gettin dressed. and pretty soon he and John from tha stable went up on the roof and let down ropes what I put around me and they hauled me up. It was jes daylight and I was all black and sooty and scratched and mv arm was broken. Everybody scolded me excep mamma. I had spoiled my sifter's white rug, and broken all of Tommy's toys, ami the snow what went in through the scuttle melted and marked the parlor ceiling, besides I guess it cost papa a good deal to get my arm mended. Nobod3' would believe that I had jes meant to make some fun for Tommy, and my arm and all my bruised places hurt me awful for along time. If I live to be a million 1 am never goin to play Santa Clans agin. Cornelia Redmond. The Antiquity of the Christmas Box. Three centuries ago the Christmas box- now not often heard of, was in the hei-it of its glory, as these lines show: Ghvdly the Boy with Christmas Box in band, Thvjughout the town Ids devious route pur sues. Shiloh's Consumption Cure. This is beyond question the moist suc cessful Cough MeJkirje we li'ive ever sold, a tew doses invariably cure the worst cases of Cous1!), Croup nd Bron chitis, while its wonderful succes3 in the cure of Consumption is without a parallel in the history of medii-ine. Since its first discovery it has been p!d on a guarantee, a test which no other medicine can stand. If you have a couh wo euinesily ask you to try it Price l(k: , 50c and $1. If your lungs are sore, chest, or back lame, use Shilohs Porus Plaster. Sold by J. P. S ted in an. Several stores and dwellings in Oxford for sale or rent John A. Williams. I SPRAY OF MISTLETOE. A CHRISTMAS SOLILOQ.trY.J One year ago above the door You hung, and she was there. I kissed her then, because of you. And then upon the stair ism t' "i 'M.'B.'B'?: m We sat and talked. Because of you My arm stole round her waist. And then, because of you once more. I kissed her. This in haste: For her papa was up above. And down the stair he came. This was last year, and yet I'm still. Because of you, quite lame. To.M Massom. The Tfuth About It. Stuffer What do you think? Jones has actually invited me to dine with him on Christmas day at his boarding house. Dashaway Ha! ha! Did you ask him if he had a grudge against you? Stuffer Yes. He said no; that he had a grudge against the landlady. CHRISTMAS APHORISMS. Pope Telesphorus, who died before the middle of the Second century, deserved canonizing, it tor nothing else, tor insti tuting Christmas as a festival. It has been celebrated ever since in all Chris tian lands, and has given more happi ness to children than any day in the calendar. Making children happy is the essence of Christianity. Of late years, Christmas ha3 become far more a domestic and merrymaking holiday than a religious one. But it is religious in the best sense, since it is a dav of peace and rest, aud opens the heart to human needs and human sym pathies. The most satisfactory way to observe Christmas is to do at least one good act to some of our fellows. The conscious ness of doing such an act will inspire ns to do others, and so sanctify the day as to make it ever welcome. Christmas is always associated with the good Jesus who, whether regarded as God or man, was the purest, kindest, noblest being that has walked the earth. He has inspired love in saint and sinner, in devotee and skeptic alike. Men may wrangle about creeds; but about Jesus and his beautiful life there can hardly be any difference of opinion, for he pitied all who suffered and strove to heal every aching heart. Christmas has gradually evolved out of its theology and has come to stand for a festival of love. Therefore all men love it, for throughout the universe love is born of love and is worshiped for its own sake. A clear conscience furnishes the best digestion for a Christmas dinner. Christmas is a day to form good reso lutions. It is easier to form them on that or any other day than to keep them for a single month. No conscientious person can enjoy his Christmas dinner if he knows anybody else within reach to be hungry. The consciousness that we have given food to the needy provides us with the finest appetite. Christmas was formed, iu the era of theology, from Christ and mass. In these practical and luxurious days it might signify that we should try to im itate Christ in dealing with the mass of mankind, who are usually more or less unfortunate. Dy so dealing with them we should make all days Christmas days It is better to be a Christmas turkey on the table than a Christmas goose at the table. Junius Henri Browne. Further Use for It. Bridget Shall I take the Christmas mistletoe down from the door, miss? Miss Summit No, indeed. I expect several New Yeai-'s cal lers. Answer tills Question. Why do s many people we see around us seem to prefer to suffer and be made miserable by indigestion. Constipation, Dizziness, Loss of Appetite, Coming np of the Food. Yellow Skin, when for 75c we will sell then: Mdloh's Vitalizer, guar anteed to cure them. 8old by J. P. Sted man. F. II. Rickey, 1 208 . ;da street, Lynch burg, Va , t rites: "I was broke out all over with s res. an i my hair was falline out. After uiing a few bottles of botanic Blood Bala my hair quit falling out and all the eore? got well." fB' . Tji. tn n A mimm If you can hold "O?1 hotter feel safe in piarel'.p Mark price. YeS c tto f J' rise our prediction. Y p boin ft are ui ,n linn iV . and Put)" new.-faPf' n crop "without The nredicfcion jUi1 . mit) sent out Irom lished in the 1 . -., .1 t rK iiuu r the country that will be unusally foundation and is the work o! st aid them in tl schemes. In f;ict sion of reliable it shows that the w accoiding to I he best experts, vvil published e?timA a million bales. I in our possession cular wh'ch was i late on the insidt tfU&l'J' to peculation ' ,nt,ton crop !US of the .mate9"' fhe M under the more than Cotton crop ot , . Iwrt Ol tors which puts t world at 1,300,00 e?'i t0 the fi-ures theyl jvepu" " fhfi world. Aftcon ID-' to ,-, ;r to men w;v- f this estimates xne coi fr v i;ma. year will a'l shi ted needs of the it me esu'" Qld at least 1 " l-ct. tn Willi I it " - last year by hold back cotton but the crop was ImU-UJU'J which with a a -S'cted money su.ply enabled tCpculator 10 otociHilir nneh rtrt n the price, i" fact we can selaoifi afford to try to hold a crop as Ion as a tew money olio rlra r u ti nrxntrf J the volume 01 "li(Vl 1VO ViA II VVUVA'A 1 currency But wit the great shor- tagein the cropftms yea hardiv nossible that they will pe iihle to kep do'uhe price it toe farmers will hoi anasup mz. . The following resoUVion was of fered before the Supreme Council oJlie Alliance at Indianapolis by niou Bntler, of Hon n yaruju., 1 unanimously adopted: Resolved, Thatf being m posses- sion or lacts tuatare iuuiuu&"m reliable, which waiVant us in a be lief that a faUd' estate has been purposely made! of the present crop of cotton, I we feel sale in guaranteeing better prices n cot ton can be held for pixty dys. We know that many will be forced to sell irv iyer to do them selves a n d t hei rfcvfcd i t ors j u stice. but let every mafi hold who can. The Caucasian A Question If Darkness. Ethel I tiling FWht to tell yon, Edith, that 1 met hallway last night four fiance in a dark lind he kissed me. Edith Indeed! The hallway must have been very dart. Munsey's Weekly. " A "Don't want noting. Go 'way. Don't luce peuaiers. r "But maybefo aT Vsband does. How "He never shaves. Go 'way." "But perhaps he might want to com mit suicide." Philadelphia Times. UuterrlCed. "I'm told," bt k George to Mabel, "that tyrotoxict' ;Js been found in re markable abundance in ice cream thin season." "Does it hurt one much?" ehe asked apprehensively. "Oh, I guess it poisons you," he re plied. "Is it alive?" ; "Ye yes; I thfak 60." "Oh, George, I would like to see one." MerchaHtyeler. An Ungainly Creature. Man is an urfainly creature at the best. His heaHan irregular spheroid, his eyes are nui.orof equal efficien cy; his whiskers won't grow uniformly. One shoulder is higher than the other, one hand or foot larger than the other and this is on opposite sides his hips (if he has any) are unequal in shape. The calves of his legs are not twins in any thing but age;ind without his tailor, hatter and botstma Jr-r lie is a sorry look ing animal. Ogden Argus. How Tliey Work. Baking powders are mixtures of chemi cals which, when moistened, liberate car bonic acid gas. They are added to the flour used in Jfdmaking, so that the gas, as it escaj puff up the dough, rendering it spongy and light. Yeast 6erves the same purpose by causing a fermentation in the flour, which also de velops carbonic a;id gas Boston Budget. Had the to Show for It. "You never loved me. John!" sobbed Mrs. Billus hysterically. "Maria," exclaimed Mr. Billus ear nestly, "yoivarftjiiistaken. If you will lookback over the family expense ac count you will find that it cost us $27. 50 for repairing rocking chairs during the first three years of our married life." Chicago Tribune. A V.ea. "V ! ii ill ito 41
Oxford Public Ledger (Oxford, N.C.)
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Dec. 25, 1891, edition 1
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