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Buffalo Bill's Christmas Watch.

"It was away out in a Colorado mining camp before many railroads were built, said " Buffalo Bill" Cody in describing his queerest Christmas. "A mile from the mining cmap ther lived a widowed woman with her five children who were in desperate need. On Christmas night I was out Skirmighing trying to locate a gang of thieves."

Ile said he had traveled around in a ciruit of many miles hwne suddenly he saw a light ahead. Ile was so sure that he had located the "gang" that he grasped his pistol and stole quietly up to the log cabin door. What was his surprise to hear the sweet voices of children within. It was the poor widow's cabin, and the children kneeling beside her were asking if Santa Claus would bring them toys and candies in the morning as he used to do in the "States." With a Heavy heart the moter bade the children cheer up, although it was evident that she had not a crust of bread in the house for the morning meal, and not clothes enough to keep herself and little ones warm.

"Then." continued Mr. Cody, "the little ones knelt down and preyed that God would send them toys and thier mamma a shawl. That was too much for me. You see, the contrast between what I expected and what I actually found sort of unnerved me."

Hastening back to camp he told the boys, [?] with his bat he went from one group of poker players to another, and the warmhearted, rough coated miners "chipped in" with a will till a handsome sum was realized. Then they dropped the game and went in a body to the border store and bought food, clothes, blankets, candies-infact, everything they thought would please their own wives and little ones away off in the East.

When they had carried it all to the widow's cabin door they tied a note to it telling her that God had heard her children's prayer.

"Who'lll stand guard till daybreak." said a miner.

"I will," said Cody, stepping out from the ranks, and with his rifle he watched the miners' gifts till daylight.

He saw the widow with tears of joy streaming down her face at the sight of the bounteous Christmas offerings, and then he stole quietly awayt to camp and told the boys.