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Updated: September 22, 2025
"Well he may get some to come, but none of old Jim's friends or the fellers which likes little Skeezucks is goin' to desert our own little festival." Nevertheless, the glitter of the home-made tree in the dingy shop was dimmed.
"I'd be afraid you'd deal me a dirty ace of spades instead of a decent slice of bacon." And, hands in pockets, he sauntered away, vaguely wondering what he should do. The blacksmith hung for a moment in the balance of indecision, rapidly thinking. Then he followed where the gray old Jim had gone, and presently overtook him in the road. "Jim," he said, "what about poor little Skeezucks?
"What would little Skeezucks like?" For the very first time since his coming to the camp the little fellow's brown eyes abruptly filled with tears. His tiny lip began to tremble. "Bruv-ver Jim," he said, and, leaning against the rough old coat of the miner, he cried in his silent way of passionate longing, far too deep in his childish nature for the man to comprehend.
"Skeezucks say good-bye to Miss Doc and all the boys. Say good-bye." The little fellow had heard "good-bye" when the three little caps of red departed. It came as a word that hurt his tiny heart. But, obediently, he looked about at all his friends. "Dood-bye," he said, in baby accents. "Dood-bye."
"What do you take us fellers fer since little Skeezucks came to camp? All we want is to shake hands all 'round, with you and the missus and the little girls." Old Jim, little Skeezucks, the pup, and Miss Doc, with Mrs. Stowe, came out through the snow to the road in front of the gate. Not a penny had the preacher been able to force upon the Dennihans for their lodging and care.
They were joking, laughing, wasting time. "Boys," cried Jim, as he hastened towards the group, "has any one seen little Skeezucks? Some one's played a trick and took him off! Somebody's been to the cabin and stole my little boy!" "Stole him?" said Field. "Why, where was you and Keno?" "Down to Doc's to get some milk. He wanted bread and milk," Jim explained, in evident anguish.
"We mustn't fergit," said the smith, "that Jim was a takin' the poor little feller to Fremont 'cause he thought he was pinin' away fer children's company; and I guess Jim knowed. Now, the question is, what we goin' for to do? Little Skeezucks ain't a goin' to be no livelier unless he gits that company and maybe he'll up and die of loneliness, after all.
And yet some of the most secretive felt a necessity for consulting Jim as to what was appropriate, what would please little Skeezucks, and what was worthy to be tied upon the tree.
They drew their royal coach through every room in the house which rooms were five in number and then began anew. Back and forth and up and down they hastened, the pup and tiny Skeezucks growing more and more delighted as their lively little friends alternately rearranged him, kissed him, crept on all fours beside him, and otherwise added adornments to the pageant.
"If only I had the time," drawled Jim, "I'd take 'em back to Miss Doc and throw them in her yard. We don't need anybody sewin' for little Skeezucks. I was meanin' to make him somethin' better than these myself." "Oh!" said Keno. "Well, we could give 'em to the pup. He'd like to play with them little duds."
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