Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-12-19
THE STEWARDESS' STORY.
A Christmas Story.

home tlreSlde, but IN the saloon of a
southwark bound steamer, where there
was nothing to remind one of the bless
ed season of peace and good will, save
a solitary cross of evergreen which one
passenger had fastened over her state
room door. 1t was wild night. We
we're Just off Cape Hatteras, and the
vessel was rolling like a ppything in
the hands of the stormy sea. A violent
Snow-storm was raging, and on deck the
scene was dreary and arctic. Snow and
ice covered everything, and the muffled
forms of the sailors passing to and fro
under the glare of the lanterns ap-
reared like the weird ghosts OF dead
arctic voyagers. | was glad to seek the
warm saloon and gather myself into IA
corner of 81 lounge. 70 watch the move
ments Of the passengers was amuse-
ment enough, and served to prevent
me from thinking too tenderly Of the
home circle where / was missing from
the festivities of Christmas eve.
The usual crowd was collected which
one always sees on a steamer southwark
bound in the winter time. Here around
table were gathered group of men,
probably sugar merchants, striving, in
spite Of the motion of the ship, to play
aouiet game of euchre Stretched on
the sofas were ladies in all the stages of
seasickness A few children not yet to
bed were crouching on the floor with
their nurses, and in warm corner
near the heater lay poor consump-
tive girl, carefully watched over by her
mother and brother She was going to
die under the orange trees. Only the
old story repeated over and over again
every winter.
Moving round among all those who
were sick was the trim, plump figure of
the old stewardess. She was carving
bowls of broth, tumblers Of chopped
ice, and all those little delicacies so
welcome to sufferer from sickness.
The quiet, placid face of the old lady
interested me, and in those few DAYS
already passed since leaving port we
had become firm friends. With the
quick instinct of woman who had
mad to do with all kinds of people, she
felt that liked her company, and she
had already formed the habit of coming
for quiet chat with me the last thing
at night after all her seasck charges
were safely tucked III their berths and
her duties for the day over
| was impatient tonight for her leis-
IRE hour to arrive, for SAW strange
tenderness in the old ladys face, and
felt sure that the season was arousing
old memories in her heart, which per
haps | could induce her TO tell me. SO
,s-l l., ,.l,, i i.
one end of the lounge where | was
lying, said trying to lead the converse
ton to what | felt was upperno st in her
mind " It's q rough night for Christ
mas eve"
Yes, ma am" She replied, smooth
ing the folds of the kerchief across her
breast but I've seen many Il rougher
night at sea in my day, and '-thought-
July" sadder Christmas ewes, too"
Have you spent many years on the
ocean,? | asked.
Yes, ma'am, but not in this way. |
used to have my own little cabin and
my husbands ship--a coy little place,
where | used to be always at his side,
and never felt afraid of storm or
wind"
Tell me about it" | say. Sure
y life like yours has much of interest
in it,"
Well, ma am, I've been thinking it
all over tonight, and if you don't mind
II tell you some of the things u sail.
or's wife has to pass through, and how
her heart gets wrung very hard some
times.
hadn't much knowledge of those
things when got married to Charlie, for
was a 81 of girl then and knew no
more of the sea than one learns in
Watching the vessels sail out of and into
quiet land bound harbor.
So when Charlie asked mo to he bis
wife and go to sea with him-for al
though he was young, he had ship OF
ms OWL said yes with all my heart,
ior | loved the honest hearted sailor,
ma am, ever since we We're little chill
Iren together. | only thought then of
the strange sunny lands Charlie had
.old me about, and to 20 to see them
WIN HIM was to take trip to para
use. Well, we were married Just be
.ore he was to start on voyage to Bra
ILL., | mind me so well of that voyage,
ma am, just as if it all happened yes
.'Eday. 1t was late in November when
We started, and right here off HattYas
We mad terrible gale. / was so fright
med when the wind l4Owled and whistled
through the rigging, and almost wished
myself back in the old cottage with
u .a"5g.lier-tor | had a dear mother thea,
'yl bless her memory p
d, Inc old lady's voice broke, and she