The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-26
Christmas in the Forward Hold.

care you sure there is any Christmas
at sea and so far away from England 7
What do they do for holly and mistletoe
boughs ?"
al guess Christmas came over in the
'MsyHower with the Plymouth colony
folks. Besides, people do not need holly
and the other things for Christmas. My
cousin in Palatka, Florida, wore orange
blossoms, and Cousin Cicely, at Los
Angeles, California, said last winter they
had their Christmas tree covered with
geraniums in full bloom. At home, in
Kittybunk, we use the fir for tree and
decorate with Roxbury wax-work berries
and trailing evergreen"
The two girls sat on the sofa in state
room on a White Star steamer bound
west and thousand miles from land.
The first speaker had been born in Kent,
England, and had never before been out
of her native country. The other girl,
who was much younger, lived, when at
home, in Maine. She had, in her brief
life, crossed the Atlantic six times and
been in twenty states of the Union. They
had met, for the first time, in Liverpool
week ago and we're already good friends.
The English girls name was Mary Mas
ters. The American rejoiced in the lively
title of Phronie Quackenbush.
For few moments Mary Masters sat
gazing at her younger friend in silent
amazement. The girl was source of
continual wonder to her. Her statements
were so remarkable, so unlike anything
Kentish, she couldn't understand the half
she said. Orange flowers and geraniums
in winter How rich the Americans must
be to have such things. Phronie, for
wonder, was silent, too; and then she
rose and said
"I'll tell you what we will do. We
must have Christmas tree tonight. Pm
going to ask the captain if we can use the
saloon after dinner"
"Why how can we? Where can you
get holly or a tree ?"
az don't know. guess we can impro-
wise tree out of something. Come on.
Let's 60 on deck"
They both put on long ulsters and
passed out of the state-room into the sa-
loon. The place was rather dark and
very quiet. Here and there were people
reading or playing games to while away
the long, dull hours. The two girls
passed between the tables, steadyipg
themselves occasionally by the chairs, for
the ship was rolling slowly from side to
side; then up the broad stairs, holding
firmly by the brass railing, and at last
out on hurricane-deck. All around them
gray, restless sea, with every wave topped
with ragged foam, flying before the cold
the sky like lead. The heavy smoke,
ha L. h.
seemed to blot out half the sky, and the
tall masts seemed to swing in curious
curves this way and that as the great
ship rolled and plunged through the
water. The deck was quite clear, and
they soon reached the pilothouse and the
stairs leading up to the bridge.
Mary felt chilled and dsheartened
bow could there be any Christmas here ?
Phronie was only concerned as to that
steep ladder. How could she get up to
the bridge and speak to the captain
just as they reached the bridge an officer
came down the steps.
"Yes, Miss. The captain is on the
bridge. He will be down presently"
"Thank you, sir. We will wait for him.
They were close to the forward end of
the deck, and to steady themselves they
went forward to the edge and took hold
OF the railing. Here they saw singular
sight. The deck below them was filled
with immigrants, men, women and chill
prem. Phronie counted thirty.seven seated
on the deck to keep out of the bitter wind
There were Irish children in suits much
too big for them. There were German
babies who looked like little old women
There were brown Italian youngsters
with gold earrings, big enough for theil
mothers, and funny Swedes, and even two
lively French children and one solemn
Russian baby girl, who looked like &
rag doll with a wise head.
"Poor things To think every one viii
miss the tree and the stockings on thu
mantle-piece, and Santa Claus"
"Oh |" said Mary. 81 dare say they
never had such things. They are, M
doubt, very good people; but we couldn't
take any interest In them"
Phronie stared in open-eyed wonder.
swell, guess they are humans; ant
IT we have tree shall ask every precious
baby to come to see the fun"
"Do you think it would be proper
We have never been introduced to them.
"Then I'll introduce myself"
just here big man, wrapped in Ions
cloak, came up beside the two girls, ane
said, pleasantly:
"Did you wish to see me, young ladies p
"Oh yes, captain. It's Christmas to
morrow, and we want to have tree"
"Ho, hol A Christmas tree on tn
Atlantic Why, l never saw tree grow
ing in the water in my life; and wha
would you do for holly2"
ave could rig up tree; improvise i
OF ropes or capstan bars. Couldn't W
have the saloon this evening, and in Wit
all those unhappies down there to come
toof I'm sure they will miss Christina
dreadfully. Come, captain, do let u
have the saloon for an hour or two"
"lts no use resisting, Miss. Away
give right up to you American young la
dies. Idon't know what you mean to do
but If the forward lower deck will answer
\ you're welcome to it. It's empty, and II
have it swept out and lighted up with tn
Nship's lantern. Quartermaster i"
just then a grizzly old sailor was pass
ing, and he stopped and touched his car
:" Have the forward lower deck cleare,
Gut and fitted up with benches. Tell tn
carpenter to do whatever the young ID
dies wish. It's Christmas"
Faith it is," said the quartermastel
"and If the Americans get bold of il