The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1883-01-03
WriNen for The Florida Ag:iculturist.
A True Christmas Adventure in
London, Many Years Ago.
BY j. SINCLAIR.

It was Christmas eve. Our ship
was lying in the Thames. All day
the snow had been falling, or rather
whirling and dancing through the
air. as if it meant to have good time
before settling on the ground to be
trodden under foot.
Our captain had determined to sail
with the mornings tide, if the storm
abated; for we were all Scotch, there
fore anxious to return home in time
to spend New Years Night" in old
Scottish fashion.
l was mate OF our ship, but the
captain was to stay by her this even
ing, so that I could 60 ashore to buy
some "nick hacks" to take home as
New Years presents. In spite of
the snow started for the city in fine
spirits, taking lad belonging to the
ship with me.
Once there, ! was not long in max
ing my purchases, saw them safely
packed, and gave them to the lad to
carry back to the ship. By that time
the snow had ceased to fall, and /
started for another part of the city
to say good bye to some friends that
lived there. Laughing and talking
with them, time passed quickly. On
preparing to leave, / found / had
spent a couple of hours where had
10y meant tgzss-y e .sssy rninutcs:
Hdrfyfng over good Dyes, ] emerged
from the house to find the snow fall
ing worse than ever, it seemed, and
the wind dead in my face, binding
me with the fine fakes. However, 1
knew my way well. and on such
night there was little danger OF COM
ing into collision with fellow pedes>
TRANS. Bending my head to the
wind 1 trudged along. l had walked
a considerable distance, when sud-
denly close at my side ! saw wo.
man. "Please, sir" OF course l
stopped, turning my back to the
wind and driving snow, that might
see her, also hear what she was say
ing. On doing so, saw she had
stepped from porch door where she
had been sheltering. "Please, sir, l
have lost my way. Do you know
s. street? / live in it / cannot
be far wrong. I must have taken
the wrong turning on coming out OF
a shop. AS / am stranger in Lon>
don, was afraid to go further until
directed by some one"
A respectable looking woman with
a pleasant voice, nor did she speak
like cockney when stating her case.
"Yes, / knew the street, for ship
mate OF mine had lodged there, and
had been at his lodgings" This l
told her as 1 offered my arm, saying
would see her safe home. l knew
the street ran out of the straight road
we were on, and kept looking out tor
the bright lights of the Gin Palace |
knew to be at the corner. AS we
walked along l could bear her voice
asking questions, despite the snow
driving in her face. Wasn't a sail-
or? Yes. What was the name of
my ship? 1 had just opened my
mouth to tell her when a gust OF
wind filled it with snow flakes, shut.
ting me up, fortunate thing tor me;
it seemed to settle her too, tor she
spoke no more until we reached the
street; then, counting the houses, /
at last landed her at the number she
had named. Quicker than thought
the key was in the lock and the door
opened. / said good night, and
turned to go, when she seized my
hand, saying, Indeed, sir, you must
come in and have warm drink. AT.
ter your kindness to me cannot let
you go on in such night without
some retreshment." Before could
think what answer TO make, was
drawn inside the passage and the
front door shut Or course. 1 could