Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-12-25
An Australian Christmas
A CLIMATIC SENTIMENT.

A CLIMATIC SENTIMENT.
For weeks the ship had sailed ovel
Summer seas. 1t was now past the mid
die OF December, and during the day the
heat was intense. Three more DAYS anG
they ought to see the land. TO nearly
all on board the crowded ship it was
Promised Land-the country of new
hopes. The ship was bound to Queens
land, Australia, and was already near.
ing the Great Barrier coral reefs that ex.
tend along the eastern coast.
The rainy season had begun, and the
nights were occasionally dark, with
heavy storms. The watch must be kept
lest, as one emigrant slip had already
done, the ship end its life and the voy.
age on these same coral reefs far from
land. The port lay 10 the north, inside
the Great Barrier reef, and some
entrance must be found leading into
the broad sound behind those coral
rocks.
The sun rose bright and clear after a
night of heavy rains, touching the line
of white surf on the coral banks, spark
led in broad streaks of rosy color on the
smooth sound, and shining far into the
tropical forest that fiinged the shore.
The sunlight entered front chamber in
house on the shore and awakened a
lovely being only arrived on these tropic
shores two months before, from the
dingy streets of London. The said love-
ly being awoke, arrayed herself in a
heavy woollen wrap, and then draw
ing the curtains, looked out upon the
sea.
Before the house was an open space
in the deep forest. Beyond the lawn
lay the beach already glowing in the
fervid heat. The smooth sound was like
mirror fringed with white, where the
sea broke over the coral reefs. Beyond
all lay the broad Pacific sparkling in the
sun.
at is SO strange, so TIL English. / shall
perhaps never learn to like il. 1t is
heeatly hot"
Like the maiden in the fairy story
who dropped reptiles from her. mouth
whenever she spoke. so this maiden let
fall English singularities whenever she
opened her lips. The fervid sunshine
filled the room promising tropical day,
and the London maid at once arrayed
herself in thick woolens, after the man
ner of her people. When she had fin
ished, she started down stairs, and re-
marked to herself:
81 hope they have not forgotten the
day. Our host and family are Ameri-
cans, and dare say will make a nasty
mess of the whole affair.""
The Honorable Lady Mary Montague
WAS strange creature. AS she came
down stairs into the cool, shady hall she
met her brother, Alfred Augustus Mon
tague. This young gentleman, like her.
self, was guest in the house, yet it did
not seem to him at all important that he
should recognize the fact. He was Dress
ed in a rough shooting jacket, and wore
long boots that seemed rather the worse
for wear. He appeared to regard
her costume with some interest, and
said:
"You have got yourself up in stunning
style. suppose it is i'll honor Of the
day."
at is, and l wonder at your appear
ing in shooting-costume. 1t is not good
FORM"
"Well, if you think Pm going to take
any trouble about my dress when I'm
out Of England, you are much mistak-
ed. Besides, these people are only Amer
icans."
Anyway, you are hoping Mr. Clement
will set you up in business here, and
you want to marry Ethel Clement for
her money. The people are not at all
fiunky, even if they did come from the
States"
With such jewels of speech did the
Honorable Lady Mary Montague ad-
dress her only brother, Alfred Augustus
Montague-both of England, and now
guests at the Australian home ofEGward
Clement, lately of Wisconsin, and now
half farmer, half merchant, in the north
ern part of the Pacific coast of Queens
land.
Just then a girlish voice cried out from
the upper hall:
merry Christmas! Merry Christmas"
In q moment after the Clement family
appeare|upon the stairs, Mr.. Clement
in a white flannel suit, Mrs. Clement in
India null, and the two daughters, aged
twelve and eighteen, in cool nun's.veil-
ing, as suited the torrid December
weather. The younger child's greeting
seemed almost grOtesque. Christmas
greetings in Summer costumes! The
guests still clinging to insular custom,
seemed half melted in their Winter
clothing, and yet to lack the courage to
do as did the people about them.
After the first greeting the whole
party adjourned to the cool and shady
dining-room. Ripe figs, bananas, white
bread and cofiee-nothing else on the
table.
1t seemed so odd to begin Christmas
Day with fruits. Where were the beef
steaks and hot mullins? Mr.. Alfred Au-
gustus Montague could touch nothing.
and when the Chinese servant arrayed
in blue silk appeared, he boldly asked
for pint of porter and rasher of ba-
con.
''Oh, l am very Sorry" said Mrs.
Clement. 1--WE have neither on the
place."
The Honorable Lady Mary seemed
distressed at her brothers request, and
said sweetly:
"The fruit is not at all nasty, Alfred.
Better have some"
Our American hoet and family never
smiled. 1t was not amusing to see toads
leap from such rosy lips, toads ofspeech,
to be literal. The eldest daughter
smiled serenely, as if such remarks
were quite to be expected, and said
pleasantly: