, 1884-12-25

Ii was my order Tor n ton OF ice
While the rafting vas in progress,
skillful hands had been busy preparing
our Christmas cup, a delicious egg-nog-
delicious to us even though the milk and
eggs used in compromising it were from
the can and not freshly from the farm.
The merriment of the evening, as was
natural and appropriate, burst forth in
song Plantation melodies, comic songs
and sentimental dities were rendered, Civ
ing way, as midnightapproached t sacred
hymns and those beautiful and tender
Christmas carols which have come down
to us from the middle ages. Thus with
songs of praise was usheredin that Christ
mas morn in our lonely home in the weird
and frozen Northland.
At O'Clock on Christmas day the
thermometer registered 40o below zero,
but calm weather and a clear sky insured
a delightful day, as Arctic days go at that
season ofthe year. Our breakfast came
as usual at 1880 O'Clock. At 10 O'Clock
the men assembled Tor the customary
Sabbath service. The selection of Psalms
for Christmas day was read, as well as the
l39th and l40th Psalms. Situated as we
were upon the verge of the world, and
living in the great shadow of that Arctic
night, to us all came more touchingly and
forcibly than ever the truth Of those beau
tiful words.
IF | take the wings of the morning.
and remain in the uttermost parts Of the
sea;
Even there also shall Thy hand lead
me, and Thy righht and hold me.
"IfI say, Peradventure the darkness
shall cover me; then shall my night be
turned to day.
Yea, the darkness is no darkness with
Thee, but the night is as clear as the day;
the darkness and light to Thee are both
alike"
Need | say that our morning exercises
were closed with Praise God from Whom
All Blessings Flow" in which wei the
least musical nised his voice?
During the day nearly every man took
an unusual amount Of physical exercise in
view Of the approaching feast, and the
three mile course to Dutch Island and
back was, as usual, the favorite of the
day. thigh moor brought to us naught
but the shining stars and c%ircling planets
of the night, yet our eyes and senses
trained to Arctic darkness, enabled US TO
keep the rough roadway through the
tangled ice-foot and on the paleocrystic
foes And if Nature by her frosty touch
had banished every living subject from
our cline and thus silenced the hum Of
animal life, yet with grand and wordless.
voices she spake to us through the surg
ing tides and cracking ice-foot
Our exercise was promptly done by 4
o'clock, but the long menu of the day,
delayed dinner till an hour later, as our
cooks. Frederick and Long, were determ-
med that everything should be at its best.
All lands and chimes paid tribute to our
table, and, il 1.-THE conventional turkey was
wanting, it was well replaced by the ducks
and guillemots Of Greenland. A delicious
tenderloin of the musk-ox of Grinnell
Land also graced our table; but | will let
our menu speak for itself:
FORT CONGER, GRINNELL LAND.
Christmas Dinner. 1881.
SOUP,
Mock Turtle.
FISH.
Salmon a Ia Paleocrystic.
ENTREES.
Guillemots a la Sanderson's Hope,
Musk Ok Tongue-Sauce Arctique.
SALAD,
Grab a Ia GrinnelL
ROAST,
Beet a Ia Frederick,
Elder Ducks a Ia Kislinbury,
Tenderloin of Musk Ok.
VEGETABLES,
Potatoes, Asparagus,
Green Corn, French Peas.
PASTRY,
Cocoanut Pie, Jelly Cake,
Plum Pudding, Wine Sauce.
DESSERT,
OIapea, Dru1H Itulbi DateS, rigs,
Candies, P~ineapples,
Vanilla Ice Cream. Banana Ice Cream,
Coffee, Tea.
The plum pudding had been a source Of
distraction to the cooks until it was an
nounced to them that a box Of canned
pudding had been sent the party as a
Christmas gift from the wife Of the ON
manding officer. The entrance of the I'M
dercook with the pudding was the feature
of the dinner. The lambent pale-blue
flames Of the rum dancing about the
pudding were a novelty to some and q de-
light to all. After the coffee each officer
and man was presented with n Havana
cigar, the gift of a thoughtful army lady
who appreciated the weakness Of the rank
and file for such articles Of luxury.
Shortly after the dinner Sergeant Rice
appeared in the officers room, stating
that he came in behalf of the men, who
desired to express, through me, their
thanks to the ladies' whose c~onsiderate
kindness had contributed 80 much to their
pleasure and happiness on this Christmas
day.
A little laterthc ordinary Sunday allow
anee OF rum was issued. The evening
passed quietly with music and appropriate
songs. At tho end Of one of them the
night observer called loudly out:
Eleven o'clock i"
Christmas day at Conger was ended.
A. w. GREEDY.
Montana Horse Ranch for sale
Consisting of about 1000 Geldings, Mares
and Colts. 500 acres Of patented land,