Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-12-25

do as the eQuatorlalS do"
"Shall you celebrate the day." sal
Lady Mary.
"Yes," said Mrs Clement. ave shall
have Christmas tree just the same a
at home. Without meaning the slight
est disrespect for the equator, we shall
have tree, and Santa Claus and a rea
old New England dinner. The Clement
came from Vermont before they settle,
in Wisconsin, and long before we cam
here. In honor of your arrival W,
shall also have an English pluin-pud
ding"
/ After break fast the guests of the hous
were left to their own devices, as tn
family were busy preparing for thu
many guests that were expected to th'
festival.
81 cannot see, Alfred, how you eyel
expect to get on with the girl. Why die
you ask for the porter and bacon?"
Because l wanted it. i am going Il
smoke now and do not want 70 be both
ered."
81 shall not trouble you, but if you
fail to win her, don't blame me-"
80, I'll win her. Wait till l get q
chance to show what l can do
1t was evident that the Clement fam.
lily had undertaken serious task. The
day promised to be torrid one, with
threatened showers. Wisdom would
suggest darkened rooms, a lounge in the
shade with book and fan-with cool
ing drinks between-much Of rest and
contemplation of the beautiful. Senti-
ment demanded the festive board with
much heavy eating; Christmas tree
with many candles, visit from st. Mich
olas wrapped in furs, and perhaps a
dance at the end. Which one would
prevail-climate or sentiment?
By eleven o'clock the guests from
neighboring places began to arrive.
English and Americans in about equal
proportions. Chinese servants, with
here and there Malay from some farm.
Even forlorn black from the bush-an
old man-was attracted to the outskirts
of the gathering by the hope of a meal.
1t was considered very bold thing in
the Clements to have regular Christ
mas festival. Would not the tree take
fire or the candles melt away before
they could be lighted? As for St. Mich
olas in his fur robes, he would faint
away before he could get into the house.
One of the old settlers remarked that the
moral courage of the family was worthy
of the day.
The family themselves seemed equal
to the occasion. Everything was done
for the comfort of the guests that could
be desired. The chief aim of existence
on such a torrid day was to keep cool,
and all the resources of the house SEEM
ed bent to that aim. At two o'clock,
when the house was full and every one,
save the Montagues, seemed to be calm
ly happy, Mr.. Clement made startling
announcement: Dinner was ready-the
Christmas dinner.
The entire company marched into the
big dining-room with feelings of mingled
curiosity, admiration and dismay. The
curtains were drawn and the shutters
closed. On the disused fire place roared
noble wood fire, and on the table were
sixty-seven candles shedding a warm
glow over the bountiful feast. The Bish-
OPP of Burry-burry- goola was asked to say
grace, and then the company eat down
to the feast.
1--WE have tried" said Mr.. Clement, "to
preserve the unities. Though far away
from home, We still keep up the grand
old English ways-the candles, the wood
fire, the 1ule log and the regular bill of
fare"
The servants, arrayed in black dress
suits, which, considering they were half
Chinese and half Malays, produced Pc
culiar effect, served the courses in digni-
fed silence. All went merrily for the
first three courses, when Alfred Angus
tus Montague suddenly collapsed. Two
of the gentlemen assisted by four Chi
nese boys carried the wretched man out
and tenderly laid him in the languid
surf that beat upon the shelly shore. It
was an awful sacrifice to good clothes,
yet that seemed the only way to save
him. The Honorable Lady Mary grim
ly stood her ground. She felt in her Sc
cret heart that her robe was departing
this life, yet she would bravely sit
through the feast.
"My friends" said Mr.. Clement to all
the company, "you well know that the
American mind is inventive. A patent
delights the heart, and think of taking
out patent on this festival This is not
a regular Christmas; it is a reversible
Christmas. There is another feast on
the piazza for those who prefer the
Australian style, and you can take your
choice"
"Let us not stand on the order of our
going" said the Bishop of BURY bury
goola.
"Nay, dear friends" cried Mr. Clement.
"Will you abandon sentiment? This is
a regular Christmas feast. Their is a
plum-pudding in blazing brandy yet to
come. There is only the cold comfort
of ice-cream on the piazza. Stay Oh
stay for the blazing hot pudding. Re-
the Christmas of your Fathers"
The entire company with one accord
rose from the table, and, with much
at the sacrifice they had made
to fine old sentiment, adjourned to the
piazza. As they all came out of the
front door a most extraordinary sight
met their view. Coming up the lawn
from the beach was man in hunting
suit, dripping wet and with neither hat
nor boots. He was waving his arms and
to be greatly excited. AS he
came near he shouted:
"A wreck There's a ship ashore on
the Barrier Reef. l saw it from the
beach,"
Christmas was forgotten in an instant,
and away they all ran in their very best
clothes over the lawn and down to the
beach through the blazing sun. For a
or two there was scene Of wild
and then some kind of order
appeared. Some one spoke as man
having authority.
I'VE can save them. It's not over
three miles across the sound. We must
row out to them"
The selfish, incident Englishman had
found his chance. He could row-if |
nothing else.
Mr.. Clement had two boats, and with
in five minutes both were manned with
gentlemen in dress suits, Chinese SER
wants with silk robes and half-naked |
Athers ran or rode along the