Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-12-24

SHUTS, ltil'llS, Wfl>lltlS, cue. sergeant
Rice thought it adverse fate which
sent to him-a non-Smokcr-a pouch
filled with a goodly quantity of the
weed. Scrgt. Gardiner WAS greatly de
| lighted and surprised by receiving
from his sistera comforter knit 10y her
hands. Others, who had been the
recipients of appropriate presents for
their outfit on leaving the United
States, somewhat cnvicd Gardiner his
Christmas gift from home. \ hand
some rug, sent for one OF the men
who had been ordered back in the
steamer ProtcHS, in 1881, WIS dis
posed OF hy rattle and fell to Corporal
Ellison. The distribution of these.
gifts WAS made by Scrst. Rice, who,
in presenting them, added in each in
| stance Il few words Of congratulation or
wcll-meant badinage as best b1tittcd
the individual.
The gifts from the commanding of-
ticer were now in order. Twcnty-four
cans OF uniform size. numbered from
one upwards, were set on the table
and disposed OF by chance. The
highest throw had first choice, aud
selected Il number which entitled him
to the can. As with Portals scaled
caskcts, the privilege of external ex-
animation was granted, and, as in that
case, where weighty gold and shining
silver lost the prize, SO here the hcav-
| Ter and more attractive cans were not
| always the most valuable. In gen
cral the heavier cans We're filled with
beans, nuts or rice, while the lighter
contained orders for confcctions.
| fruits, rum, etc One fortunate in
dividual, Scrgt. Gardiner, drew an ol-
der for Il ton of icc-a second an or
der Good for nothing" and third a
ticket Good for Il passage to st.
Johns 10y the first steamer" As trans
| pred two years later, Gardiner, poor
fellow, had it i'll mind to turn the Joke
upon me and pay me off in my own
COIN. On one of the bright DAYS that
came to us in the sprlngtimc at Sa-
binc-for, even amidst all our suffer
ings and terrible privations, our spirits
never entirely failed Ills, and some days
We're bright and cheerful to us-hc
opened his wallet and said:
81 have here, majors Il paper that may
interest you. had intended to pre-
sent it to you to be honorcd on our ar
rival home, but, us that may never be
| would like you to read it now"
1t was my order for ton of ice.
While the railing was in progress
skillful hands had been busy preparing
our Christmas cups, Il delicious egg
nog-delicious to us even though tn,
milk and eggs used for compoundine
it were from the can and not freshly
from the farm. The mcrriment of the
evening, as was natural and appro
pirate, burst forth in song. Plantation
melodies, comic songs and sentimental
ditties were rendered, giving way
as midnight approached, to 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 ushcrcd
in that Christmas morn in our lionel,
home in the weird and frozen North
land.
At 6 o'clock on Christmas day the
thermometer registered 40 degrees be
low zero, but calm weather and cleal
sky insured delightful day, as Arctic
days go at that season of the year
Our breakfast came as usual at 7 80
AT 10 o'clock the men assembled fol
the customary Sunday service. The
selection of Psalms for Christmas day
was read, as well as the both ant
l4Oth Psalms. Situated as We wcr,
upon the verge of the world, and living
i'll the great shadow of that Arctic
night, to lis all came more scarchingly
and forcibly than ever the truth o
those beautiful words:
Ii | take the wings of the morning
and remain in the uttcrmost parts O
the sea;
Even there also shall thy han,
lead me and thy right hand hold me.
If | say, ,peradventurc the darkness.
shall cover me; then shall my nigh
be turned to day.
Yes, the darkness is no darkness
with thee, but the night is as clear IA
the day; the darkness and light ar,
to thee both alike"
Need | say that our morning cxcr
, | tlStS "tlt tltStt Will Idlst bot
From Whom all Blessings Flow" il
which even the least musical raise,
his voice?
During the day nearly every mal
took an unusual amount of physica
exercise in view of the approachin.
fast, and the three-mile course t,
Pitch Island and back Was, as usual
the favorite Of the day. Ii high noon
brought to us nausht but the shinin.
stars and circling planets OF the night
yet our eyes and senses, trained t,
Arctic darkness, enabled us to keel
the rough roadway through the tan
gled ice-floe and on the paleo-crystit
| foe. And if Nature by her frosty