The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-21

has elapsed since the ship left port. There
may be fresh meat and vegetables, but the
chances are all in favor Of canned goods
Plain food and plenty of healthful exercise
choice of bill of fare than iandsmar
would be; and if this Christmas dinner in
cludes plum duff, with wine sauce end or
anges or apples, he is content.
At one o'clock the men on watch tumble
up on deck and busy themselves about the
ship, just as on other days. On the gun
deck the men who have four hours 'off'
do little mending,. for Jack is his owr
tailor, Others read, look over their ditty
boxes, spin yarns or play cards. Nearly ali
are smoking. Banjos and guitar arr
brought out, and to the rythmic music OF
the tinkling strings sailor lad is dancing
with the swaying ship. as his flying feet
bark! The bos'n's whistle, and the
order; "A-all ha-a-nds reef tops'lsv'
Up the ladders nimbly run the men, and
scarcely are their heads above the hatch
combings when the first Lieutenant sings
out: Reef tops'ls! Man the tops'l crew
lines and buntlines, weather tops'l braces.
Hands by the lee braces. bowlines and
halliards!' The men spring to their places
at the ropes. "Clear away the bowlines.
round in the weather braces; settle away
the tops'l halliards! Clew DOWN. With y
long pull, strong pull, and a pull all to-
Inc caps Then: Haul uu out sno tho hove, re eG
tackles. Haul up the buntlines! Aloft,
topmen"' Up the shrouds they 60. hand
over hand; they are in the tops,
Lay out! Take in two reefsn' Out
on the icy yard they climb, graspinR
the frozen sail with their bare hands, haul
reef points. Lay inv' Back to the mast
again. until the order, following quickly:
Lay down from aloft!' Then down the
shrouds and backstays to the deck. Then
the yards are trimmed and down the watch
60 again to make all snug below.
The wind is rising fast now. It has
Will soon blow gale. Matches are covered,
ports closed, and every gun fastening in
spectsd to see that the battery can BIZ no
chance get adrift during the storm. For
here !s no doubt now that, as Jack would
Jay, 1T is coming OF. to blow" and every
orecautlon is taken to make the ship Sc
cure. The daylight of this wintry day has |
gain; in the smoking corner of the gun deck |
ne officers are gathered, making themselves |
IS comfortable as the violnet rolling of the |
hip will permit; while forward the men are |
Keeping as near the galley fires a. possible. |
Supper Is eaten at five O'Clock. Then the |
KUN NeoA 40 oWopb OOWu anu everything IL |
made snug for the night. The men Of |
watch light their pipes again, and many a
"reminiscences is exchanged Of Christmas |
days in other seas and ports. There were
holidays in the navy yard, when the sailor |
bad shore leave" and improved every min. |
ote OF 1t; days in the tropics, where blaz- |
ing sun shone down upon green palms, long
stretches OF white sand and curling line
81 rollers breaking over coral reefs. Other
lays are remembered spent on board water
,as Soa merchant smd ships and stormswept
lay at home with wife and little ones.
The cruiser, under bare poles, rides easier
low. Nine O'Clock comes. And AZ the
troke of two bells the bugle sounds tatton.
,un deck, and Jack can sleep AGAIN. Christ
mas for him has come and gone; and ten Ia |
me every sailor man in those long rows Of J
wiaging hammocks takes trip home be- I
ore he goes to sleep. There is no place
ike home at Christmas!
G. HILLS WARREN.
Copyright.
Beautiful presents at j. H. Drcw's with
n md al, g.