, 1892-12-24
TIE HEADLEsS WATERMAN.

Fvervbody who has lived In Chrlstlansted,
Santa Cruz, for any length o ftlms knows that
ON Christmas eve the principal business street
oe the town. which is called Company Street,
in honour of an old West India trading com
pany. presents a lively scene. During the
day peopls are moving from store IN store
to purchase the good things needed for the
Chrjstmas festivities or to select the presents
which thew intend making to their children
or their friends; but it is after dark tina tho
chief excitement commences. Then the stores
are brilliantly lit up, and some OF them adorned
with Chinese lanterns; inside, sales are being
made to excited crowds, or a small klho OF
gambling is being carried on IN Christmas
goods. . Along the sides Of the streets are the
travis of the sellers Of sweets, and up ana
down the middle move crowds OF people some
talking and laughing, some merely looking
on. For the most part these belong OF course
to the. working classes but such IS the quiet
inonotony Of our little town that even thIS
non attraction takes cut a good many OF other
classes Of people also, the younger ones eSPe-
cially, to enjoy the fun, such as 1t ~.
One Christmas eve, 8 dozen or more years
ago, a smoll party of young people had met IN
a house in Basin, as Chrlstlansted is more
commonly called in the island, to stroll out
and see what was to be seen III company
Street. and it was understood that after tnelr
return they we're to spend the rest OF inc
evening at the house of their host. Very soon
thew had seen all that they cared TO see, ana
returned, a happy party. The children Oh 'ne
family, to whom permission had oeen given
to company their elder sisters and trlenos'
rushed in to show papa and mamma the sweets
and TOYS to which they had been treated ny
the Young mon Of the party or Whlch tney na0
BOUGHT with the cents allowed them tor thS
purpose. The rest had the small lnGloents
and observations Of the tour TO relate, anu Il
thew added a little colour now ana again 10
very plain facts, let us not blame them, Out
rather be glad that their quick eyes anu
brains found something to amuse oven among
the commonplace. Tea was now nanoeo
round for mamma, her friends and the girls
while the young men joined the head OF the
bouss in a glass of something stronger. Pre'
sently singing was proposed, ana MISS noSa,
on being asked for . song, Immediately "eh'
to the piano, followed by her sister LIly' VINO
ALWAYS accompanied her on such occasions, ana
sang THE Brook" and The Bridge to the
great delight of the company. Rosa then
anuealed to one of the visitors, who sang Il
cannot sing the old songs, yet immediately
afterwards gave them "Home, sweet Home,
on being asked to do SO, and sang it so well
that another song was unanimously called for,
hen she sang @Annie Laurie" From which
we may learn that what is said in songs is not
alwavs to be taken literally. One OF the
Young men then sang a comic song after
which one of tbs little daughters OF the host
caused a change in the direction Of the cur
rent by sxclaiming: 30, Mr.. YarnoT, dc
give us one of your nice recitations," winch
Was backed up from all quarters with, Yes,
Mr.. Yarner, do" Now the Mr.. Warner thus
.npealed to was bookkssper in the Bassln
house of the we'll known New York firm o.
Maizwhsat & Co. He had come out when
quite a lad as clerk in the Fredsriksted house
was afterwards moved to Bassin, and now held
q pretty good position. He was no Longer
hut unite unnn0 anOuQh. helnG