Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-12-22

L
SOUL" whether af1oat or on shore; but
once year he lays himself out TO
eclipse even himself, and that is on
| Christmas day. 1t matters nothing
where he may find himself-dodging
| tcebergs in the northern seas, cruls-
| Ing among palm-fringed Pacific isl
ands, or in port 5000 leagues from
the lass he loves-it's all the same to
Jack; he means to have what he ex-
pressively calls high old time
and he has it.
And he sets about it thoroughly
and systematically, as becomes a
sailor. Long before ne filings himself
| into his hammock on Christmas eve
| to dream, it may be, of the "old folk
at home" everything is practically
ready for the morroW's feasting and
revelry All day long busy hands have
| been engaged in converting the mess
/ deck into veritable fairy scene OF
/ color and gaiety Roses there are in
| thousands, of all colors Of the rain
| bow, and all fashioned by clever fin
gers; furlongs of gay paper festoons;
! devices and notices Of all kinds gilt
| ter rom the walls, and all SO skill
\ fully arranged and. blended that one
is tempted to think that, after all,
| Jack has missed his vocation and
| should have been an artist.
Now all is ready for Father Christ
mas. First comes an impressive cere-
mony, when the men, in immaculate
| duck, are paraded for service; the
4 flag is hauled down, and in its place
the red cross pennon of the church
| unfolds in the breeze, and four or five
hundred lusty voices join with the
band in sending one good old Christ
mas hymn after another rolling up in
| majestic volume of sound to the blue
! of heaven There is no sermon, just
a few hymns and prayers; but you
won't find more impressive Christ
mas service, the big world through
| Then come the finishing touches
| to the mess deck fairyland, each mess
trying it's hardest to eclipse all the
| others in wealth and skill of decora-
ton. AS the hour of noon draws near
the petty officers Of the watch give
place to the smallest lads aboard, who
strut about in their mimic. dignity
i and send officers and crew into con-
vulsions of laughter. And then, at the
| first stroke of eight bells the captain
and his officers pay their state visit
of inspection to the mess deck.
The plum puddings are sampled
amid deafening cheers, the decora-
Itiens are duly admired and praised,
and after few seasonable remarks
and good wishes the skipper with
draws himself and his suite, and the
feeding and fun" begin. Such feed
| ing and such fun it is, too; but, in
delicacy, let us leave Jack to 1t and
| join him again when the last mouth
| full of plum pudding has vanished and,
seated and happy, he produces his
pipe-the crown Of the feast.
For hours now the innocent revelry
lasts. Songs with rousing choruses,
recitations, hornpipes, music on half
a score of instruments, follow one an
other In endless succession; jollity
rubs shoulders with sentiment, and
maybe a roar Of laughter gives place
to a moist eye, a tribute to the loved
ones far away, brought to mind by
ltender song. For Jack has very
/ tender heart and loyal memory.
A diversion may take the form Of
a raid on popular officer and chair
ing and ovation, to which he submits
like a well pleased, il embarrassed,
martyr. And thus the hours fly, in q
jollity which will brighten by its mem
i DRY many q long day to come. But
/ the longest and gladdest day has its
ending. "Out pipes is sounded, and
when Jack at last tumbles into his
hammock, weary and happy. VIC may
! be sure he needs no rocking.
More than half q million Christmas
trees are required to supply the de-