The Irish standard., 1904-12-31


the Spirit; now tell me for whom they
thus labor and TOLL I don't know
replied. Upon which he gave me
look, as much as to say, How dull
you are He then transplanted me
over land and sea to a great yard,
where my ears We're assaulted by the
din of innumerable hammers and the
sound of many Instruments in motion.
What l demanded, ARE the men in
this yard so occupied about?' They
he replied, are building big ship, to
enable men to pass over the stormy
seas And 10! as he spoke, the work
of years seemed to be compressed into
a few seconds for my special instruc-
ton, for l saw the immense skeleton
already grown to completion. so that
at length it stood before me. Il magni-
ticent, full finished steamer, fioating
beside the pier. Look said the Spirit,
in a tone of command. I see it, re-
piled, it is indeed magnificent" Look
nearer he continued; see what is
slowed away in the hold of the vessel
l gaZed down and was much puzzled.
for l found the whole interior of the
ship filled with chests of tea. and
boxes and bales, Just such as | had
noticed the Chinese packing in the tea
groves of China; and they were all full
of the savory leaf. Then, as rapidly
as Il lecturer might change magic
lantern slide, I found myself suddenly
transferred to great college or uni
versity. The air was full of buzzing
sound, as of men lecturing and teach
ing. l saw old, grey-headed profess
sors. with blackboards before them.
and models of ships. and charts. and
maps, and all kinds of mechanical and
scientific Instruments They We're ad-
dressing Il large number of students.
What does this mean?' l asked.
That replied the Spirit, is great
institution where men pass many
years in study. Some are learning
ton, and the use of charts and of the
compass, and theodolite and other i'll
struments Of precision connected with
the management of vessels Then, be-
fore had recovered from my surprise,
[ found myself actually on board the
ship that l had already seen just be-
min in, t1,n
waters, with it's hold full of tea-chests;
but now it was in mid-ocean, and I'M
der full steam, making twenty knots
an hour towards Liverpool. This as
, tonished me good deal, but what as
tonished me most of all was that the
captain and the mates and the ships
chief officers all seemed familiar to me.
l felt as though had met them before
somewhere or other. Yes! There
could be no doubt. I soon understood
the situation. 1 had seen them all
among the students of the great insti-
| tuition had so lately visited. 1t was
there that they had studied and ap-
piled themselves to the solution of the
secrets of their profession, and now
they were entrusted with the manage
ment of the magnificent liner carrying
it's cargo of tea to England. Thus, in
company of the Spirit of Christmas, 1
continued visiting various scenes. all
different, yet all interesting, till at
length, after visiting more than half
the globe, 1 found myself, l know not
low, standing in Il small back street
n London, dark and dismal save for
one small window that poured con-
inuous stream Of ruddy light into the
roadway. I stood Oh tiptoe and peered
n, and what do You think 1 saw?
Well, could scarcely believe my eyes!
beheld myself-just as I might in a
Mirror. There l was, true enough,
Thinking my cup of tea. While still
pcechless with establishment, the
dice of the Spirit resounded through
he silence. Look it said, see, that
yourself, as you were half an hour
30, before you fell asleep. migrate,
nj wretch, to complain that no one
roubles himself about you. and that
% one will do anything to help tC
lalle YOU happy. Before you could sc
lucl, as drink that cup of savory DO
ca thousands had to toll and sweat
nd apply themselves to procure it fol
'Ou. Some had to dig and plough anG
lear tile ground, and to SOW and cul
ivate the tca-plant; others had tt
luck the leaves, to dry and cure an(
ort them, and pack them in chests
theirs had to build mighty ships tt
onvey the product to English shores
his involves trade with foreign parts
'iplomatic re ations with China, the
TT of correspondence in foreign Ian
'uaGcs; the art of navigation, tho
Whole system Of distribution: the eX
silence of tradcsmen and of shops. ant
he rculiZat ton of innumerable othel
conditions. without which it would bt
impossible for you or any other work
ng man to walk to the corner of thu
street and buy Il pound of tea for {
couple of shillings. Why. God has 81
knit together the whole human race
md so bound up the interests of eacl
with all. that literally millions mus