Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-22
CHRISTMAS IN
THE FROZEN NORTH,

universal robe of white had long
covered our countryside, hiding every
yestlge OF our rocky soil, and every
trace Of the great summer fishery. The
mail steamer had paid its last visit for
six months, and thus the last link with
civilization was broken. Even the lott
ering sea ducks aud lesser auks had
left US, The iron grip of winter lay
on sea and shore.
At its best, the land here scarcely
suggests the word country to a
utherner-scarcely even the word
"moors." For the rock Is everywhere
close to the surface, and MOSES and
lichens are It's chief products. The
larger part OF the country we call
"barrens.' Few of the houses deserve
even to be called cottages, for all are
OF light rough wood. Most are of only
one story and contain but two rooms.
The word "huts" would convey a more
accurate idea of these humble abodes.
The settlements themselves are small
and scattered and at this time the
empty tits OF the summer fishermen
give stlll more desolate aspect to
these lonely habitations.
Early IN December we had been
dumped from the little mail steamer
on the harbor ice about half a mile
from shore, and hauled up to the little
mission hospital where we We're to
mako our headquarters for the winter.
The name OF our harbor was st, An
thony Christmas was close upon us.
The prospect OF enjoying the conven-
tonal pleasures OF the season was not
bright Not unnaturaly our thoughts
went over the sea 10 the family gath
erlng at home, at which our places
would be vacant. We should miss the
holly and mlstlctoe, the roast beef and
| plum pudding, the inevitable crack
ers, and the giving and receiving OF
presents which had always seemed es-
sental TO a full enjoyment of the
| Christmas holiday.
| We soon found that few of tho chill
| dren here had ever possessed a toy,
| and that there was scarcely n single
| girl that owned doll Now and again
| one would see. nailed high up on the
: wall well out OF reach OF the children,
/ ilimsy, cheaplyp painted doll, and the
| mother would explain that her Pa had
got un from a trader, sir, for 30 cents.
| No. us don't allow Nellie to have It,
feared lest she might spoil UNA
fear ] found 10 be only too well ground
ed, when | came To examine it's ana
tony more closely
Christmas trees In plenty grew near
the hospital; and we could easily ar
range for a Father Christmas The
only question was whether our stock
OF toys would Justify us IN inviting SO
| many children as would want to come.
! II Is easy 20 satisfy children Ike these,
however. and so we announced that
we expected Sapta claus on certain
/ day, There was a great talk about
the affair. Whispers reached us that
| Aunt Mary thought her Joe weren't
too big 10 come. sure, he'd be only i6.
Nav White was only going IS and she
would 40 Ike 10 come. Old Daddy
| Gillian would Ike 10 sit in corner.
| He'd never seen Christmas tree. and
I he was nigh on So. We were OBLIGED
20 Yield. and with guilty consclences
expected twice as many az the room
/ would hold All through the day be-
| fore the event the sister was busy
| making buns; and Il was even whis-
, pered that n barrel ~ apples had been
| cnrrled over 10 the room "-wllfrei
T. Grenfell, In Putnams.