Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-25


at the eastern end of the island Of ia
maica, when Mrs. Goddard, woe-beSon
and pallid after four DAYS of sea-sicli
ness, slowly made her way up on deck
and looked about her with an unspok
en and unwilling admission that th'
prospect was more attractive than Sh
had expected
Mrs. Goddard had objected strongl.
70 taking this southern voyage just a
tine season when she found Boston mos
delightful. Upon her return from hel
last trip to Europe. she had con
graduated herself on the fact that a
last she had done all that could be eX
pected in the way of travel, of wom
an born within the shadow of the
Ciilded Dome and might now permi
herself to spend all her winters in Bos.
ton. and all her summers at North.
East Harhor, without mnlestation oi
disturbance. But-though Mrs. God
darl sat upon throne. there was q
power behind that throne.
Mrs. Goddard proposed. Esther dis
nosed esther. fascinated by the des-
criptions sent to her by q newly mar
ried schoolmate. of the beautiful Island
Of Jamaica, her present home, had
solicited for her mother and herself an
invitation to spend a month. including
the Christmas holidays, at the Gra-
hams country-place. near Kingston.
ana had borne her parent off to tho
spot where, Mrs. Goddard felt, the
equator might break out at any mo-
ment
During the rcigns of her Older
daughters, Sarah and Ruth Mrs. Cod
dard had come near being a bully anf
tyrant Sarah had argued and re-
monStrated from morning till night
until she had been carried off by hus-
band who took with him the unspok-
en- sympathy of her whole household
Ruth had never argued, but she hat
wept, having feelings that We're easily
wounded, and Esther often wondered
whether the patients in the hOspita
where Ruth was acquiring the noble
art of nursing, found sensitive dis
position" any easier to live with then
we'll people had.
Her sisters gone from the home
Esther, who had never ''argle-hargled
whose feelings We're hurt-proof. laif
her little firm hand on the domestic
helm and steered her once obstinate
mother in whatsoever direction it was
best for her to go-the direction at this
moment being in search Of the sunshine
which New England was so chary Of.
AS her mother Joined her. Esther
leaning her arms on the rail Of the
steamer, was happy. She was horr
traveller. never 50 cOntented as WheT
a-foat; this new land appealed to he'
imc gination, and after an autumn G.
rain and east winds, she was in
state of mind and body to respond witt
delight to the soft air, blue skies anc
golden light that were bidding he'
welcome to Jamaica.
The boat felt her way slowly. close t.
shore, through the larger half of the
double harbor. and after the dash OF
big waves during the stormy voyage
the soft tapping of the waters agains'
it's sides was like music. As they ap
preached the pier, the main land rose
tier above tier, five-six-seven thousand
feet high. to mountains that finally los
themselves in the gray mist into which
their purple tops seemed to melt. Whlt
clost at hand. g promontory shot ur
into the air, clad in green and covered
with pretty red villas and country
houses. some of the latter with pro-
fame whitewash covering old gray ston'
walls. bit of vandalism which they
had borrowed creepers and southern
ivies from their red neishbors to con.
ceal
The instant the steamer touched the
pier, before the ropes could be made
fast, ragged black boys, grinning from
ear to ear sprang on board and begaf
to suuabble over the trunks, seizins
them and struggling to carry then
ashore; while a seemingly endless pro
ccssion of coolies and blacks. men an6
women, hove in sight, bearing on thei'
heads huge punches of bananas. AS
they mounted the gang-plank. mar
with an immense cutlass swung him
self into place above them and set t.
work to slash off the stems Of tho
punches while still on the heads of th'
bearers; working with SwiftneSs anf
dextarity which made Esther catch he
breath and drew from Mrs. Goddard
Cry IF horror. Before this seeming
ly perilous performance had come t.
an end, and the bearers We're Stil
moving on with their loads, dropping
the shortened bunches into the eX
tended arms of busy packers in the
hold. the Gnddards were jOyfully hallet
by their friends. Mary Graham and her
husband. given welcome as gay anf
bright as the tropical landscape, anf
hurried ashore as the steamer began t'
get under weigh for her second land
ing.
Il hope You're not tired" thel'
pretty hostess remarked. giving Esthe'
an impulsive mug as they took Their
seats in the wagOnette, for we've go
four hours in the train and then flvf
mile drive home. Oh Essie dear, II
seems too good to be true-to have yor
here. Mamma is expecting such larks
with your mother and We'll do all sorts
of things together you'll like to dF
things with me. won't YOU"
do things" Esther answered
dreamily. Ter hand in her friends anc
her eyes on the hills, 81 suppose SO.
mean--of course, everything! I wan
to see it aldo it all' This is the
very loveliest place 7 ever saw. Mary
1 have been just pining for sunshine
and here it is! It is heavenly, Molly
I never dreamed of such colorng."