Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-01-05
i sEACoAST CHRISTMAS.
o.NrA CLAUS VISITS THE ROCKY
MAINE SHORE.
[From the Boston GIobs.l

n you were = cuhhu liViu8 ou pacak
and rocky island on the coast OF Maine,
wbere the surf crashes and roars ON the
;cv shore all winter long and the wind
howls disnaIly every night around the
house. YOU might BE- excused II you were
Nopbtfui about Santa Claus finding you
and leaving something in your stocking.
Christmas 10 apt to BE- cherries day, 80
far as the weather goes, in such place.
1.-THE wind iashes the go into fury, as it
does 40 often In winter, no boat can land
or put of and the people Of the island will
see no friendly facs from the outside
world. II the weather il calm and the air
frosty, the icy vapor that rises from the
sea like fog shuts on ali view from the
islands shores.
So the chance Of Merry Christmas in
such q place IL not . bright one to the is
land child, unless > thoughtful father or
mother or some other friend has inter-
coded with Santa Claus in his behalf well
in advance OF Christmas day
Although Santa Claus IL brave naviga-
tor OF the air he must know in advance
what is wanted on bleak and sea- girt
islands. It IL happy circumstance for
all concerned, therefore, when he secures
trusty agent to visit the islands and
find out what il wanted.
That Santa Claus has such an agent in
Maine, many Z child on the outlying
islands OF the State has occasion tc know.
The agent il generally known along the
coast as s'the missionary. His name is
A. P. Macdonald, and his title is field
representative Of the Sea Coast mission
airy society.
AGENT OF SANTA CLAUS.
Rev. Mr.. Macdonald, ~ agent Of Santa
Claus, sees to 1t that on Christmas day the
little boys and girls OF the eastern Maine
islands each gets nice present. The mis-
sionary society has way Of ordering the
presents from santa Claus, and on Christ
mas morning they reach the little persons
for whom they are intended.
Thus good many little hearts on the
wild rocky islands where the sea dashes
steadily ON the shore arc made glad by q
bright little gift from the mainland.
Ths gift may have been some days on
the way; it may have reached the island
a month before Christmas, to be taken
care OF by father or mother; but the main
thing for the little folks to know is that
rough weather and infrequent mails have
not kept Santa Claus from remembering
them.
On some OF the islands visited by the
coast missionary, winter mail is had only
at intervals OF . week, two weeks or q
month.
In such places plans for Christmas cheer
are made by the missionary in the fall,
and presents are forwarded in ample
time to reach their destination before
Christmas day.
The little people Of the islands know
that, and every boat that comes from the
main 10 watched when it lands by eager
young eyes. One would think, therefore
that to land without detection rocking
horse or cart with four wheels, would be
difficult. But the things are landed, and
the secret il kept until Christmas morn
ing, when the presents appear in or beside
the stockings Of the little folks for whom
they are intended.
OF course not many get carts or rocking
horses. The presents are more often
smaller, and Of . useful character. Nit
tens, little petticoats, pairs OF pants fol-
stout little boys, and nice hoods for little
girls, are the kind OF things that please
people on the islands.
Santa Claus agent knows that, and
passes the word for useful presents. A
good many people in Maine, ana in other
states, too, are in sympathy with his work,
and help pass the word along.
THE NIssIoNARY's WORK.
Everybody on the coast, nearly, knows
Mr.. Macdonald and his missionary boat,
the Morning Star. A stanchly- built
launch, equipped with . gasoline engine
and housed over with comfortable cabin,
is the Morning Star. Some men, fond OF
comfort, would not pick her out for win
ter cruising on the Maine coast; but Mr..
Macdonald doesn't cruise for pleasure
and he finds the Morning Star we'll
adapted to his work.
Making his headquarters at Bar Harbor,
he cruises along 200 miles of coast each
month, 100 miles each way from his home
port.
When going to some places on his
route Mr.. Donald is obliged to watch
a chance for week or two. When fine
day comes he is ready, and cheering
visit to some lightkeeper's or fisherman's
family, perhaps where there is sickness,
is the result OF his patience.
One of the hardest things about living
on an outlying island is the impossiDility
OF getting doctor in case of need, While
the coast missionary cannot practice
medicine, he takes many prescription
rom the main to island invalids, and
wherever . child il found in need of
surgical treatment, the Morning Star
conveys the little sufferer to the nearest
hospital.
6ome OF the islands on Mr.. MacDonald's
route are 90 far oflshore. and the sea