Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-12-26
CHRISTMAS WITH THE
IolLERs Of The sea
= ANDLUBBERs that you are, did you
ever reflect that there is world

&tN*<A - 4+Att@ @A@t@& y w ~ " t@a y w
ever reflect that there Is a world
where Christmas is as meaning
less q day as the oath or 26th
Of December7 Did you ever think far
enough beyond the spicy vapors OF
pour own plum pudding to realize that
fhs seafaring folk were living their
Cbriatmas day as If they knew naught
- ~ fame1 they do know what i
means. however. as well as ever do
you. but winds lash and waves thump
e. the 25th az on every other day, and
ft'e 3 foolish sailorman who counts
81 turkey or holly berries. The chances
an he'II SEQ little, of them.
Christmas is disobliging enough to
80 n iha Notwithstanding OF the mad
al weather. AID >rho weather never
eivss way one inch. To- pIIotbOat
people and the life savers maxi ma
fhstIc little attempts at holding hoIi
day, but ten to one ny win be moth
ing more than Attempts. II the sea
chooses to wsze merry In Its own
way the ~ commands and must be
ebayod-
The captains Of the life saving sta
tons along the beach try each year to
celehrsto with their men. A turkey Is
always brought 10 the headquarters
and a good meal prepared around Il
as . star attraction. Bnt anywhere
from drumstlcks to nuts and raisIns'
may come the signal from the coast
guard. Perhaps crab fishing boat
has capsized; perhaps II is big ship
gazing down-the result Is the same
ghs Christmas turkey is left to grow
cold. the mince pie is forgotten. and
tie or to launch the lifeboat and then
to the oars and away. Night or day
the summons may come. If at might
there are flashing Of lights on the
beach and fight, man against storm
IN the blRckpess Of the surf.
On the llghtship provision is mnde fol
q sood dinner. but there the pleasure
ends. Day and night the ship rides al
anchor ten miles or shore. Always the
Changing Of the fog bell is heard and
the lights are watched. and break IL
the monotony there Is none. save for q
better bill Of fare than usual and ar
extra glass Of grog, then back to the
bell and the lights again. and men for
get what Christmas celebrated or thai
It was celebrated at all.
II was during ths'carving Of the las
eurkey that the bells rang tiercely. fol
. fog was diving in past the heads
and lights were being enveloped In 1t
Two new men were among the crew
r and they sprang, frightened, away frou
the table. The old sailors assured
them that Il was no trouble out OF thu
ordinary, but they could not be Undue
Cd 10 come back 10 the dinner. The!
are blase now and are laughing o
other new men, but their companion
have not forgotten to mention the din
Rerfthat they missed by gazing shud
deflnsly into a winter fog and expect
FMS the death OF themselves OF SOM
enc else every moment
Christmas IL Z lottery TO the pilots
No man OF them knows when his turn
Il coming to guide a ship into port. an,
ships must be guided when II Is thel
captains win. Some of the pilots ma,
Saye a snatch of tho day Mt home 4
en- 9lidst ct Santa clars gossip an
tin horns aud slhIled stockings Who
ever the other pilots may be. they or
on the water with a good dinner stow
cd away awaiting It's opportunit,
which may or may not come. II
ship Is suddenly sighted, then neyG
mind the dinner
The life on the great steamers an
sailing vessels Is more systematic. an
1t Il worth while 70 prepare for q
much merriment as the bomesicknes
Of empty sea view viii permit. Their
may be Christmas tree and mus
end dancing; but. DO you a seadog {
= landlupbsr, It's all the same-yo
would rather be at home over a tab
that does not roll and spend goo
Chriatian Christmas with al It's. trl
NitlonaI nonsense. San Francisco Cal