The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-12-18

sloughed off their assumed age, AMI became young
and comedy more. 1t was< Christmas eve
and thoughts flew with lightning speed to long
forgotten homes where Christmas had been
festival of delight in those bygone daysAbefcre
the hungry sea clnimed them as Its own
you've got TO thank my wife for that" went
on Hapshott.- "Shes asked mr. to give you
Christmas Christmas you'll have Make the
most of it. Therell be fresh mess served for
dinner tomorrow and therell be grog for all
hands at sight bells. That's all dismiss"
Tie nsn broke up, walked forward slowly
came back EAt3
ave wish der lady for to daDk,' grunted Ger
man sai!maker. lingering his cap Hey -7s'
vat you says? Aind't 1t rightT .
"Yes-ja-dot's It, Hans" came the replies.
Mrs HapshOtt was aware of a strange compress
sion in her throat her eyes smarted. A@stinen-
ing of the crew was followed by something sqnt-
" resembling a cheer; then the men went forward
slouchingly. Their tongues were busy and they
wondered
Still more did they wonder Christmas day
when two bells having sounded aft, Mrs. hnp-
shott appeared among them, her arms piled high
with gifts From the commencement of the vOy-
age her nimble hands had been busy with pins
and WOOL and there was something Tor
them ALL warm caps that completely covered
mans head and held him immune from frOstbte
in the most rigorous weather. mlffers, Jerseys
not one was forgotten. Even the greasy COOK,
man of foul speech and uncIeaR habits, found
himself the possessOr Of sleeved waistcoat knit
ted out of the feecfest wool.
81 hope you'll have merry Christmas, men,
said Mrs HapsAt'tt, and they ch&ered her-they
were gaining pyactIce-until the idle yards
seemed to swing IN answer.
Dinner time same round and steaming kits
* were passed iptp tie forecastle kits that con-
ceg4e Tho
night The men fte and were thankful but when
a monster plum pudding appeared they stared
with awe-struck eyes.
Don't thank re- Shank the mIssus," said the
cook who brought the duff in person. "She made
It herself-Iast night mixed the whole boomin'
thing with her Grrh andS Amt II OnerY'
1t was-a very giant among buildings, and as
toothsome as it WIS vast. Came, In he midst OF
the revels call eft where the steward stood at
the capstan with u dpper in his hand Each
man, presenting pannikin received tot OF
sterling, grog for faptain Hapshott had resolved
TO do the thing wr;l now he was embarked upon
II: no half-water measures for him. Each man,
receiving his allowance raised his drinking YES
sci in the direction of Mrs HapshOtt who was
watching them fcGri above, and drank silent
toast to her anil 60 the memory of Christmases
past.
So the wOnderfr4 day passed away and once
again night droope1 down upon the sea-
Mrs. Hapshott rose slipped on her clothihg anu
went swiftly out OD deck.
"Hram-what was that?" The skipper nae
awakened and missing her, had made for th'
deck. The faint stfeaks in the sky showed him
strange figure clad in gaudy sleeping suit suci
as sailors love. sIrs. HapshOtt clutched at FL
arm and held tightly.
ssWhat's what?" He had been thinking what
, fool he would seem if the story were ever tol
5 of the day now past, and his manner was ungra
cious
''Thatv' Her finger was outstretched ana guy
ering but all beyond was still dark
"a sea bird-your nerves are on edge ne tci
her.
q Mrs Hapshott drew herself TO the tafrail all
\ leaned out listening The wind was Walllr
II again: the ship had almost lost her way she WI
n only crawling through the water to the accor
q paniment of Tapping canvas aloft
sHram it wasn't sea bird!" The woman
% voice was full of something TO which her husbaI
at could put no name.
at must have been-what else could 1t
id lass?"
q. "To me it sounded lke-but no, that's FOOLS
wv ness NV mind is playing me tricks, husband
as But she did not leave the rail for fully TWEEN
minutes and then it was to step down the ladd