File:Adventures of two youths in the open Polar Sea (1885) (14766520752).jpg

Identifier: adventuresoftwoy00knox (find matches)
Title: Adventures of two youths in the open Polar Sea
Year: 1885 (1880s)
Authors: Knox, Thomas Wallace, 1835-1896
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Publisher: New York, Harper & brothers
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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they would run in trimming their Christinas-treewith oakum pickings; hence the less dangerous substances, although lesspicturesque. The number of candles was limited to twelve, and as a matter of precau-tion a man was stationed by the tree with a bucket of water, to be thrownover it in case of fire. Presents were hung to the limbs or piled at thefoot of the tree, which was set in a thick plank at the end of the Vivianscabin. Everybody received something, and to make the occasion as muchas possible like a Christmas at home, aobox of goods originally intendedfor trading purposes among the Indians was opened and distributed.Gaudy handkerchiefs were received by several of the men, and sheath-knives, pocket-mirrors, combs, and kindred things by others. Christmascards were sent to Commander Bronson, Major Clapp, and the Doctor,while Captain Jones was made happy with a picture of part of the upperrigging of a ship with the crows-nest. On the sails of the ship were in- CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. 189
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scribed the words, «Voyage in Search of Sir John Franklin; the captain having frequently remarked that they hoped to come upon fresh traces of the work of that unfortunate navigator of the arctic regions. Jack and his fellow-musicians play-ed their liveliest airs as the curtain was removed from the tree, and George, in the character of Santa Glaus, distributed the gifts. All the officers of the Viv-ian, with the exception of the one incharge of the deck, were present at the unveiling of the tree; the menwere admitted in groups of four to receive what the youths had preparedtor them. At four oclock the ceremonies ended, and then the cabinwas cleared, as the guests from the Gambetta were due an hour later Christmas cards were hung on the tree for the visitors, and then theveil was drawn again. As the guests arrived, each was provided with abutton-hole bouquet made of tissue-paper and fastened to a wooden tooth-pick. Dinner passed off pleasantly, and there was a great deal of conversa-t

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