CHRISTMAS AT SEA.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2562, 20 December 1924, Page 2

CHRISTMAS AT SEA.

The sheets were frozen hard, and they cut the naked hand; The decks were like a slide, where a seaman scarce could stand; The wind was a nor’-wester, blowing, squally off the sea ;and cliffs and spouting: breakers were the only -things a-iee. They heard the surf a-roaring before the break of a day; But ’twas only with the peep of light we saw how ill we lay. We tumbled every hand on deck instanter, with a shout. And we gave her the maintops’l, and stood by to go about. Ail day we lacked and tacked betw.een the South Head and the North; All day we hauled the frozen sheets and got no further forth: All day as cold as charity, in bitter pain and dread, For very life and nature we tacked from head to head. We'gave the South a wider berth, for there the tide-race roared; But every tack we made we brought

the North Head close aboard: So’s we saw the cliffs and houses, and the breakers running high, And the coastguard in his garden, with his glass against his eye. The frost, was on the village roofs as white as ocean foam; The good red fires were burning bright In every longshore home; The windows sparkled clear, and the chimneys volleyed out; And I vow we sniffed the victuals as the vessel went about The bells upon the church were rung with a mighty jovial cheer; For it’s just that I should tell you how (of all days in the year). This day of our adversity was blessed Christmas morn. And the house, above the coastguard’s was the house where I was born. O well I saw the pleasant room, the pleasant faces there. My mother’s silver ‘ spectacles my father’s silver hair; And well 1 saw the firelight, like a flight of homely elves. Go dancing round the china, plates that stand upon the shelves. And well I knew the talk they had. the talk that was of me,

Of the shadow on the household and I the son that wont to sea; And. O the wicked fool I seemed, in every kind of way. * To be here and hauling frozen ropes ~ on blessed, Christmas Day. They lit the high sea-light, and the dark began to fall. “All, hands, to loose topgallant sails," ■ I heard the captain call. “By the Lord, she’ll never stand It,” our first mate Jackson, cried. . . . ‘‘lt’s the one way or the other, ■Air Jackson,” he replied. She staggered to-her bearings, but the sails were new and good. And the ship smelt up to windward . just as though she understood. As the winter’s day was ending, in the entry .of the night, We cleared the weary headland, and : passed below the light. And they heaved a mighty breath, every soul on board but me. As they saw her nose again pointing handsome out to sea; But all that I could think of In the darkness and the • cold. Was just thatMwas" leaving home and my -folks was growing old. . •„«—Robert Louis Stevenson.