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Show to remember he was fourteen years old and was expected to act like a man. At last he found something. It was quite small. Unwrapping the paper he saw it was a brass-bound compass. "To a brave boy from Captain Angus," was scratched en the back. Before he got over the wonder of this, a fisherman pushed the boat model Into his hand. "Meant it for ye all the time, boy," mumbled the man. "Any kid that grabs the skipper and saves him from washin' overboard ... deserves de-serves a grand 'Christmas !" This was more than Willie could stand. He cried right there before them all, and didn't mind a bit "Thank you, thank you . . . and Merry Christmas." he gulped. And Captain Angus, standing In the doorway, door-way, said, "Same to ye all, boys. Many of 'em !" , 1933, Western Newspaper Union. The Cabin Boy's Night Before by Elizabeth Strother 1"5kUTSIDE the tiny fo'cas'le of fifpv the fishing schooner, the . winter weather was having its way with the Annie Bell. Now and again a big sea would come aboard, sluice around the dory-nests, dory-nests, and wash off. The lantern, hung over the table, bobbed and swung in crazy circles, casting a weird light on the faces of the Banks fishermen busy at various tasks. Some were laboriously writing writ-ing home, dating their letters December De-cember 24. Certainly a boy fourteen years old, used to many of the hardships hard-ships of a fisherman's life, must not "We're Goin' to Have a Bit o' Christmas Around Here!" break down and cry on Christmas Eve. Certainly not 1 The other men paid no attention to him. The pens drove on. The knife delicately pared off a splinter splin-ter from the mast of the boat model. Willie clamped his jaws together and tried to say over and over the multiplication table of nine. It was the hardest and took up the most attention. He was frowning with concentration when the cook burst In, his leathery face all a wide grin, bearing a large, round tin. It was covered with a piece of red paper. This he set down in the middle of the table. "Belay there!" he roared good naturedly. "Get clear of all your gear . . . we're goin' to have a bit of Christmas around here 1" The men growled a little, but gathered up their traps. Willie gave one great gulp and nearly let a tear fall. He had reached "nine times eleven" in the tables, and could hardly believe there was to be a real celebration right there In the fo'cas'le. The red paper over the tin had slits. In these the men were to poke and draw forth a gift The tiny place began to take on an air of holiday cheer, not to say noise. Skipper give most of 'em," grinned the cook, as each man smiled over a tie, a pocket-kniTe, a belt, or lar-e gaudy handkerchief. 0 wrn';6 nSl t0 P''Ue a finsor ,n s Willie Cole. All the time he was feeling around Inside there he had |
