The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

) BETTI CHRISTMAS. BY ALLEN RAINE, Author of A Welsh Singer," Torn Sails," liv I5cnven Iioiiks,' "Hearts of <Valc9, On the Wings of the Wind," &c. The river On, famed for its trout and salmon fishing, flowed rippling and whisper- ir" through the meadows at the back of the Bell Inn at Trebainer, where Captain Leslie was staying with two friends for a month's failing. ilis real name was Charles Underwood Rawtoc Leslie, but his friends called him r Curly, suggested by his initials and the crisp nature of fiii dark hair. Evc'i-y dal he fished up and down the river b(-liks.-ap.d every evening pretty Betti Wyn passed boy on the path through the meadows that lt-d to her home. Often, tco, he had watched her between the ■willo-vs and alders, and at last had made her acquaintance, had helped her over the stile, had shewn her the fish in his basket, had met her again and again, until it seemed the most natural thing in the world that he should wait for her in the evening, and walk home with her beside the soft flowing river. She had told him in her pretty broken English the simple story of her life, how she worked in tii-e cloth mill beyond the village, how she lived with her mother in the little pink-washed cottage in the wood yonder, how she left off work every day at seven, and much more he learnt of bar sweet content, of her pure, guileless nature. Her unusual beauty he had seen at a glance, and won- dered 1-0 had never heard of her in the villas-1. where he had made friends with everybody from the parson to the cobbler. T t. iN.I-S a strange thing that the girl passed moruing and evening to her work unnoticed and unconsidered. But, then, who gives a thought to the pure white clouds that float over the sky, the starry wind-flower t: ilt hides in the glade, the cretmy-whif, mei; owsweet down by the river? Like these, Betti Wyn went on her way, unconscious of her beauty, and missing "nothing of the admiration or praise of men, for was not Ben Lewis, or Ben Triyette, as lie was called after the farm in which he lived, her faithful swain? She had loved him cnce, and had thought no happier fate could be hers than to be his wife, and live at Triyette; but now, as she walked through the meadows, and heard the rustle in the alders which told of her lover's presence, she turned from the thought of Ben with distaste. What were his simple rustic compliments compared to the fisherman's soft-spoken flattery? The river fiowed gently over its pebbles, and whispered in the rushes beside them, and Betti blushed and bent her head, believed all the swe6t nothings which Curly Leslie poured into her ear, and Ben was quite for- gotten. So the weeks passed on, and the river banks grew every day more beautiful with their wealth of primroseu and violets, and rach succeeding day, in spite cf the bantering jokes of his friends Neville and Thorne, Curly Leslie continued to fish in the On, and to meet Betti Wyn, and walk home with her, until at last a letter from home recalled him suddenly. The terrible news was broken to Betti that the walks and the wooing by the riverside must cease. "Late to-morrow, do you say, Betti?" Curly asked, as they strolled at sunset between the alders. Yes, the weaving will keep me late, I'm thinking." I'heii I will be I,- oo, sweet one, for it must be good-bye to- row, love. I am sum- moned home. My father is ill." (xood-bye! Goinrr awnv! Betti answered not a word, but raised her eyes to his with the pathetic look of a dog when struck by the hand lie loves. "Oh, by Jove Betti, don't look like that; it makes me feel miserable." I not make you miserable," said the girl, trying to smile through her tears. I'll come again at Christmas, I daresay," he said. Christmas And she counted five brown fingers and a thumb. "Well, six months. That's not long for love to last." 'Tis leetle for together," said Betti, "but 'tis long for part." But he soothed her sorrow, and consoled her with promises of a speedy return and the next evening, when the moon was shining, she passed through the meadows and met him for the last time. Up and down the river banks they sauntered, and Betti, poor foolish child, believed all the flattery and all the tender promises which to Curly Leslie meant nothing more than the temporary amusement cf a holiday. But when the last good-bye was spoken., and Betti turned yay towards the cottage in the wood, there were tears in her eyes, there were tender words still ringing in her ears, and an aching sorrow in her heart; a little regret, too, shaded Curly's spirits for an hour or two. Late again, Curly," said Fred Thorne, adding a last touch to his sketch, while Mrs. Jones laid the supper. "Pretty Betti again, I suppose?" But Curly was busy sorting his fish, and -m.ile no answer to his friend's banter. Xext day he returned to his home in the Midlands, to find the old Earl bettor, and as determined as ever to refuse his consent to his son's marriage with Ellen Bracehridge, a charming but penniless girl, to whom Curly had been for some months as deeply attached as it was in his nature to be. This had caused a disagreement between the old man and his eon, and the latter had started away on his journey to Wales in high dudgeon, rendered more acute on his return by the discovery that Ellen Bracebridge, finding that she would not be welcomed by the Leslie family, had left the neighbourhood, and taken an en- gagement in London. Such a state of affairs was not to be borne by the headstrong Curly, who, to do him jcstice, although careless and unstable, was yet wise enough to feel that Ellen Brace- bridge was his superior in everything but worldly prospects. He followed her to Lon- don. fell more deeply in love with her than ever, overcame her scruples, and, in spite of his father's threats of disinheritance, they were married there secretly, afterwards spending in Scotland a happy honeymoon, from which they were rudely awakened by the fimmons of Curly's regiment to the seat of war. Under the circumstances, he began to look round anxiously for some quiet home where he could leave his bride, until such time as he should be his own master. He called to mind a pretty rustic cottage, which he had seen at a bend of the river On at Trebaner, and the motherly kindness of Mrs. Jones at the Bell. A hurried letter was despatched to her, and an answer came in due course. The house which Curly himself had chris- tened Meadowsweet was still untenanted, well aired, and r- • .iy for immediate occupation. So one morning, Mrs. Charles Underwood Rawton Leslie, after a tearful parting with her soldier husband, travelled down to Wales and took possession of the cottage by the river. It was a very modest little household that Meadowsweet sheltered, consisting only of Mrs. Leslie herself, and Gwen, the country maid provided by Mrs. Jones. On receipt of Curly s letter of inquiry, the latter had been somewhat perturbed in mind, puzzling over the name of her correspondent. Leslie- Leslie she exclaimed. "There's an odd thing, now. I can't remember was any gentleman here called Leslie. There was Mr. Neal, and Mr. Thorne, and Captain Curly and she quite failed to connect that name with the Charles Leslie who had written to her. And Ellen lived her quiet life in the cot- tage, unknown and unrecognised, living only for the happy prospect of her husband's re- turn. She roamed the green meadow paths, explored the deep woods, and sat on the river banks, always thinking of Charlie, and pictur- ing the reunion which should make little Meadowsweet a heaven upon earth. Betti Wyn still passed through the meadows morning and evening, and noticed the strange lady who sat so often under the alder bushes, busy with book or needlework, and wondered who she might be, until one iaj Mrs. Leslie, struck by the girl's sweet face, spore to hot, shewed her her work, and walked with her sometimes to her mother's tiny cottage in the wood. Betti's warm, simple heart went out to the stranger, and before the autumn had faded into winter she had learnt to love the lady who haunted the meadows and riverside. "Another month and it will be Christ- mas," Mrs. Leslie said one day. "What do you do at Christmas, Betti? Is it a happy time here? Do the bells ring? Do you have plum pudding and mince pies?" "Oh, no, no," laughed Betti "none of these things, mem, only go to chapel from morning to night, and perhaps a dumpling in the cawl. 'Tis New Year's Day is the holiday here. Then we have calnnigs, and the boys and girls go out to the farms before dawn with their bags on their backs to ask for New Year's gifts." That is strange," said the lady. "With us in England, Christmas is always the happy time, when the children come home for the holidays, and when the long parted meet again." Oh, yes, yes, I know," said Betti, clasp- ing her hands; and perhaps it will be like that with me this Christmas," and such a radiant light shone in her eyes that Mrs. Leslie saw it and wondered. Are you expecting anyone, child? "Not expecting," said Betti, "but hoping. Ob, yes, indeed, I think he will come." Is it a brother, or a lover, BettI? But, there, I needn't ask, for I see by your face which it is." And the girl, blushing, answered not a word. Before the month was out the meadows were covered with a mantle of snow, and Betti had perforce to go to her work through the village street, instead of the fields, thus she lost sight of her new friend for some weeks. She counted the days that must pass before Christmastide. That season had never made much differ- ence to her before, but now she waited for it with a feverish longing. He had promised, and he would come she knew-the tall, bronzed fisherman who had called her sweet Betti, and asked if she loved him and day after day she waited in vain, the skies darkened, the snow fell, and Christmas Day arrived, but no stranger came to the village, nobody asked for Betti Wyn, nobody sought her out on the snow-covered path by the river; for she stood every evening on the hedge that bordered the meadows, looking over the snow for a tall, dank figure, or v, footprint marking the untrodden path. When the New Year came in and still he had not returned, her heart grew sick with hope deferred, her footsteps lagged on the way to work as they had never done before. She grew pale and thin, and people asked what could be the matter with Betti Wyn. Shs failed at her work in the cloth mill, and the master dismissed her one day with a reprimand for her idleness, and Hdti went home to her mother with a stony in- difference, feeling as if nothing mattered much to her now. When the springtime came she had brightened up a little, and began to 1; ok about her for work, the cloth-weaver had even asked her to return to the mill; but one day a message came from Mrs. Jones, the Bell," asking if Betti would come as nurse to the lady at Meadowsweet, where a baby had arrived with the first primroses. Betti went, and once more her interest in life revived, for the skies were still blue, the river still lipsed over its shingles, and baby was the dearest, the sweetest darling on earth she was his devoted slave, tossing him up in the sunshine, tucking him in the corner of her shawl, in Welsh fashion, and roaming all day in the meadows, where the river banks were gay with spring flowers, and where the lads of the village stood patiently fishing, Ben Triyette often amongst them. And so the summer passed on; the hay was tossed in the meadows, and baby grew rosy and strong; nn English nurse had been found for him, but she could not come until Christ- mas, so Betti promised to stay till she came. She began once more to count, the weeks that must pass before Christmas came round again, for surely, she thought, though something had kept her lover away last winter, this year he would remember his promise, and come once more to Trebaner. The young wife, too, as the months went by, grew brighter and happier, as she sung to her baby the magic words, Daddy come home very soon." The meadows were white wi. "C snows of another winter, and Detti begp flag again as the days went by, for Ci tmas drew near, and still her fine lover had never re- turned, but she shared in her mistress's joy as well as she could with an aching heart, Z, for the good news had come that Captain Les- lie had returned from the war, and hoped to be down at Trebaner on Christmas Eve. What grand preparations at Meadowsweet then How Bet ti learnt the meaning of mince pies and plum puddings At last came the day so long waited for— Christmas Eve But no lover for Betti, and hope died out of her heart; but in spite of her own sorrow, she rejoiced when she hoard the bustle of arrival in the hall, the firm step, the laughter, the talk; for Captain Leslie had come, bringing with him the grand English nurse, who was to take Betti's place. She stared rather at the tiny cottage, but the girl had no time to notice it as she hurriedly tied the blue bows on baby's pretty, frilled shoulders. Hark! They are calling for him, and Betti goes in with her charge held proudly aloft. The mother has tak him from her, the father has clasped his child to his heart. Betti stands frozen with horror, for here, with his arms round mother and child, is Curly, the fisherman, who had whispered to her in the meadows, Sweet Betti, say, do you love me?" She waits, as if turned to stone, for husband and wife are too much absorbed in their own happiness to notice the girl so silent and rigid. In that moment of tension a sl.ia.nge re- vulsion of feeling took place in Betti's heart; all faith, all hope, all courage seemed to die out of her, and she was in danger of sinking to the ground under the stress of her bitter awakening, but pride, the strong, unbending pride of her Celtic nature, came to her aid and saved her. In a moment she was herself again, and at that moment Captain Leslie turned round, and, catching sight of her, ex- claimed, "What, Betti? Betti Wyn? By Jove so it is. Well, m glad to soo you!" Well indeed said the girl, apparently in pleased surprise. I thought I had seen you somewhere before, sare; and now I remember you. I hope you are quite well, sa-e ? Her lips were dry and parched, her cheeks were burning with the effort to .keep calm, but she would rather have died than shew her cis- appointmei "And ho Dca Triyette? ,aw the C Mi- tain in a bantering tone, while Mrs. Leslie looked from one to the other in amused surprise. "He's quaite well, sare, theniky." "And when's the wedding coming off? "Next month," said Betti, suddenly making up her mind; and, with a pretty shy- ness, she withdrew from the parlour, and ran to her own little bedroom, where she could think alone, and in silewce. She shed no tears, but drawing herself up to her full height, raised her head proudly, her face aflame with shame and indignation, as she thought within herself, "I have been a fool indeed! And this is the man I have been waiting and hoping, yes, and praying for, ach y fi. I see him now as he is-not fit to hold a candle to Ben Triyette. One comfort is, he will never know of my folly." She bustled about, she sang. at her work, and no one would have guessed that that Christmas Eve had brought to Betti Wyn the bitterest hour of her life. It was not wounded love that flushed her cheeks and sparkled in her eye, for love had died out at the first sight of Mrs. Leslie's husband, but bitter anger and pride refused to be banished at once. How thankful she was that the new nurse had come, and she was free to go home to her mother Should she wait till to-morrow, as Mrs. Leslie had bid her do, if she pleased? No, a thousand times, no Home through the cold and the starlight; home to the little thatched cot- tage on, on through the village street she ran, where the frozen snow crunched under her feet, and the people crowded from their meetings and ever as she ran, the indig- nant pride in her heart grew stronger. "How could I have loved him so much? she thought. His handsome face has a woman- ish look, and his soft voice sounds false. Thank Heaven I am free to go home; my eyes are opened, and 1 see 1;2." a fool thou hast been, Betti Wyn." The path through the wood was dark and uneven, but she knew every inch of the way, and she walked on fearlessly. She heard the soft breath of the wind in the troes, she saw the bright stars shining -overhead, the old familiar scenes were around her, and all the warm ties of home were calling to her. Her courage grew stronger, her heart more calm. "It was all a dream," she said to herself, &nd a foolish dream In my deed I am glad to awnke, I am glad to be home. Good-bye to the grand English dinners, the cakes, and the plum puddings good-bye to the dear lady, and good-bye to baby, dear heart; but he is well and safe, and will soon forget me." Here her musings came to an abrupt end- ing. She started, for in her pathway loomed a dark figure, who turned with a cheerful "Hello!" and Betti exclaimed, "Ben, is it thee, then, going to see mother?" for the pathway led nowhere but to the little pink and brown cottage. "Betti!" he answered, surprised and de- lighted, but lading his pleasure under a quiet manner, which was becoming habitual to him, for the trouble of Betti's porvevseness was always present with him. "Yes," he said, "thy mother is dull with- out thee sometimes; and she's glad to see me, I think." Yes, I am sure, indeed, and I wish thee a happy Christmas, Be it is English fashion to say that, thou knowst." "Well, perhaps," said Ben "but 'tis non- sense between thee and me whatever, for thou knowst well there can't be a happy Christmas for me, nor springtime, nor sum- mer, whilst, thou art so cruel and changed." Betti was silent a moment, locking up at the stars, that seemed to be watching her with sparkling eyes. "lV ell, indeed, that's a pity too," she said. A little relenting in her voice, a little tender regret was there? at the straw. "'Tis a great pity, Betti; but thou art so taken up with thy grand English friends that thou art not seeing how I and thy mother are missing thee, and my father, too, fc the matter of that; often he's saying: Where is Betti Wyn, my lad? We want somebody here to look after us, me and thou.' Oh, Betti, dost not remember the happy days when thou c:lm'st to Triyette garden, and helped to gather the gooseberries and currants? Dost remember that evening when we went home together through the moonlight ? ,,lit ? "Yes," she answered, very softly, bending her head to hide the tears that had gathered in her eyes. "And our rambles by the riverside, before thy heart was turned aside to the fisher- man ? Yes, I remember it all; and the flower thou gavest me, Ben, the rose from the hedge, and I—I—I have it still keeping safe in ir.y box." L "Hast it still?" said Ben, his heart thumping under his waistcoat, so loud ho thought she must hear it; and still he would not too hastily. C -nst value a simple flower like that, and cast from thee the love that has grown up so st ong in my heart ever since we were children t 1) c r ? A happy Christmas indeed! Away with thy English fashions, lass; if thou art wishing me that, put thy hand in mine "—and in the darkness a little brown hand slipped into Ben's big rough palm. lIe clutched at it eagerly. "Is it mine, Betti ? he whispered. And is thy heart coming with it ? "—and the stars still twinkled above them. Well, yes, indeed, if thou'il have it. Canst, love me after all my wilful, wavs and my follv? I am not deserving it." "Oll, yes, I can love thee, lass," said Ben. "Come, try me! Wilt marry me soon? I have waited long enough. Next month shall it be, then ? The stars sparkled more brightly than ever, and Betti, bending her head, answered, softly: "Yes, indeed." [THE END.]

AA,II Y S WON ft ERFUL "AT J10ME." .1'1- \j .1. -,L. '.I. AN ABC STORY FOIl AND THE NEW YEAR. BY W. GUKNEY BENITA3I. Awas for Amy, her a>e it vat ei:>;bt; Her stature v.as small, but her notions were great: As a Lady of Fashion she wished to be known, >'o she >:airl, I will give an 'At, Home of my own." E5 was her frieiid. Mr. Benjamin Brown; His nose n turned up, but his collars turned down He was seven, was Ben, and his features were chubby. Ilis oat was white, and his figure was tubby. C was the Conference, long and exciting, As to who should be p-aecvi on the lid for in- viting Likewise the Conclusion that Girls wc-re No Good, And that Trolls should be asked, as requiring less food. ° D was their further Decision that TInys I Were quarrelsome, greedy, and given to no;s And thai's why they left out the boys of the town, With the glorious exception of Benjamin Brown. Ewas the Evening, when each, little Guest- All the Dolls and the Toys—sat attired in their best; Their little glass eyes with Expectancy gleamed, And they beamed and they smiled, and they smiled and they beamed! Fwas the Fairy, who came through the ceiling She said, I've dropped in just to shew my good feeling: I like little Folks, and of Fun I am Fond, So you'll all come to life when I waggle my wand." (And so they did.) .u Q was a Golliwog high in the With a hop, skip, and jump, he was out of his chair; And he shouted, "Three cheers for the Fairy- liooray But the Fairy had sud- denly vanished away. H was the Hullabaloo which arose, When they found they could all use their tong-ues and their toes; And they scampered about until Amy and Ben Had to frighten them back into order again. B was the Iriehman, hasty and hearty; He said, To promote the success of this Party, If any base Saxon against me will stand, 1 I will fight till I drop for my own Native Land." aJ was a jolly Jack Tar, and says he, I'm an Englishman bold, would you like to fight me ? "Och," says Pat, "but we can't, for it's brothers we are- We were both Made in Germany, Jolly Jack Tar! K was a game of Kiss-in-the-Ring, Proposed by the Golliwog—giddy old Thing! And when he chose Amy, she thought it was splendid, But Benjamin Brown appeareù somewhat offended. L. was the Lion, who danced with the Lamb; He was like other Lions, a bit of a sham So the Lamb frisked him round at no end of a rate, And made him so giddy he couldn't walk straight. r.1I! was the Music, supplied by a Band Of little tin trumpeters, on a tin stand Very shrill were their strains, and suggestive of metal- Like the Boiiybird's song, which he sings in the Kettle. wis for Noah. and also Noah's wife; They were so much surprised when they both came to iifo, That befo'-e they remembered to bolt the front door, Their numerous flock was all user the door. o ,a-s s.n Ogre, who cried for his mother: lie was I-alitfully shy for some reason or i).Iicr; But- he a. ei-.vards seemed to be more at Mi cae When;wo little Dolly-girls climbed on his knee3. P was a I'nrtly Toliceman, and Proud, And lie. s hi'Jed the Golli- wog out from the crowd. It's i;UtY," S,,Ii(i lie, for to keep the place quieter; So I'll make an exampleo' this here young Rioter." o was the Curious Question, \J :u:d Quaint, Which the Golliwog asked, with polit eseif-rt straint. lie m; v I humbly inquire Are your beautiful features insured against fire? n was the P:\ge which that Bobby displayed, And the Rush for his life which the Golliwog mad- But at Running that P'liceman was easy to beat, For he tripped himself up with his rather large feet. 3 was a pok'inr; his sword was of lead, And so, for the mutter of that, was his head; But his fcdhers were fine, and his uniform bright, And the Dollies declared him a Dream of Delight. T was the Tree, many wonders revealing; It grew from the floor and reached up to tho ceiling. Now presents kept blossoming forth every minute. And the Goody Birds built little Sweetie in it. U was that party's Unseemly Uproar, When Santa Claus popped his head in at the door; Then they sat round the Tree, and he made them all clap, And a present fell down into everyone's lap. V stands for Voices of guests growing tired, As they wandered about and their presents a.d 1n i",pd It was clear they had come to the end of their fun, For they tumbled asleep on the floor, one by ODe. W stands for the Weariness then That canic over Amy, and overcame Ben; So they packed up the guests on their vari- ous shelves, And went to their beds very pleased with themselves. X is for Xmastide jollification May it ever X-ceed our X-trctno X-pectation! May parties X-tatic to pleasure X-cite us, And X-quisite Fairies drop in to delight us I Y is the old Year, and also the new May it turn out a good Year for me and for you, And also for Amy, and likewise for Ben, And for each of their gay little women and men 1 Z is the Zest which we all of us need, Every day in the year, if we wish to succeed. So may that Good Fairy attend at the call of us, And put some new lif into each one and all of us I "J0", fetch a perleesman for me!" she re-

plied, with a toss of her cap and fringe. "Well then, look sharp about it, and mind you fetch a nico one, but I flattens myself-when I wants a perleesman-I knows how to fetch him- better nor you do."

In the entire list of Arctic localities there is probably no name whieh for Americans is more associated with gruesome recollections than Cape Sabine, the barren point of rocks which defines on the west the northern end and narrowest point of Smith Sound. Bleak and sombre, wind-sweet and ice- battered, its .atmosphere heavy with human pain, despair, contention, and death, when not bound in the iron fetters of the ice it is resisting the incessant, shocks of the constantly southward-surging pack. Starvation Cove, where the last of Franklin's men met their end, fills a similar place with Englishmen. But in another respect the two localities arc entirely dissimilar. The horrors of the latter, hidden from the world for years behind the inscrutable uncer- tainty of the Arctic wastes, resulted in the period of greatest activity known in the history of Arctic exploration. Ship after ship and expedition after expedi- tion were sent out to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Franklin and his men, until at one time some ten or twelve ships were simultaneously engaged in the work, and more of the North American Archipelago was discovered and charted than had ever been done before or has been done since. The horrors of the former, known almost immediately, put a complete damper on Government interest in and assistance to Arctic work on the American side of the XXJU 1r Cd L/ 1r '¡-1J.4J ,1..i., A IJIT EJJVO. Atlantic; and its influence is felt even to-day, after a lapse of many years. About two miles south of the point of Capo Sabine a group of rocky islands forms a small bight, discovered by the English ex- pedition of 1873, and named by them Payer Harbour. Brought into prominence, a few years later from being the shelter from which the Proteus started out to her destruction, it I has since been a familiar name to Arctic students. Here my ship, the Windward, war, caught by the ice in September, 1900, and compelled me to winter with Mrs. Peary on board, I being north at Fort Conger at the time. Hera 1 joined her on .May 6th, 1901; aud here I deteirnined to establish my winter quarters for the coming season, the locality being the southern key to the Smith Sound line of approach to the Pole. In pursuance of this purpose the Windward's deckhouse was unshipped, hauled over the harbour ice, and 8et up ill a favourable location overlooking the harbour. All store and equipment which could be spared from the summer walrus- hunting were landed and secured. Late in August both my ships, the Wind- ward and the Eric, steamed away for home, leaving me and my party just below Eric Head, on the Ellesmere Land coast, some twelve to fifteen miles south of Payer Harbour. Not until September 17tli did the cementing of the inshore ice permit us to reach Payer Harbour, and scarcely were we settled down when the Angel of Death came amongst us, and remained for nearly three months. December of 1901 found me with my faithful Esquimaux decimated by the ravages of a fatal disease, and my party slowly recovering from rur passage through the of the Shadow of Death." Naturally our Christmas was not a specially hilarious one. My party at this time comprised my coloured man Henson, or Matt, as he was generally known Charlie, my cook, a fine, big specimen of the Newfoundland fisherman; and the following Esquimaux: Ahngoodioo and his wife Eknrcsah; Ahngmaloktok and his wife Jonah; Ah::godoblaho, his wife Siutikahtui, and two children Ahahgiahsu, an old deaf mute, and ESQUIMAUX MEMBERS OF LIEUTEXAXT- COMMANDER PEARY'S EXPEDITION. her daughter Ahmemi, and two orphan boys, Koodlookloo and Arkao. Henson and Charlie were quartered with me in the deckhouse, which I had landed from the Windward. This contained a small sleeping-room for each of us, a kitchen, and a dining-room. The Esquimaux were quartered in "Fort Magnesia," the old Stein head- quarters. Both habitations were walled in completely with snow blocks, and the entrances still further protected by snow vestibules. Only by such means can comfort be secured in the vicinity of Sabine, which is a region of strong and incessant winds summer and winter. The sun had long since left us, and we were shrouded in continual darkness. The ice, which all through the preceding months had been surging slowly past us, was now at rest, fettered by the intense cold. The extremity of Cape Sabine, the northern end of Brevoorfc Island, and tHe northern s de of every projecting point, were piled high with ice masses torn from the floes as they passed. Last and south-east lay the still unfrozen expanse of the north water, its inky waves supporting a stratum of air heavy with con- densing vapours, which at any breath of wind settled in upon us in a freezing pall of more than Stygian darkness, through which slowly filtered minute-spiculas of ice. Five days before Christmas Matt and the three Esquimaux men had started for the head of Buchanan Bay, 50 miles distant, to bring out the meat of some musk oxen killed there in October, and which the illneee of my entire party had made it impossible to bring out before. I wanted, and at first intended, to make this trip myself. I was anxious to get out and away for a breathing spell from the place whero the illness and death of my devoted people had held me prisoner for 50 long. I felt that I needed the change and separation from the sJHdening associations. But after thinking the matter over carefully, I felt that the uncertainty of finding the meat "cache" in the darkness of the Arctic night and after the snows of two months simply from description, was too great an uncertainty ror ine to risk. Three days before Christmas occurred the winter solstice, and it was a cheering thought in the darkness which shrouded everything to know that the sun had reached the limit of his southern swing, and, though he would still be invisible for weeks to .come, was slowly retummg to us. Jackson in Franz Josef Land complained of sleeplessness during the long winter night, increasing with each successive winter. I did not experience his trouble, although this was my fourth successive winter. But I did have great difficulty in sleeping at the right time. I was always wide awake during the greater portion of the night, and then dead sleepy at breakfast time. The day before Christmas was cloudy, with a strong northerly wind, increasing in the afternoon to a wild gale with suffocating drift. Evidently there was open water close off .Brevoort Island, though there was not enough light to allow it to be seen. In the evening I opened a box of candy, fruit, &c., from home. Charlie was busy cooking and cleaning house for Christmas, and I passed the hours dreaming of the far- distant faces, knowing there were many loving and anxious thoughts for me at home even though one tcnder, fond heart was still for ever. Christmas Day came even thicker and ) darker than the day before, with the wind f swung round into the south, and howling viciously over the rocks and across the ragged ice which filled the harbour. In the absence of the men, the feeding of the dogs left behind devolved on me, and under the conditions of darkness and wind was a matter of considerable time and some difficulty. Thesa faithful animals were fastened in knots of five and eight, wherever the buildings or the rocks afforded a lee fiom the biting wind. Some forty in all, the work of feeding was by no means a matter of a few minutes. They knew as well as 1 that this was feeding time, and ever since Charlie started tlu fire for breakfast, and the wind had carried tho coal scent broadcast, they bad been on the qui. vive, even the apparently sleeping ones having one ear wide open; and as I came out clad in my worst clothes, with SOME OF THE ESQUIMAUX DOGS WHICH liECKTVED THEIR CIIXtlSTMAS DINNER FROM COMMANDER PEARY'S OWN HANDS. old gloves kept for the purpose, and, hatchet in hand, walked towards the pile of frozen walrus meat, which was kept replenished from my big caches across the harbour and on Brevoort Island, every dog was on his feet. When, having pulled a big frozen flipper from the pile, I began dragging it towards the nearest group, the neglected ones broke into a wild chorus of barks, howls, and screams, interspersed with snarls and cries of pain as vicious but short-lived battles shewed that irritated impatience could hold out no longer. Every dog in the team which I was ap- proaching was straining forward to the Z, utmost limit of his trace, his eyes, which shone in the darkness, fixed on the walrus meat, his whole body quivering; and the barks and howls had given way to low whines, coughs, and the chattering of teeth in eager anticipation. Kneeling or stooping as the ground re- quired, just in front of the dogs, with back to the wind, the frozen meat was chopped ofT in big chunks, until at last each dog, with a loug-drawn sigh of satisfaction, refused any more, and I turned to the next team. Though all were thoroughly fed, of course I had my favourites. These were the ten beautiful greys forming my own team, fastened in two lots of five each in the lee of one of the buildings. With their long legs, bushy tails, and pointed ears and noses, they looked like a pack of timber-wolves. But the affectionate dog nature shewed out as I approached in low "woofs," the lifting of a paw as if to shake hands, the standing upright to stretch out both paws towards me, and numerous other little canine expressions of welcome. Better trained than some of the others, there was no lighting, each one knowing that he would get his full share, and standing alert like a veteran cricketer to catch each picce that came his way. After the meal was over I busied myself w:th untangling the traces, and there were rubbings against my legs, playful seizings of my hands, and contented growls. Then there was Miss Whiteface," born under the house at Fort Conger two years before, now with five beautiful grey pups of her own, comfortably located on a bed of grass in a little snow house; and "Sin," Marie's red dog, which, though an abomina- tion from her colour, was treated with every consideration for her little mistress's sake. She, too, with her four coal-black pups, had a bed and a house of her own. When at last the work was completed, it was with a feeling of thankfulness that my meat supply was ample to enable me to feed my faithful assistants full rations; rmd, I entered the house with a glow of satisfaction that, with their stomachs filled to repletion with the rich, heat-giving walrus meat, they were all curled up among the rocks, warm and comfortable within their furry coats. Dinner, the chief features of which were a fme musk-ox steak and a plum duff, was a triumph of Charlie's skill. His success in this, a present of a generous box of candy, and the fact that his foot, which lie had scalded severely the first day of the month, was now completely healed, made the day much more than a mere name to hire. Hours later, after Charlie and the Esqui- maux had gone to bed, we had our Christmas —I and my pictures of the home folk—with a cake, a small bottle of Moselle, and a cup of coffee before us. We looked into each ether's eyes, dreamt of the past, each drop of the favourite wine a vignette and a reminiscence of some bygone pleasant experience; speculated as to the future, and what another Christmas would bring, till the fire went out, and I turned to my narrow bunk, where the roar of the gale lulled me to sleep, and I followed in dreams my waking thoughts. Matt and his party returned three days later. They had groped their way to the bead of the bay through the darkness and deep snow, only to find th&t the greater portion of the meat cachcd in October had been eaten by the numerous and ravenous foxes. Fortunately, on Christmas Day, they came upon and killed two bull musk-oxen. They were going from their camp to the meat cache when, not far away, the rush and clatter of hoofs in the rnow and over the rocks was heard. Several of the best dogs were quickly cut loose, and, the natives following, with senses scarcely less acute than those of the docs, the animals were run down and brought to a stand up tlie slope ox the cims, anu snot with the muzzles of the carbines almost touching them in the darkness. What with the success and excitement of the hunt, abundance of fresh meat, and a small flask of our precious brandy, which I had packed for them when they left, these members of my party passed Christmas night by no means unpleasantly in a comfortable snow igloo in the heart of Ellesmere Land.

E. D. JONES, High Class Grocer AND Provision Alerchanr. BAKER AND CONFECTIONER I The Stores, Abergele Road\ (Telephone, No. 3y.) COLWYN BAY, Is now showing a Grand Selection of CHRISTMAS T PRUIT I (Guaranteed New and Clean). Fancy Boxes of Chocolate from id. to 5/- Crystalized & Glace Fruits, in Jb., lib., lib., 2ib. 2 and 4ib. Boxes. Boxes of Bon-Boris from 6d. to 3/6, Fancy Iced Cakes from 1/- to 3/. Fancy Boxes of Biscaits from 6d. to 3/- Boxes of Figs, Muscatel Clusters, French Plums. Ground, Cooking and Dessert Almonds. Non-Alcliololic Wines, &c. Scientific Sight Testing. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH EMINENT OCULISTS. R. G. OWEN, F.S.M.C., LLANRVVST.. Correspondence invited regarding DEFECTS OF VISION. Please enclose Stamped Envelop for roply. AT COMPTON HOUSE, CONWAY, first Friday in Each Month. 13872 = IM PORTA N T I THE farnitafe LUI, are b o use LLANRWST, IS NOW RE-OPENED WITH A NEW STOCK OF CHINA, And Special Lines in Drawing, Dining and bedroom Furniture, &c. Ga l and se3 for 5 ourselves. JJriCwss unequalled, JONATHAN JONES & THOMAS, TL12394 K'voppietofs. HUGHES & BOHROOIS, AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MERCHANTS, MANCHESTER HOUSE AliO WAREHOUSE, DENBIGH ST., LLANRWST, General Furnishing Ironmongers, Gas & ho, Water Engineers, 4417 IMPORTANT. 2, WATLING STREET, LLANRWST. P. S. JONES (M. JONES & SONS), Has RE-OPENED above Premises recently occupied by MR. D. G. YY ii.son, with a splendid Selection of High-class China, Glass, Cutlery, Hardware, Brushes, Baskets, electro-Plated & Fancy Goods, &c., Tobacco Pouches, Pipes, Cigarette v Cases, Stationery, &c. [land inspect and compare my prices." LT18M .2- — A rvIERICAN STOVES. 1!1 Sa ve I-lalf Coals and CUle your Cl1imneys. Send for -CATAU-ICL,,P. (fœc) of Sto yes to ConI. okc, W 00&, Oü. Gas. &c. FirmerF' -'cci' G C "J'entiori t v- c PCGk^I CO* American Stove Stores 32, QUEEN, Vk ondon, if