Elsie's Winter Trip

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER VIII.

  The next morning was bright and clear, the air so much warmer thanthat which had been left behind on their own shores, that one and allrepaired to the deck after breakfast, and preferred to remain thereduring the greater part of the day. Mr. Horace Dinsmore, his wife anddaughter were sitting near together, the ladies occupied with somecrocheting, and Mr. Dinsmore with a book in hand, which he did notseem to be reading, when Elsie and Ned Raymond, who had been gambolingabout the deck, came dancing up to them with a request for "more aboutBermuda."

  "You don't want to be surprised by the pretty things you will seethere, eh?" queried their grandpa.

  "No, sir; we want to hear about them first and see them afterward; ifit isn't troubling you too much," said Elsie, with a coaxing look upinto his face.

  "Well, considering that you are my great-grandchildren, I think Imust search my memory for something interesting on the subject. Thereare many picturesque creeks and bays. There are four pretty largeislands--Bermuda, the largest, being fifteen miles long. The strangeshapes of the islands and the number of spacious lagoons make itnecessary to travel about them almost entirely in boats; which is verypleasant, as you glide along under a beautiful blue sky and throughwaters so clear that you can see even to their lowest depths, where thefish sport among the coral rocks, and exquisitely variegated shellsabound."

  "Oh, I shall like that!" exclaimed Elsie. "Are the fish handsome, too,grandpa?"

  "Some of them are strikingly so," he replied. "One called theparrot-fish is of a green color as brilliant as that of his birdnamesake. His scales are as green as the fresh grass of spring-time,and each one is bordered by a pale brown line. His tail is banded withnearly every color of the rainbow, and his fins are pink."

  "Is he good to eat, grandpa?" asked Ned.

  "No, his flesh is bitter and poisonous to man and probably to otherfishes. So they let him well alone."

  "Well, I suppose he's glad of that," laughed Ned. "The more I hearabout Bermuda, grandpa, the gladder I am that we are going there."

  "Yes; and you may well be thankful that you have so good and kind afather, and that he owns this fine yacht."

  "Yes, sir, I am that; but I'd rather be his son than anybody else's ifhe didn't own anything but me."

  "And I'm just as pleased to be his daughter," said Elsie.

  "And I to be his grandfather-in-law," added Mr. Dinsmore, withcomically grave look and tone.

  "Yes, sir; Grandpa Travilla would have been his--papa's--father-in-lawif he had lived, wouldn't he?"

  "Yes; and almost as old as I am. He was my dear, good friend, and Igave him my daughter to be his wife."

  "That was you, grandma, wasn't it?" asked Ned, turning to Mrs. Travilla.

  "Yes, dear," she said, with a smile and a sigh, "and if he had stayedwith us until now you would have loved him as you do Grandpa Dinsmore."

  "Yes, indeed, grandma," came softly and sweetly from the lips of bothchildren.

  There was a moment of subdued silence, then Grandpa Dinsmore went on.

  "There are many pretty creatures to be seen in the waters aboutBermuda. There is a kind of fish called angels, that look very brightand pretty. They have a beautiful blue stripe along the back, and longstreamers of golden yellow, and they swim very gracefully about. Butthey are not so good as they are pretty. They pester the other fishesby nibbling at them, and so, often, get into a quarrel, fighting witha long, sharp spine which they have on each gill-cover, making uglywounds with it on those they are fighting.

  "Among the outer reefs we will, perhaps, see a speckled moray. He lookslike a common eel, except that his body is dark-green flecked withbright yellow spots, which makes him quite a handsome fellow. There isa fish the Bermuda fishermen call the 'Spanish hogfish,' and when askedwhy they give it that name they say, 'Why, sir, you see it lazes aroundjust like a hog, and carries the Spanish colors.'"

  "Spanish colors? What are they, grandpa?" queried Ned.

  "The fish," said Mr. Dinsmore, "is brownish red from his head to themiddle of his body, and from there to the end of his tail a brightyellow; and those are the colors of the Spanish flag."

  "I'm glad we are going to Bermuda," remarked Elsie, with a happy littlesigh, "for I'm sure there must be a great deal there worth seeing."

  "And your father is just the kind of man to help you to a sight of allsuch things," responded Mr. Dinsmore.

  "Yes, sir," said Elsie, "papa never seems to think it too much troubleto do anything to give us pleasure."

  "Ah, what father would, if he had such a dear little girl and boy asmine?" queried a manly voice just behind them, while a gentle hand waslaid caressingly on Elsie's head.

  "Oh, papa, I didn't know you were so near," she exclaimed, with a laughand a blush. "Wont you sit down with us? Grandpa Dinsmore has beentelling us very interesting things about Bermuda."

  "And papa can probably tell some that will be more interesting,"remarked Mr. Dinsmore, as the Captain took possession of Elsie's seatand drew her to one upon his knee.

  That suited the little maid exactly; in her opinion no seat was moredesirable than "papa's knee."

  "Now, papa, we're ready to hear all you know about Bermuda," said Ned,with a look of eager interest.

  "Perhaps you are more ready to hear than I to tell," the Captainanswered, with an amused smile. "At any rate, I want, first, to hearwhat you have been told, lest I should waste my time and strength inrepeating it."

  The children eagerly repeated what had been told them, the Captainadded a few more facts about the beautiful things to be seen in theclear Bermuda waters--the coral reefs and the plants and animals thatcover them; then the call to dinner came, and all left the deck for thedining-saloon.

  Almost the whole party were on deck again immediately upon leavingthe table. The older ones were scattered here and there in couples orgroups, but Elsie and Ned sauntered along together chatting in lowtones, as if not wanting to be overheard by the older people.

  "Yes, I am sorry," sighed Elsie, in reply to something her brother hadsaid; "Christmas is such a delightful time at home, and, of course, wecan't expect to have one here on the yacht."

  "No," said Ned, brightening, "but, of course, we can give Christmasgifts to each other, if--if we get to Bermuda in time to buy things. Is'pose there must be stores there."

  "Surely, I should think. I'll ask mamma or papa about it."

  "Have you any money?"

  "Yes; I have two dollars I've been saving up to buy Christmas gifts.How much have you?"

  "Fifty cents. It isn't much, but it will buy some little things, Iguess."

  "Yes, of course it will. But, oh, Ned, Christmas comes Monday.To-morrow is Sunday; so we couldn't do any shopping, even if we were onthe land; and we may as well give it up."

  "Yes, but we are having a very good time here on the 'Dolphin,' aren'twe, Elsie?"

  "Yes, indeed! and it would be really shameful for us to fret and worryover missing the usual Christmas gifts and pleasures."

  The two had been so absorbed in the subject they were discussing thatthey had not noticed an approaching step, but now a hand was laid ona shoulder of each, and their father's loved voice asked, in tendertones: "What is troubling my little son and daughter? Tell papa, andperhaps he may find a way out of the woods."

  "Yes, papa; they are not very thick woods," laughed Elsie. "It is onlythat we are sorry we can't have any Christmas times this winter, orremember anybody with gifts, because we can't go to any stores to buyanything."

  "Are you quite sure of all that, daughter?" he asked, with a smile,smoothing her hair caressingly as he spoke.

  "I thought I was, but perhaps my father knows better," she answered,with a pleased little laugh.

  "Well, I think a man of my age ought to know more than a little girl ofyours. Don't you?"

  "Oh, yes, indeed! and I know my father knows many, many times more thanI do. Is there any way for us to get gifts for all these dear folks onthe yacht with us, or for any of them,
papa?"

  "Yes, I remembered Christmas when we were getting ready to leave home,and provided such gifts as seemed desirable for each one of my familyto give to others. I will give you each your share to-night before yougo to your berths, and you can decide how you will distribute them--towhom you will give each one."

  "But, papa, I----" Elsie paused, blushing and confused.

  "Well, dear child, what is it?" asked her father, in gentle,affectionate tones.

  "I was thinking, papa, that they could hardly be our gifts when youbought them and with your own money, not ours."

  "But I give them to you, daughter, and you may keep or give them away,just as you like. That makes them your gift quite as truly as if theyhad been bought with your own pocket money. Does it not?"

  "Oh, yes, papa, so it seems to me, and I know it does since you sayso," exclaimed Elsie joyously; Ned joining in with, "Oh, that's justsplendid, papa! You are the best father in the world! Elsie and I boththink so."

  "Well, it is very pleasant to have my children think so, howevermistaken they may be," his father said, with a smile and anaffectionate pat on the little boy's shoulder. "Well, my dears, supposewe go down at once and attend to these matters. It will be better nowthan later, I think, and not so likely to keep you from getting tosleep in good season to-night."

  The children gave an eager, joyful assent, and their father led themdown to the stateroom occupied by Violet and himself, and opening atrunk there, brought to light a quantity of pretty things--ribbons,laces, jewelry, books and pictures; also cards with the names of theintended recipients to be attached to the gifts, as the young giversmight see fit.

  That work was undertaken at once, their father helping them in theirselection and attaching the cards for them. It did not take very long,and they returned to the deck in gay spirits.

  "For what purpose did you two children take papa down below? or was ithe who took you?" asked Lucilla, laughingly.

  "I think it was papa who took us," said Elsie, smiling up into his faceas she spoke. "Wasn't it, papa?"

  "Yes," he said, "and whoever asks about it may be told it was father'ssecret conference."

  "Oh," cried Lucilla, "it is a secret then, is it? I don't want to pryinto other people's affairs; so I withdraw my question."

  "Perhaps papa intends to take his other children--you and me, Lu--downin their turn," remarked Grace, laughingly, for she was sitting nearher father, and had overheard the bit of chat.

  "I really had not thought of doing so," said the Captain, "but it isa good idea. Come, now, both of you," he added, leading the way. "Isuppose you two have not forgotten that to-morrow will be Sunday andthe next day Christmas?" he said, inquiringly, as they reached thesaloon.

  "Oh, no, papa; you know you helped us, before we left home, inselecting gifts for Mamma Vi and the children and others," said Grace."But how are we going to keep Christmas here on the yacht?"

  "Pretty much as if we were at home on the land," he answered, with asmile. "There is a Christmas tree lying down in the hold. I intendhaving it set up here early Monday morning, and some of the earlyrisers will perhaps trim it before the late ones are out of bed. Thenit can be viewed, and the gifts distributed when all are ready totake part in the work and fun. Now, if you wish I will show you thegifts I have prepared for my family--not including yourselves," heinterpolated, with a smile. "Our guests and servants here and the crewof the vessel."

  The offer was gladly accepted, the gifts viewed with great interest andpleasure, the girls chatting meanwhile with affectionate and respectfulfamiliarity with their loved father.

  "I like your plan, father, very much indeed," said Lucilla; "and as itis easy and natural for me to wake and rise early, I should like tohelp with the trimming of the tree, if you are willing."

  "Certainly, daughter, I shall be glad to have you help--and to put thegifts intended for you on afterward," he added, with a smile.

  "Yes, sir; and perhaps your daughters may treat you in the same way,"she returned demurely. "I suppose you would hardly blame them forfollowing your example?"

  "I ought not to, since example is said to be better than precept. Wewill put these things away now, go back to our friends on deck, and tryto forget gifts until Christmas morning."