ings they bought for presents
or for holiday use--fancy soap and candy, handkerchiefs and little
woollen shawls for old people, and a lot of pretty little things which
he knew the use of, but which Captain Cephas would never have
understood at all had he been there.

As Captain Eli came out of the store he saw a cart in which were two
good-sized Christmas trees, which had been cut in the woods, and were
going, one to Captain Holmes's house, and the other to Mother Nelson's.
Captain Holmes had grandchildren, and Mother Nelson, with never a child
of her own, good old soul, had three little orphan nieces who never
wanted for anything needful at Christmas-time or any other time.

Captain Eli walked home very slowly, taking observations in his mind.
It was more than seven years since he had had anything to do with
Christmas, except that on that day he had always made himself a
mince-pie, the construction and the consumption of which were equally
difficult. It is true that neighbors had invited him, and they had
invited Captain Cephas, to their Christmas dinners, but neither of
these worthy seamen had ever accepted any of these invitations. Even
holiday food, when not cooked in sailor fashion, did not agree with
Captain Cephas, and it would have pained the good heart of Captain Eli
if he had been forced to make believe to enjoy a Christmas dinner so
very inferior to those which Miranda used to set before him.

But now the heart of Captain Eli was gently moved by a Christmas
flutter. It had been foolish, perhaps, for him to go up to the store
at such a time as this, but the mischief had been done. Old feelings
had come back to him, and he would be glad to celebrate Christmas this
year if he could think of any good way to do it. And the result of his
mental observations was that he went over to Captain Cephas's house to
talk to him about it.

Captain Cephas was in his kitchen, smoking his third morning pipe.
Captain Eli filled his pipe, lighted it, and sat down by the fire.

"Cap'n," said he, "what do you say to our keepin Christmas this year?
A Christmas dinner is no good if it's got to be eat alone, and you and
me might eat ourn together. It might be in my house, or it might be in
your house--it won't make no great difference to me which. Of course,
I like woman housekeepin', as is laid down in the rules of service fer
my house. But next best to that I like sailor housekeepin', so I don't
mind which house the din