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 dinner is in, Cap'n Cephas, so it suits you."

Captain Cephas took his pipe from his mouth. "You're pretty
late thinkin' about it," said he, "fer day after to-morrow's
Christmas."

"That don't make no difference," said Captain Eli. "What
things we want that are not in my house or your house we can
easily get either up at the store or else in the woods."

"In the woods!" exclaimed Captain Cephas. "What in the name
of thunder do you expect to get in the woods for Christmas?"

"A Christmas tree," said Captain Eli. "I thought it might be
a nice thing to have a Christmas tree fer Christmas. Cap'n
Holmes has got one, and Mother Nelson's got another. I guess
nearly everybody's got one. It won't cost anything--I can go and
cut it."

Captain Cephas grinned a grin, as if a great leak had been
sprung in the side of a vessel, stretching nearly from stem to
stern.

"A Christmas tree!" he exclaimed. "Well, I am blessed! But
look here, Cap'n Eli. You don't know what a Christmas tree's
fer. It's fer children, and not fer grown-ups. Nobody ever does