CHRISTMAS BEF0RE LAST;

0R, THE FRUIT 0F THE FRAGILE PALM.

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The "Horn o' Plenty" was a fine, huge, old-fashioned ship, very highin the bow, very high in the stern, with a quarter-deck alwayscarpeted in fine weather, because her captain could not see why oneshould not make himself comfortable at sea as well as on land.Covajos Maroots was her captain, and a fine, jolly, old-fashioned,elderly sailor he was. The "Horn o' Plenty" always sailed upon onesea, and always between two ports, one on the west side of the sea,and one on the east. The port on the west was very a large town, inwhich Captain Covajos had a married son, and the port on the east wasanother town in which he had a married daughter. In each family hehad several grandchildren; and, consequently, it was a great joy tothe jolly old sailor to arrive at either port. The Captain was veryparticular about his cargo, and the "Horn o' Plenty" was generallyladen with good things to eat, or sweet things to smell, or finethings to wear, or beautiful things to look at. 0nce a merchantbrought to him some boxes of bitter aloes, and mustard plasters, butCaptain Covajos refused to take them into his ship.