SINGING AND DANCING ON CHRISTMAS EVE. 389 



tliem ; they were but trifling things, but they gave much 

 pleasure : small books, letter-cases, and so on. Near 

 the tree lay a large harmonica " for the men ;" this, with 

 some balls of cord, in which were enclosed different small 

 things, was a present from the ladies of Kiel. On the 

 other side stood the complete model of a full-rigged 

 ship, just finished by P. Iversen. 



Somewhat later followed a hot supper, in which the 

 cook astonished us with some delightful cakes. Healths 

 were drunk in foaming wine of the Neckar, and at dessert 

 a large chest, which had taken its place in the cabin since 

 yesterday, was opened. It contained a valuable present 

 from Mainz : a number of bottles of excellent Rhine 

 wine. You should have seen the men of the Germania ! 

 Heart and mind were in a glow, they joked and chattered, 

 speeches were made and healths drunk, and the ship 

 resounded with many a hearty cheer. We thought of 

 our loved ones at home, our brothers on the Hansa, and 

 our ever dear country ! 



But we still wanted a song. Each one had his song- 

 book, a gift from the publisher, G. Westermann, and — 

 were we not Germans, " Vereint zur frohen Stunde " ? 

 So it was not long before we had a song. Was it a 

 warning that the " Wacht am Rhein" should resound 

 in the Arctic night ? 



As it was a wonderfully warm, soft air, the suggestion 

 of a dance on the ice received universal approbation. 

 Soon we were dancing merrily on the white snow, whilst 

 the boatman, wrapped in a reindeer's skin, played the 

 new harmonica with an artist's hand. 



More bottles were opened, more healths drunk, and 

 midnight had passed l^efore we retired to rest. 



