| | 1 | Author: | Crane, Stephen, 1871-1900 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | `God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.'  | | | | Published: | 1996 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | LITTLE NELL, sometimes called the Blessed Damosel, was a war
correspondent for the New York Eclipse, and at sea on the
despatch boats he wore pyjamas, and on shore he wore whatever fate
allowed him, which clothing was in the main unsuitable to the climate.
He had been cruising in the Caribbean on a small tug, awash always,
habitable never, wildly looking for Cervera's fleet; although what he was
going to do with four armoured cruisers and two destroyers in the event
of his really finding them had not been explained by the managing editor.
The cable instructions read: 'Take tug; go find Cervera's fleet.' If his
unfortunate nine-knot craft should happen to find these great twenty-knot
ships, with their two spiteful and faster attendants, Little Nell had
wondered how he was going to lose them again. He had marvelled, both
publicly and in secret, on the uncompromising asininity of managing
editors at odd moments, but he had wasted little time. The Jefferson
G. Johnson was already coaled, so he passed the word to his skipper,
bought some tinned meats, cigars, and beer, and soon the Johnson
sailed on her mission, tooting her whistle in graceful farewell to some
friends of hers in the bay. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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