Merry Christmas and a Happy New Steamboating Year 2015!

And the same to you all!!!!!!!

I will add my greetings to this e-card!

Best to all in 2015.

Wesley

*MERRY CHIRSTMAS in old steamboat style, 1900*
Steamboating colleagues:
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! to one and all from here aboard the Big Sandy Wharboat. Capt. Ellis Mace and me work all day here with bills of lading, cargo to be posted, accounts to be paid with all stowed for tonight's run down to Louisville on the big, fast CITY OF LOUISVILLE with the CITY OF CINNCINNATI at the other end. Commodore Fred Laidley in a perky mood here passing around presents to all of us in the office--usually pretty little trifles little Mrs. Laidley stitches together over at their mansion in Covington. Mace, the stenographer and I play our little game holding back on the Commodore's nice present with him standing over us rocking on his heels, gingling all those gold watch fobs, stroking his billy goat whiskers. The best present I had for him was the big office account docket wrapped in a fine blue silk ribbon showing a larger than usual profit ending the year. The Commodore chortled over that first; then the nice pair of kid leather gloves from a shop up town on 4th St. We thought of a brand new felt hat to replace the beat up old one he cherishes but nixed that promptly.

The boys over on the CITY OF LOUISVILLE received envelopes with their pay and a Christmas bonus to boot. Laidley called over old Wes, his trusted steward. "Now, I know you think I'm made of money. Wes, I want you to lay on the best Christmas dinner on the boat for the passengers you can: ices, creams, punch, strawberries, roasts, chicken, lamb, fish and all the trimmins' along with those great cakes you bake, ya' hear me? After New Year, though, you cut back on some of the expenses for grub. "Why, Commodah' suah, I do it up right today fo' suah. You been tellin' me bout' cuttin' back since I fust began workin' for you way back, remember dem days?" "Yes, Wes, I do 'member those days so long ago. Here, a little something for you. Now don't you go thinkin' I'm made of money," he whispered handing old Wes an envelope with an extra, extra bonus and a fine gold watch of his own from up town. "Umm, Wes, could you bake up a cake I can take home tonight before the boat pulls out?" Commodore Fred Laidley could be like that.

In these continuing days of uncertainly nationally and around the world, I offer the classic steamboat testimony below:

"Good luck will be our captain
And sunshine be our mate;
Laughter be our pilot,
And happiness be our freight.
May all the ports we enter,
Bring pleasures ever new;
Good health will be our steward,
And good friends will be our crew."

Cheers!
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!
ML

Merry Christmas to all!
May your wheel stay square, your mud-drums clean, & may you leave the dock an hour before the dock-master's bill!
🙂
Steamcerely,
Linda & David Dewey