The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-10-13
WHO LIT TIE LAMPS !.

old-lashioned lighthouse. 1t was placed amid
some dangerous rocks and was found a great
blessing TO mariners trequenting that coast, 10
directing them in dark and stormy nights.
Many Were the shipwrecks ii prevented and
many were the blessings that were breathed
forth TO heaven by the sailors for It's guiding
and cheering light.
You would have thought that every body
would have been glad that the lighthouse stood
upon these rocks and rejolced IN the good II did.
Bot they did not.
There We're set of wicked men who looked
upon the lighthouse with angry eyes, and of
ten wished some storm would sweep it quite
away. They longed to see the vessels wreck
ed, that they might gather some of the sPolls
that came from their destruction; and they
therefore hated the lighthouse that thus de-
prived them of their treasures These wicked
men were called "wrecktrs," and when stor-
my nights on, they might be seen looking
out for their prey, and even building large fires
upon the shores 10 deceive the ships, and lead
them out of the way, and get them dashed to
pieces ON the rocks.
Still the lighthouse stood, watched over and
kept by the mercilul eyes and arms Of Kind,
protecting God
il was inhabited, at the time | am writing
u. Il
is about this little girl my story must be told.
She had very pous mother, who when she
died had given her holy eounSels, and lett her
large lavorite Bible her property. You
NAV be sure that the last words OF her dear
mother were not soon forgotten: while the BIZ
bic she had left was looked upon with little
reverence and love.
The lighthouse was so placed upon the rocks,
/ IL 4.
could walk from it to the shore but at high
water no body could get to it, as no boat could
ride in safety among the rocks and breakers.
All the food the inmates needed and other things
they used, were thus brought to them, or fitch
ed by them at low aer, and the good man OF
the lighthouse had often to 90 on shore for
them.
Cne day he had gone as usual, leaving the
little girl alone in the lighthouse, when some
of the wreckers seized him and determined TO
prevent him going back to light bis lamps, in
the hope that some ship would be wrecked.
The poor man was in great distress when he
was prisoner of these wicked men, and begged
hard to be allowed to return. But in VAN
there they kept him till long after the tide came
in, and the dark night had gathered and it be-
came impossible for him 10 return. At last
they let bin 90, and he stood upon the shore
in great distress. The night was gradually be-
coming very stormy one. The wild winds
roared furiously. The rain fell in torrents.
The thunder rolled terrfcally. The sea dashed
furiouslv around the lighthouse, sometimes COW
ering ii entirely with lis waves. What was he
TO do
The lantern at the top of his house vas all
dark. He could see some ships in tie distance,
and he trenbled LEST they should be wrecked
for want OF his lamps being lighted. He knew
his little girl was all alone and too little TO do
ANYTHING 10 help the difficulty 50 there hp stood
in deep distress, while around him were the
savage wTeckers, glorying in the success other
wicked scheme, and looking for large booty
for the morning, when all OF sudden the light
house was lighted up. and It's bright and glow
ing rays shot far across the troubled sea. The
sailors lar off were delighted as they caught lis
beams and the good man himselfwas overcome
with surprise, whilt he exclaimed, ''Who has
lit the lamps
Very distressed indeed was The little girl,
when she found her father did not return SIS
, she expected. She watched the tide come roll
/ ing up and covering the rocks, so cutting Oft all
the Wav to the shore. She heard the wind get
up, and tremhled as she felt it rock the light
house She noticed the dark night setting IN,
and saw the storm beginning 10 rise. She look
: ed out, and then she caught glimpse OF the
ships in the distance, and knew that if the
lamps were not lighted they would probably BE-
wrecked, and in her distress began to think
] a'hat she should do. At last Il text Of Scrip
4 lure, one oil her mothers last words, came into
= her mnd-''Call upon NE in the day OF trou-
r bic and will deliver thee" So down she knelt
and PRAYED earnestly to God TO help her in her
, trouble, and rising, walked to see if she could
f light the lamps herself. She saw the long stick
= with which her father lit them. Down stairs
accordingly she went, and with great labor
dragged up table and climbed on it, and tried
= again but still she could not reach the lamps.
n Down again she went 10 get something more to
: stand on, when her eye fell on her mothers
q large Bible, which she carried up with great
q labor TO the lantern and placed it on the table
d But now perhaps she thought it would be wrong
: TO stand upon the Bible she 50 much rever-
2 enced, and she paused little before she did it.
: and to pray TO God to help her light the lamps
4 Then climbing up she stood tiP-toe on the book
e and to her .loy found that she could just reach
is the lamps. In mihGte all the lamps wert
e lighted. and the lantern blazed out, TO the Joy
+ OF the sailors n the ships, the surprise and glad
: ness of her father, aud the shame and dSap
k pointment of the wicked wreckers on the shore
n Such is my story. il is quite true: and as
n have told you, have been thinking Of Other
o mariners and wreckers team those on the coas
= of Cornwall. have been thinking Of a work.
IS Of people all 10 danger of missing their way
: and being forever ruined by the results Of folly