The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-09-13

haios. Inc Keepers would never allow her
to set up at night, although she had often
begged them to let her take her turn for an
hour at least bat it SO happened that, contra
ry to all her expectations, the whole respon-
sblIlty Of guarding the light once fell upon
herself.
The light-keeper and his wife were one
day obliged, Unexpectedly, to 20 to a neigh
boring town; and fearing lest storm, which
seemed to be gathering, should detain them
Til the next day, the cid man sent for his
brother to come and take his place. The
brother sent back word that he would be at
lhe Neck by five o'clock, and as he had new
er failed IN keeping these appointments, the
people went away from the cottage earIy,wit
no miSslvlnSS on their minds leaving Waif
III company with TWO tshermens wives AS
the hour OF five approached, strong gusts of
WIND and rain began to beat against the
house; and the child, seene that her COM
panlons were uneasy about their husbands,
who we're still out in thor boats, bade them
go TO their homes, saying that in Il quarter Of
al ncle kollin would surely be with her.
She spread the table, pat fresh wood on the
lire, and every Minute or two looked At the
old tlme-piece, to see how the hands moved
on; but five and SIX o'clock came, without
ncle ko.lin. When the hour hand at last
pointed to seven, Waits heart more than
trembled with anxiety lest he should disap-
point her. She had lighted the lamp, but E.
very moment the storm was growing iiercer,
and she opened the door and tried TO make
her voice reach one of the hut>, bat the strong
wind sent her back again; and after waiting
another hour, she barred the doors and went
up INTO the lionel ly lighthouse. to watch The,
lamp, II Necessary, until the morning dawn
Cd.
She was naturally courageous, bat when
she found herself alone IN that solitary place,
/ with the wind whistIing around her and the
waters sursns madly below her, the terrible
responsibility that rested upon her almost O.
vercame her. The lighthouse seeln,,. to he
Swayins to and fro, and the child could not
nelp thinking Of the wild stories that the fish
ermens wives had tod hel, and of one in
particular, where a lighthouse had been taken
from It's foundation and carried Uui to SEA-
o, it Was drealtul. and the little hands shook
as they poured fresh oil in the lamps and
wiped the moisture from the glass, lest such d
fate might be hers. She looked out from the
window, but the sigh, appalled, her. the
bright light threw a broad glare Oh the wa
ter, but she could only see the white foam
caps leaping up below her, and hear the sea
dashng against the stone walls OF the tower ;
bat as She stood upon the platform beside
the great & la IS lens, fearing and trembling
lest every moment the floods should carry
her away, there came, as It We're, a sweet voice
in her ear, srylng-
In thy need call to the LORD.
Pray 70 him III faith and trust
And gracious aid he will afford
The words seemed strangely familiar
though she could not tell where she had
heard them, and yielding 20 the impulse she
obeyed the voice, and asked God not to for
sake her. All OF sudden there came ire
mendous sea. which swept completely y over
the lighthouse. and poured in stream of
water at her feet She quailed and trembled,
but only for moment; for she felt that now
or never she must be faithful to her lamp
What if the glass around that should be
crushed also? And now the rain and spray
came rushing in, but this time another sound
came into her ears, and she trembed anew
as she heard the boom of gun, and knew it
was signal from some vessel in distress--
She peered through the window, but could
see nothing but the black night and the dash
in- foam sent her back again. For weary
: hours she watched the lamp, never suffering
: the cold, and her garments were drenched
witt. spray that still poured in.
} At length (and 0. how long the night had
l., seemed,) the gray morning dawned. The
2 wind had subsidized, aud the rain came down
; more gently, when, lifting up her tired head
; from the bench on which it had fallen, she
y caught glimpse Of large ship riding at an
!, Choir not far from the shore, and with one
e grateful cry for sight that rewarded her for
:, that long night of watching, she sank ex
t hausted on the floor.
: \ little later and boat was cutting through
h the waves. The captain of the ship deter
mined to go ashore and tell the people in the
i lighthouse that his passengers were indebted
: to their faithful care of the light for their de-
e lverance from silipwreck. At first he could
:, gain no admission, for the door was barred
2 but the captain effected: an entrance through
5, the window, and still seeing TO one, he crep
+ up into the tower, where he found the LITTLE
d girl lying on the wet floor among the broker
5 glass. She was fast asleep but he lifted he
s up tenderly. and carrying her down stairs tt
l. her little bed, he called to his companions tt
d look at their preserver. Every heart wa
h touched, and strange anG sudden yearnins
took possession of one of their number, whel
& he saw the fair-haired child, but when in he
to sleep she murmured the first line Of the littl