Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-02-14
THE LIT TIE WAIF.

| "OfS "dsucu ny Tue waves OF the Atlantic,
stretched for some distance out into the sea-
For miles on either side, the beach was
smooth and sandy, with scarcely a curve or
an angle to break the straight line which di
vided the land from the water; and had il
not been for the light which burned so bright
| ly and faithfully from out the lighthouse ON
| the point, many a noble vessel would have
gone TO pieces on its treacherous shoals. Tins
little strip OF land had always been called
Inc Neck, and except the tall lighthouse,
painted In the strongest white and black,
Win the unY, stone cottage attached, and
| TWO or three fshermen's huts, there was no
haoltaton for many miles around.
Two old people-a white-haired man and
his wlfe-had for years been the tenants OF
the little cottage; and every night as their
faithful repeater rung out the hours, they
each TOOK their turn IN mounting the stone |
/ steps and the steep iron ladder Of the tower |
to tim the lamp, and keep its light from GO |
ing out. Besides this old couple, there dwelt |
IN the cottage child OF some eight or nine |
years-too young to be daughter of the |
Piled. 1t was gensrauy 6uV"ulI s'~~~~~-rA--, |
that SIX years before, ship had gone 10
pieces on the coast, and Of all those who float |
ed ashore, only this child was living she was
clasped in the arms of dead woman, whom
| the Iight-keeper buried beneath clumP OF
| water willows, and only lock OF her long,
fair hair was preserved, in case she should
ever be inquired for. Indeed, there was
| nothing else to save, tor there was no marx
| on her garments, though on the chlld "hiie
| dress a delicate vine was woven INTO the
shape of the letter w. She was taken to
the light house, and because the inmates had
no children OF their own, and because she
looked so bright and beautiful IN their home
| ly rooms, they adopted her as their own or
| a long time they puzzled themselves ABOUT
her name the child could not tell 1t herself
and finally, the old man said she should DC
called "Waf," because she had come INTO
| their possession, and there was no one 10
claim Ter. So the child was growing up IN
that lonely place, bringing sunshine INTO the
aged hearts, that someho" hghtened anu
grew fresher for having young thing IKE
her to cheer them with her glad laughter:
There were many ways in which little
Haif assisted the old people with her hight
and busy fingers; but after her tasks were
over, she loved best to wander along the sea
shore, where she would rove for hours, gain
ering bright pebbles and beautiful shells, IN
| ii! her apron would overflow with her treas
ures. Then, in the afternoon, she wodld SIT
out in the sunshine, with the fishermen
wives. helping them mend their husband
nets, disentangling their fishing lines, listen
ing to their wild stories OF shIpwrecks, ana
drinking IN their 'Superstltlous hcuons Win
attentive ears.
The light that shone out every evening
P from the tall tower, was a wonderful thlh2
to her, and ever after she came TO under
stand the danger it warded OF, she looked
at its warning rays with the greatest awe: 1t
, was A sacred trust 10 her, when she was hrsi
! | permitted TO clean and trim the lamp; ana
o although the night that followed was orl9u'
4 and cloudless, she lay awake until morning
n fearing lest she had not attended to II pro-
/ perry, and that shipwrecks might ensue
:, But after while she conquered this feeling
:. | when she found that she was even more care
a | ful than the Old people, and It was with
= and with glad heart that she saw she coulC
> DO everything with her own small hands
n The keepers would never allow her to SIT uI
;. at night, although she mad ofren begged then
, 10 LET her take her turn tor an hour al least
, but it so happened that, contrary TO all he
4 expectations the whole responsibility o
n guarding the light once fell upon herself
= The lght-keeper and his wife were on
/ day obliged, Unexpectedly, TO 20 TO neigh
d boring town and fearing lest storm, tha
- seemed to be gathering, should detain then
/, till next day, the old man sent for his brothe
= to come and take his place. The brothe
~ sent back word that he would be at "Ih
y Neck" bv FIVE o'clock, and as he had neye
d failed in keeping these appolnt9ents' the oil
people went away from the cottage early
of with no misgvngs on their minds, leayIn
A. Waif N company with two tishermens wIye
,e As the hour Of five approached gusts oi win
NJ and rain began to beat against the hoase
n and the child. SEEING that her companion
Il. Irt-h hapH- ~ Nt.F
m still out IN their boats, bade them 20 10 thei
- homes. sayin. that in quarter OF an hot
= Uncle Rollin would surely be with her.
n. She spread the table, put fresh wood q
n the fire. and every minute or two looked
r. the old time piece, to see how the hands mo
IA ed on. but five and six o'clock came, wItho
"a ary Uncle Rollin At last the hour-har
n pointed at seven. and Wait's heart more th'
"a trenbled with anxiety lest he should dlsa
an point her She had lighted the lamp, b
W. every moment the storm was gro" Ing nero,
he and she opened the door and tried TO ma
IN her voice reach one OF the huts. but
he strong wind sent her back again, and atI
ns waiting another hour, she barred the doc
If and went up into the lonely hght-house
ms watch the lamp, If need be, until norm
be dawned.
Us She vas naturally courageous. but "h
lly she found herself alone in that solitary pia
with the wind whistling around her. anu
waters surging madly below, the terrible
sponsibiity that resteh upon her almost oN
of came her The lighthouse seemed 10
- swavinu 10 and fro, and the child could I
o,. avoid thinking of the wild stories that
fsbermen's wives had told her, AMI OF one
rart;cular. where lighthouse had been L
a. an from its foundation ami carried out TO 5
,,to q. il was dreadful and the little hands sh'
~ as thev poured fresh oil in the lamps,
wined the moisture from the glass, lest 81
fate mioht be hers. She looked out IT
= the window, but the sight appalled, her
b;s BRIGHT light threw a broad glare on the
ter. but she could only see the white 10
tho caps leaping up below, and hear the
dasbinq against the stone walls of the to'
o,, As she stood on the little platform beside
vas great glass lens, fearing and trembling
.asI- every moment the floods should carry
,;on away. there came, as 1t were, sweet ''
m. in her ear, saying
leg "Iu thy need call to the Lord,
ern- Pray TO Him in faith and trust,
the And gracious aid He will afford"
ouo The words seemed strangely familiar,
sbe could not tell where she had heard tn
ring and yielding to the impulse, she ooeyea
voice. and asked God not to iorsake her'
d in of sudden, there came tremendous
$50 which swept completely over the llght-ho'
shattering the thick Panes of glass, and Pc
the ing in a stream of water at her feet.
. auailed and trembled, but only for NONE
,out for she felt that now or never she must
life faithful to her lamp. What IT the q
for around that should be crushed also
nth now the rain and the leapIng spray ca
rushing in, but this time another sound ca
to her ears, and she trembled anew as
cost Eedru 'tie Ooon VI " s.ai IN d;s,ress
heir sighai iroin Sonhe 5o1v Int cold
this nothing but the black night, and the dash
yery foam sent her back again. For weary no
ays - -uotched the Iamn. never suffering