The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-05-24
The Eaushtsrs Of shs Lighthouse Keeper.
BY vlRelNlA T. rowNsEND.

lie daughters of the light house keeper
stood Of the window of the small sitting
room in the low house which was the only
one on lhe little isIand-!he island that was
but hail mile from end 10 end, and thai
stood alone and desolaie oui in the sea,
miles away from the mainland, bearing up
the great dark tower, with its blazing crown
Of light. which flashed through the black
Gess brighter than any crown OF king or
emperor, like diadem Of throbbiDg gems
hung away up in the air; guiding the
sailor over the black rocks. of the waters
I straight and safe TO his barboT The litle
daughters Of the lighthouse keeper stood
| by the window and strained their eyes out
into the sro~ing day. They had dressed
| in haste, and not even com5ed their heads
si:er their nights sleep, aud their hair tan
gled about their faces. Il was late in Sep
1 mber, and The first greai rain and gale OF
7 the season had Sc, in the day before and
all through the night while the little girls
were smiling softly amid their dreams the
sorm ha'i grown in fiefceaess and strength !;
the wind had ragged and raved and tore up
in their fierce wrath he face of the sea, and
| hurled the great black pillows against the
island, whose timbers W eye laid so deep and
-s.rong in the sea that no storm nor wind
could prevail against ii.
The binding rain, too, was dashiug about
by the furious wind; torn here, and hurled
there, and the sea seemed Suddenly filed
with an awfsl l.fe-heayine roaring, bat
ding in pain, rage and terror. The li,tle
daughters of the lighthouse keeper were
used 10 the iearioI storms in thsir isIaud
home bat ,hey had never witnessed any
;hing like This one, which had awakened
thsm q, break Of day.
Bot the Storm of wind and sea vss not
he sound which bad drawn them from their
beds and sent them half dressed, 10 strain
their eyes. oui into the binding rain. for
another sound had arisen above all others,
and filed Their hearts with dread and pity
ii, was the boom Of a.igun through the
Storm, and then they knew there was some
vessel ih distress on ,hsl wild sea, and that
from the sound OF the guns, she could not
be far off.
As the light grew the little children saw
tho mssis looming up, spectral, through The
rain, and tie schooner lay still little on
the side 10 the water great waves breaking
over her, while she was slowly settling
down, and they knew then that she had
spfung hsak, and in few hours the waves
would roll over he tail mss,s, the mad aud
hungry waves that wsie licking The sidss Of
the vessel in fierce EMULATION at the in-
umph that awaited them.
They were happy chiidren--ihose two on
the island where tie lighthouse stood No
thought OF Loneliness dropped through the
gIadne-s of their lives. In the long pleas
ant summer days, when the soft wicds rip.
pied The white waves uniil they looked ia
the distance like great shoals of lilies, yes
sels came over every day bringing small
parties from the shore and The little island
would be full of merry laughter, and hum
ming voices, aud faces fitting 10 and fro !;
and in the xinter they read their books and
made their Groics, and Iistoned 10 their
fathers stories, or ,ha; of some weather
beaten sailor no had been all over The
world and could tell such marvellous tales
by sea or land-oh, there was never day
of summer or winter that was long and
heavy en- The hearts Of these little children
OF the lighthouse Keeper.
Bot at the time OF which tel yon there
was no one on the island except their father
and an aunt Of his, and an old woman " ho
always lived with them, aud who now bad
charge of The family because the children's 3
mother had gone on shore in The beautiful
autumn days which had preceded This ter
rible Storm.
And as The day grew, and The little chill
drsn watched, and the voice of the gun
! came over the waters, their iaiker suddenly
entered the room. He was tall muscular,
broad-chested man, with broad, honest
forehead. and kindly face, in which was
now an unusual expression of seriousness
even anxieiy. The children ran eagerly
towards him, and be took .he youngest in
his arms-she Was a little thing Just out
side OF her fifth year.
'0h, fatherl J" they cried simultaneously,
"caD you make out who there IS on board q
"Yes,n saidths lighthouse keeper grave-
", '.Pve been out with my glass and there's
the captain and two or three hands, and "a
man and woman seem TO be passengers,
and the woman has something on her lap
csn'i see what it is bot to all appear
ance, Pm pretty sure it's baby ~
'sOh, father p cried The children at once.
'sYes: IT'S hard tbey've got on the high
es, part of the vessel, but every wave gses
over Them. She WON'T hold out much lon :
ger, said the man softly and sadly.
sob, iaiher.s will they all have to
drownp asked the elder with tears on her