The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-09

TOO soon, however, Tor Just as they had
finished their work the factory bell
rang out for xix o'clock, and groups of
men, boys and girls were seen hurrying
along the path.
"Come we must be quick or they'll
see u.s." said Tommy, catching hold
of Miles hand and pulling her into
a clump OF bushes near by. "Now
just keep real still and see EN- fall in.
My but won't they be scared /"
No more was said, and two pairs of
bright eyes looked out for the expected
fun. But some way the "falling in I"
did not take place. Whether the fac
tory people saw the trap, or whether
they escaped it accidentally, the chill
dren could not make out but certainly
no one stepped into it.
It's too bad /; they just all missed
it" said Tommy, disappointedly, as the
last one passed by. "But-oh, there
CON some more
Mile looked out to see who thew
were. ooh, dear, it's papa I" she ex-
claimed, excitedly, "he'll just fall and
get hurt!"
1t was indeed Mr.. Jennings, and be-
side him walked Annie Burns, poor,
crippled girl, who supported herself and
an aged mother by working in the fac
tory. All desire for fun had now died
out in the children's heart they only
waited in breathless hope that these
two would escape as the others. But
they did not. Poor Annie placed her
foot on the treacherous leaves, and in
an instant fell to the earth with cry
of pain and terror. At this unfortun-
ate ending of their scheme Mile
sprang out from the bushes, while
Tommy followed more slowly. Their
father saw them approach.
Children, did you have anything to
do with that ?" he demanded, sternly.
Tommy did not answer but Mile
sobbed out the whole story. eve
were just playing, papa" she said in
conclusion eve meant itonly for fun. "
"Only for fun," repeated papa,
gravely. "And my little boy and girl
were willing to have fun even at the
pain of others"
He said no more, but lifting poor
crippled Annie to her feet he assisted her
to her home in the village.
That was q long sad evening the chill
dren passed-awaiting papa's return.
And when he came and told them of the
sprained ankle, the pain and confine-
ment of Annie Burns would have to I'M
dergo, and the expense their fun had
caused, then it was that Tommy took
out little notebook papa had given
him, and wrote the following
GA good rule :-"Ill have no fun
that makes folks sprain their ankles. ,"
And l hope Tommy will keep his re-
solution ; don't you ?-IHe Methodist.
Living I'm n Light-HOuse.
Light. houses are strange and lonely
homes for men to live in. Some of
them are perched out on the ocean, with
the land scarcely in sight, and the rest
less see forever beating and moaning
around them. The keepers of these do
not sea other human faces than their
own in q quarter of a year. Night and
day they are on the watch, gladdened
awhile by sail that appears for lit
tie while and then floats out of sight,
below the horizon. They might be out
of the world. for all they knew of it's
concerns, it's losses and gains, its bat
ties and its victories, the changes that
each day brings forth. There are other
lighthouses situated on the coast, but
so remote that they are never visited
and others that are surrounded by the
civilization of fishing village, and on
summer days are crowded by fashiona-
BILE people from the neighboring water
ing places. But fol-. the most part, ex-
cept in the approaches to fiourishing
ports, they are built out on the farthest
margin of the land, on far-reaching
capes and peninsulas, on iron. bound
headlands, on detached rocks and sandy
shoals. The light-ships are still worse
off, anchored as they are in stormy
waters, and forever rolling, plunging,
leaping in perpetual unrest, clipped of
their wings, while other vessels are
passing and repassing, shortening sail
as they enter port and spreading the
canvas as they start out anew.
The light-ships are manned by men
alone, but in the lighthouses the keep
ers are allowed to have their wives, and
children are born unto them and brought
up with The sea and the sea-birds and
the distant ships for companions. Many
a pretty story or poem has been woven
about children living in this fashion.
They learn the secrets and wonders OF
the sea, and feel glad when it sings
softly on the calm days and sad when
its bosom is ruffled and white in the
storms. Their little heads are full of
strange fancies about nature, and / do
not believe they could understand or
enjoy the life you and L lead ut home.
Somehow L cannot think of them as
real children. They seem more like
water sprites that have their homes in
the blue depths among other delicate
plants that blossom there. But they
have lessons to learn from school books,
and great many things to do in their
fathers household. Their life, with all
its romance, is not one of idleness, you
may be sure. - From " our Light
houses and Light-ships, By w H.
Rideing. 81. Nicholas for october.
COmetic Centers.
There is no doubt that all the fixed