Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-01-23

The wind blew a perfect hurricane and
the rain came down in torrents. Tim, as
he sat before the stove toasting his feet pre-
paratory to going to bed, shivered TO hear
the great waves dash upon the rocks, fall
ing back with a sullen roar, only TO make
fresh onset to listen to the sough of the
wind around the cottage.
Boom-boom-boom -
Tim sprang 10 his feet, Mr.. Weller laid
his black clay pipe on the mantel-shelf, and
walked TO the window.
''Some ship, 1 s'pose, has lost her reck-
onin', >" besaid. adding com placently, "How
they could do that with such light as ourn,
is NOR n can TELL"
The Gulrs Head light house was source
of pride to every fisherman on the coast.
Boom-boom-boOmi" !"
Tim tugged AT his old boots, still soaked
and shrunken with sea-water.
Boom-boom-boom," sounded the sig
nal or distress, and to Tins excited fancy
the hoarse-voiced breakers seemed TO an
swer, Doomed d-doomed-doomed -
"Runnin' onto the rocks, it's likely"
muttered Mr.. Weller, taking down his hat.
THE fools must be blind as bats that they
can't see the light"
Father, mayn't go7"
mo, Tim, you're best off where you are"
and Mr.. Weller slouched his hat over his
eyes-buttoned his smook tighter and went
out.
Boom-boom-boom -
Tim couldn't stand that. He tore his
cap from its nail and rushed out into the
binding rain, followed by his mothers
warning voice:
Tim, do ye mind what yer father tole
We ?"
Outside the gate he stopped a moment.
Men were hurrying toward the beach.
He glanced in the direction of the Head.
The mass of rock was dimly outlined
against the pall-like blackness of the sky.
Not glimmer of light came from its crest.
The white capped waves were running
mountain high-lashing themselves into
forming rage against the rocky wall.
Godfrey - he calculated. 81 don't see
what Bill Thurlow can be thinking of, not
TO light hetower such night as this. Some
body III have to 90 out"
On the beach men were running back and
forth staring into each others faces in wild
amazement. Some one had launched a
small boat and Greggett was saying,
"Can't be done. No boat could live in
such sea. Jake Thompson is the lightest
man among us an he couldn't get boat
across them rocks to the tower sech a night
as tkis."
"Wheres tue life boat ?"
"Stove up when we took of the crew of
the Polly Burnsr"
Tim heard it all.
"Father, father, let me go. I'm little and
| light and strong. l know all about the
lights for have been there many a timo
with Bill, Please, fatherW
Atshat instant came the boom OF cannon
from the distressed ship, and Tim, mad
with excitement, rushed through the crowd
to the waters edge and sprang into the
boat. A great wave lifted it and sent it far
out into the sea.
No one spoke word. The reckless dar-
ing of the boy awed them. Only a MUIR
mur, loud because SO common, broke from
the group upon the beach.
Once they saw him-using his oars brave
ly. The boat poised on the crest OF a huge
wave moment. and then plunged into the
trough of the sea.
"Boom-boom- boom p The ship was
driving nearer, when suddenly, through
the binding spray a CLEAN, like a star OF
hope, shot from the tower and in an instant
Gull's Head was all ablaze with lightl
Shout aner shout-cheer after cheer
mingling with the rushing storm, went up
from the beach. Salute after salute-noi
distress signals now--the ships guns belch-
ed forth in answer to the hurrahs on shore.
hardly think it was second even to the
great Anvil Chorus-and all this jubilee in
Tins honor. In the morning the sea was
calm as II never a thought Of tempest had
ruffled its bosom, and when Tim came on
shore and found himself so llonized and
! and praised and petted-even by his step