Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-12-16
THE PENITENT'S LIGHTHOUSE.
A Legend from the French.

THE PENITENTS LIGHTHOUSE.
LEGEND from the French.
Before they had built the two light
houses on the coast of France, which
shine at night like two stars between
Oleron and Re, you might have seen, on
the top of the Roche du Bouc, post
strengthened with iron clamps, and sur
mounted by an enormous lantern.
Every evening the coastguard lighted it,
and the boats that came up to the rock
turned away when they perceived the
light. Worthy Rebard, whose age no
one knows, has often told me about the
coastguard Herman, who spent the
greater part of his life contemplating
the lantern, and people said he was in
love with it. The lantern, at all events,
was always bright and in good condition.
In stormy weather, when the sky was black
and thundery, when the broken shingles
rolled like thunder, it was visible at the
end of the post; and the sailors. who
thanked Heaven when they had escaped
the reefs, blessed Herman little in their
hearts. ae was the only one who loved
and protected the lantern, for it had
many enemies. All the wreckers on the
coast hated it. Formerly, storm was q
good thing for them, and after q night OF
misery to those at sea, they snatched up
all the riches that were thrown upon the
coast. It was a devilish trade but
amidst the waits there were often rich
finds, and the lantern had ruined them.
They had attempted to break the lantern,
and to throw down the post ; but Ker-
nan declared he would shoot any one he
found attempting such a thing again:
Amongst those the lantern had beggared
was an old woman called La Mouette
(the seaguIl), but nevertheless, she ought
to have had pity upon others, for her
son, o brave sailor, was at sea. He was
twenty years old, and called Jack, whom
every one in Lalen loved, because OF his
good heart.
The season had been fine that year,
and number of the wreckers had gone
inland to seek work. La Mouette bias
phemed from morning till light, and one
day, threatening the lantern, she said
"infernal lantern, they have placed you
there to ruin people but that must be
put an end TO-" >,
"You are very wicked, La Mouette, ="
Herman answered, "and God will punish
YOU"
It was at the time of the equinoctial
gales. The sea found its bed too mar
row. One night the waves, like giants
escaped from prison, rose up towards
the sky; the wind howled like guilty
spirit; and signals of distress were heard
at sea. Herman filled his lantern with
the best oil he had, he put in fresh
wick, and when he saw the benehcent
light shedding its rays around the rock,
he went to bed, praying God tor those
who were in danger.
La Mouette had watched his pro.
ceedings, and when he was gone. she
climbed the rock in her turn. BY dint
of throwing stones, she had succeeded
in breaking one of the sides OF the Ian
torn, 80 that the wind and rain rushed
in and put out the light. At sea the
signals of distress were redoubled, but
at daybreak, Herman, to his dlsmay,
found his lantern broken.
La Mouette on her side ran to the
shore. It was covered with fragments
Of all kinds; but there were also some
dead bodies. She ran from one to the
other, pulling off the rings, turning out
the pockets. But suddenly she grew
pale ;she stumbled, and then fell on her
knees on the white stones. Her eyes
were bloodshot; she turned one body
over and over; she put her hand to the
heart; she kissed it, crying Like mad
woman, for she had recognized her son
her son Jack! She carried the body
away, and brought it to her hut. There
she wrapped it in warm linen, and called
her boy by name, imploring him to an
swer her. After that day she never left
her cottage. She remained Like q
statue of grief, seated night and day on
q stone. 6aS
Some kind neighbors gave her Some
food. The cure of Lalen came to see
her; and she prayed and cried so much,
that people came from miles around to
see her. One morning-so they say
she was found dead on her stone. They
wished to carry her away, but nobody
could succeed. The water that dropped
from the rock had petri6ed the old
woman. She was there, sad and pale,
like statue of grief. And as people
had often bestowed money on her, the
cure of Lalen, according to La Mouette's
wish, had another beacon put instead OF
Kernan's lantern. It is to this day call
ed "The Penitent's Lighthouse"