The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-12-30
TIE PENITENT'S LIGHTHOUSE.


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At about three miles and Il half to the
west of Rochelle is situated Il dirty and
miserable village called Laden. There
are only Il few fishermen there. The
coasl is barren and infospitablc. The
sen shuts in its white belt Of shingles,
divided from place to place by immense
rocks; and when it is stormy, you can
hear the distant rumbling Of the CHOU
dc M~onmusson,' an immense funnel,
which sucks up the Gshing-boats that APP
proach too ncar to il. At Iow-tide the
women 90 and pick up shells among the
sca-wrack, whilst the men are busy in the
fields. The fishermen are, some Of them,
stationed at st. Martin de Re; Others at
la Rochelle, that Old lIugucnOJ port,
fortified by towers and ramparts. Along
the coast are vast marshes, Oycrgrown
with mushrooms, and bordcrcd by thyme.
| started II morning in the month OF
September, before sunrise, with Captain
Tailhadcs. We had spent the night ut
Portncui, where ltcaradmiral BOurdc
had entertained Us, and'at dawn we had
left his hospitablc house, with our guns
VIZ bNl 10 'dl EiIII' biEN anu 'NI
pipes. The first rays Of the sun dissi-
patcd the fog, and we saw the sparkling
ocean. The islands Of Re and OIero4
were visible on the horizon like two
black spots, and some slOOps were lacking
about, their sails spread to enter La Ro-
chcIlc. After five hours Of IL painful
march, we found ourselves ON the coast
Of La Rcpcntic, which is the most bar
rem part Of that arid shore.
"Now," said Tailhadcs, "lct lis try to
find out where we are. Here is the Saut
du Huuc; the coast guard shut ought to
be over there; and since we are the
strongest, we will make II raid on that
solitary officials breakfast. Did ! not
say 50? DO you not see the curling
smoke? Let us bear to the right; we
shall get Il breakfast in that direction"
The co~ast-guard received US with open
arms, and having given our dogs an i'm
mcnsc basin Of soup, we did honor to the
promiscuous breakfast. If | spend 80
much time in bringing before my readers
the legend Of the "Rcpcntic," it is that
| thought it indispensable to transport
them to the place where it was related
to me; 80 that they may forgive its sim.
plicity ON account of its truth, for | did
not invent it.
will now let the coast-gunrd speak.
"Brforc thew had built the two fight
houscs which shine ot NIGHT like two stars
between Olcron and Re, you might have
seen ON ibc tom Of the Roche din Bone, n
most strengthened with iron CLAIMS, and
s]urmonntcd by an enormous lantern.
Every evening the coast-puard lighted it,,
and the boats that came nm To the rock
turned AWAY when thew perceiyed the
lipht. Worthy Rebord. whose AGE no
one knows has often told me about the
consi Guard Kcrnnn. whospent the greater
mart If his life conicmnInt;np the lantern.
md nonulc s,id he wns in love with il,
Tho iontcrn ot all events. was ALWAYS
Lr;.bt and in GOOD condition. I'm stormy
,aa,hns whon Ma stv ,yos black and
,IasJ, ,"t", ,ho Lrnton shinolca rolled
III Wv, !, mos ,;sihIo at ihc end nj
Inv ."" ,I'a ill., Who thanked
Wv pon'n ,h"w haJ osconeJ tho rcee.
tio'nod 49, ii,tic in Their hearts
Wo wos tho onIv one who loved and pro.
tao,oJ ,ho Ianicrn far il had many on.
u,o5" All ,ho wroctor nn ,ho coas,
Ln,od :, FormcrIv a storm was a Good
lin" G,r ,hom and after a nicbi of mis-.
70 tbosc nt sc, thew snoiched nm ali
,h1o r;cLns that were thrown nm ON tbe
cnost II was n deyilish trade: but amidst