The Red Cloud chief., 1876-01-06
WILD ROSE or CAPE COD.

WILD kOSE Of CAPE COD.
Nearly all the roses in Massachusetts,
are born in June, but Wild, the little
laughter of John Rose, was born in
December, and on Cape Cod, too.
Well on Cape Cod. as l said, Wild
Rose was born; but that was twelve
years ago, so this last December, was
celebrated her twelfth birthday. 1t
wasn't much of a celebration, to be
sure, for there weren't many persons to
celebrate it-only Mrs. rose and Johnny,
and Wild herself, for Captain Rose was
gone on a fishing trip.
At tea that night there was upon the
table a big loaf of ginger cake frosted,
toO-and around about it-not on it.
mind yo~u-twelve small tallow candles.
Twelve dips" said Johnny, "that made
as much light as the Highland itself.
And Johnny ought to know, for the
keeper of Cape Cod light is a great
friend Of Johnnv's and often in summer
lets the lad 60 up with him to see him
slight up"
This Highland light stands out from
the bleak cape, and is oftentimes the
first light that greets the Gamer when
approaching the coast of New England
from over the Atlantic Ocean.
Even in summer the wind blows so
hard at the Highland that it blows the
wings Of young turkeys over their heads,
and in winter it blows nobody knows
how hard.
I am quite certain you never saw a
home like Wild Roses home. 1t is
hidden away in the very bottom OF a big
hollow in the lands and is protected on
all sides by a high fence to keep the
ind from covering it up. In the first
place the house had been built upon
spiles driven into the sand, but the fence
vas afterwards added, and outside of
the fence was Il barricadc of seaweed.
Over the stills, fence, seaweed and all
was the hsherman's cabin, as mug and
as warm and comfortable as anywhere
on Cape Cod could be. Not far away
on the Atlantic coast was a charity
house, not a poor house where poor
folks could go and live when they hadn't
any place else to live but a rude room,
iaciosed by a rude outside. into which
a poor shipwrecked mariner might
crawl and possibly keep himself from
freezing to death until help should
arrive. Wood and matches and straw
are supposed to be Kept in every charity
house along tie coast.
Johnny Rose was two years younger
than his only sister Wild, but a ten year
old lad on Cape Cod knows more about
the sea and ships and fishing than the
wisest grown up man in the world who
lives inland.
The little Katie was Captain Roses fish
ing schooner, and the Little Katie Was
frozen fast in the ice right in sight from
the land up the bank above the CABIN.
Two weeks passed by and still the ice
held the fishing boats and would not let
them go. Stout little steam tugs went
rssping away with firm bows and good IT,
tent at the ice day after day in order to
break it up and tow the boats out of dan
ger, but the cold came down stronger than
ever and knit the ice cakes firmer and fir.
mer. Every day Johnny bundled up,
until he looked like I don't know what,
made the toilsome journey over to the
Highland to look through the 'glass" at
bis fathers schooner, and, every night
FOR two weeks, with a face on fire from
she friction of the wind, he would come
back with the good news, mo signal mp
yet"
"No signal up yet" meant that there
was still something left to cat and wood
to burn OH the Little Katie, and hopes of
getting free of the ice without sinking.
Now and then a reighbor came down
into the hollow and walked in without
knocking at the cabin door, TO inquire
how Mrs. Rose was getting on, and to cay
yet again: "Capc Cod has seen harder
times than this, Mrs. Rose. Keep up a
stout heart, and we'll have the fleet safe
in Providence harbor before many DAYS"
And then Mrs. Rose would put on q
bright look and say, in a cheery voice,
"Oh, I hope So" but in her heart she
feared all things, for did she not know