The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-21


but as soon as the revolving light began
to turn he would give loud, delighted
bark, walk around the lighthouse once
or twice, Us If 10 get II view from al
points, and then settle down for tn,
night. Mr.. Brown, the keeper, saio
that when storms came he stationed him
self on rock ut the very end OF the
point and howled all night, az if to warn
everybody away. can certify that he
howled, but am not sure rs to why.
Zone day, very near the end of my
stay, the light-keeper was going up to
town in his boat, and arranged cushions
and shawls so attractively L could not
say no when he asked me to go.
:" His little girl had acted rs Fred's
nurse ell summer, and so had no fear
in leaving him with her for few hours.
charged her not TO let him go down to
the water alone, but to play close to the
house and she promised to do so. AS
we sailed away, Fred ran down the little
walk, calling: Bring me cart, NAM
ma Bring me cart J
"Old Ponto, who was lying Mt my
feet, sprang up, stood as if thinking for
n moment, then jumped overheard and
swan to shore. Little Fred shouted
with delight as the great shaggy fellow
shook off the water, and then licked
Fred's bands as he stood by him watch
ing us off.
"Pd trust that boy with that dog
sooner than with all the children i'll the
town. said Mr.. Brown, rs he saw the
two walk to the house together. He's
got more head-piece than half the folks.
Now you know that time l was of lift
ing the lobster pots, the way he pinned
that fellow that came sneaking round to
steal, if he could. Not much to steal !;
ut he'd a-had what there was, for Mrs.
Brown, she was mp to Deacon Coles.
But Just rs he laid his hand on the bu-
reau Ponto riz up and showed his teeth.
Didn't bark nor spring, only looked and
showed his teeth an every time that
fellow moved Ponto just moved, too, q
leetle nearer, and leetle nearer, an
there they both stood when l came
back
$50 Mr.. Brown rambled on, and /,
feeling perfectly safe and at ease about
Fred, enjoyed the sunshine and the
changing view, and could hardly believe
it was sunset time when we returned.
1t was almost high tide. Less than an
hour would have covered the bar and
let us slide up within few feet of the
back door. AS we drew nearer, long,
melancholy howl came to US, and Mr..
Brown started.
"' / heard that before, he said, 'and
thought it was loon. It's Ponto. There
must be something wrong. Listen'
"Again the howl came aud Mr..
Brown gave long, shril whistle. At
once quick, sharp barks took the place
of the forlorn cry, and Mr.. Brown pulled
with all his might up past the landing
sound seemed to come. There, on the
top of rock, just barely out of the wa-
ter, stood your baby brother, his arms
about old Ponto's neck. His pretty
eyes were swollen with crying, but he
bravely stopped on seeing us coming,
and as Mr.. Brown lifted him from the
rock into my arms he only said Ponto
and / thought you'd come, mamma.
cat this moment Mrs. Brown, with
their nearest neighbor, came hurrying
down, leading Mary, who WAS crying as
if her heart would break. When the
wet, cold baby had been warmed and
comforted and put to bed she told us
how it happened. Her mother had gone
across the bar to a neighbours mile
away, leaving Mary with Fred. She, i'll
turn, went up the brook, telling Fred not
to go from the house, for she should be
back in minute. She staid longer than she
thought, getting white pebbles to put
around her fower-bed, and could find no
Fred when she came back. She sat down,
crying, thinking he must have been
drowned but, remembering suddenly
how much he had wanted to get shells oil
the cove rock that day, ran there, to find
him on it and surrounded by water.
Even then she could have waded out ;
but was afraid to, knowing the current
was strong, and, telling Ponto to take
care of him, she ran for help TO the next
house, q mile away. Ponto saw at once
what to 60, swan to the rock, and took
his place there and Fred held tight to
him as 81 wave now and then broke over
them. They were strong enough some-
times to have swept him away but
Ponto stood firm, knowing he was too
old and feeble to carry the child to shore
and must wait for help.
"Do you wonder l love Ponto, or that
| begged till Mr.. Brown consented to let
me have him. Papa bought the finest
Newfoundland he coulI find in Port
land and sent there to take Ponto's
place but Mr.. Brown even now snys
he's not sure he can hold to his bargain,
but thinks the old dog is worth two of
the new. So do l. ;"
Willie was silent but, as he laid his
head on Ponto's shaggy side, made a
private VOW meyer again to hurt the old
fellow, and, as Ponto came TO meet me
this summer, looking quite as young
and well as the year before, l think he
has kept it well.-Indepndent.
~. Nh A pa. NJ u.,