Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-06-28


that with all her decision she gave up
too much to her brother, and helped
to make him selfish. For instance !:
if they were sent to Jem Longs for
fish, generally it was Nelly who car
ried the basket, while Jack amused
himself by playing by the way; or, if
Sylvie made ginger-cakes or "putfs, !"
and gave the first two baked to the
children, it was Jack who claimed the
biggest or the nicest.looking, and not
unfrequently got taste of Nelly's al.
so.
The children played all this morn
ing very happily together, building a
fort OF loose rocks, like the great stone
fort which they could see in the dis
lance many miles away. In the after
noon they went indoors, where they
found Brister, standing at one of the
windows, shading his eyes with his
hand and looking anxiously towards
the west.
"Do you see the boat, Uncle Bris-
ter?" inquired Jack, standing on tip
toe to look out.
"Please de Lord, I wish could
dat, answered the old man, more as
if speaking to himself than to them.
81 don't like de looks % dat ERE
sky, and dere amt never no good in
dem switchy mares tails, pointing to
some long scattered clouds which
were moving rapidly up from the
west. "Ef / knows anything t all, l
knows we'se gwine to have sqneal-
in, squalin' storm. Please de Lord
Massa and Sylvie was safe home"
The old mans prediction was cor
rect In less than an hour the wind
burst upon them, the waves were
dashed into foam, and the storm roared
around the lighthouse in all it's fury.
The children, sitting by the fire, lis
ened to the roaring OF the wind and
the waves without, and felt the walls
tremble with the force of the tempest.
Old Brister had gone about and made
all secure; and now, as it began to
grow dusk, he started up the winding
staircase that led to the top of the
tower, in order to light the lamp. As
be crossed the room the children no.
ticed that he staggered little, and
caught hold of the door.post to steady
himself. Then he put his hand to his
forehead, and so stood still moment;
then began feebly to ascend the stairs.
An instant after there was heavy
fall. and to their horror the children
saw the old man lying at the foot OF
the stairs motionless and apparently
dead.
They started up with loud cry
and rushed toward him. lie was not
bleeding anywhere, but his breathing
was thick and heavy, and though his
ewes were open he did not appear to
see them, or to know anything. The
truth was, the old man had had a
stroke of apoplexy. :,
"What shall we do +? oh, what Sha"
we do ?" cried Nelly, bursting into
an agony of tears. :,
aye can't do anything" sobbed
Jack, hopelessly. | wish, oh | WISH
father and Nanny Sylvie were here. !"
Nelly, kneeling by the side of Bris-
ter. seemed to make an effort at COM
posture.
"Jack," she said more calmly, don't
Won think we might warm him, and
rub him, and give him little hot
brandy to drink p? That is the way
they brought the drowned men to HE
again"
.He Amt drowned" answered Jack,
with a little expression OF contempt
for his sisters suggestion.
Eyes; but it might do hum good.
Oh. Jack, let us try to pull him to
the fire -
With great difficulty they succeed
in drawing the Old man in front OF the
GREAT hearth, where Nelly placed pill
lows under his head, and covered him
with a blanket. Then she heated "a
little brandy, and put a spoonful be-
tween Brister's lips, and the two chill
dren then commenced rubbing him
with all their little strength, though
Nelly trembled and the tears rolled
down Jacks face. But, in truth, 1T
was a trying situation for them, alone
and helpless as they were.
Suddenly Nelly started up with a
cry: -, oh 1ooL tho
lamp isn't lighted"
It was dark now, and the storm,
though subsiding, still ragged. How
many fishing-vessels out at sea, and
cancht in that sudden storm, were
now vainly looking out for the warn
ING beacon that was to save them
from danger and guide them into SAFE
ty: and her father :! did she not re-
member his parting words to Brister
"Be sure and light the lamp in good
time. 1t is as necessary to me as to
them"
And the lamp was not lighted +! In
storm and darkness her father might
be even now struggling amid those
foaming waves and treacherous rocks;
for the child felt instinctively that no
danger could keep him back from the
post of his duty and the loved ones
dependent upon him. Eagerly, trem-
blingly, Nelly arose to her feet.
"Oh, Jack, father! We must light
the lamp"
ave can't" answered poor, fright
ened Jack, helplessly. eve don't
know how"
She felt that it would be of no use
to appeal farther to him,-not that
Jack was heartless, but irresolute and
vascillating when thrown upon his
own resources. So Nelly-brave lit
tie heart-resolyed to do the best she
could.
"You can stay and take care Of
Uncle Brister, jack" she said "and
rub him all you can. will try to
light the lamp"
I'd. ~ou DON'T tunw anythino