Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-29
" We can't do anything" sobbed Jack,
~ I'll IL 7 Wieh father


how cold his hands are, and rubbing
MIGHT do some GOOD. Oh, Jack, let US try
to pull him to the fire"
With great difficulty they succeeded IN
drawing the old man to the great hearth
where Nellie placed pillows under his
head, and covered him with Il blanket
Then She heated little brandy, and put
spoonful Between Brister's lips, and the
two children then commenced rubbing
him with I'LL their strength, though Nellie
trembled, and the tears rolled down Jacks
face. But in truth, it was II trying sltua-
ton for them, alone and helpless rs they
were.
Suddenly Nellie started up with cry.
THE lamp Jack! Oh, Jack the lamp
isn't lighted"
1t was dark now and the storm, though
subsiding, still ragged How many fishing
vessels out ~ sea. and caught in that
sudden storm, were now vainiy looking
out for the warning beacon that was TO
save them fIom danger and guide them
into safety; and her father! Did she not
remember his parting words to Brister:
BE sure and light the lamp in good
time. 1t is us 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 inslinclively that no danger
could keep him back from the post Of his
duty and the loved ones dependent upon
him, Eagerly, tremblmgly, Nellie lose
to her feet.
ION, Jack, fahcr! We must light the
lamp"
ave can't" answered poor, frightened
Jack, helpessly. " We 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 vacilating
when thrown upon his own resources. So
Nellie brave little heart-resolved to do
the best she could.
You can stay and take care of Uncle
Brister, Jack,n She said; land rub him
all you can. will try to light the lamp
But you don't know anything about it.
and don't want to stay by myself" said
Jack, blubboring; IL wish father was
hcre.n
Nellie went carefully up the narrow
winding stair to the top Of the lighthouse.
She had seldom been here, and had never
seen the lamp lighted, and as Jack had
said, knew nothing about it; and she now
found to her dismay that she could not
reach the lamp. The wind and rain beat
against the thick glass by which this little
room in the top of the tower was surl ound- |
ed and swept in strong itful gusts through
the broken panes and Nellie thought that
even We're She able to light the lamp. it |
must inevitably be put out again. What
was to be done? If she could only keep
Il light of any kind burning, it might be of
some use. There was II large lantern |
downstairs, she knew; and hurrying
down she got this and lighting it, carried
it up again, and hung it where she trusted
it might be seen. But it shonc SO feebly,
that She feared it would not be noticed, or
might even be taken for the light of fish
erman's cottage, in which case it would
serve only to lead astray instead of guild
ing safely. /
Poor little Nellie wrung her hands in
despair. Oh, if she only had some body
to help her! How futile, and forlorn, and
miserable She felt. And Just then-she
never knew how it was-iust then she
seemed to hear, amid I'LL tile roar of the
storm, the sweet words of the hymn her
dead mother had been so fond of singing.
" Jesus, lover Of my soul" She knew II
by heart and now she stood invoIuntarilv
repeating fragments of it to herself, until
she came to the words
"Ohcr refuge have none;
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee
Leave, oh leave me not alone
sun support and comfort me.
All my trust ON Thee is stayed
All my help from Thee bring"
a strange feeling of peace and com fort
stole into the heart Of the child. "Go1 il
here; lie can help me" was her thouoht.
and instant y after, She reeolectcd that in
the Wood.shed connected with the kitchen
was u great pile of pinc-knots. The wind
could not blow out the flame of a pinn-
knot, but would rather serve to fan it. 81
town the steep, Wealisome stairs the noor
'ilIId WENT anu presently returned to the
Top OF the tower with her arms full of the
plne-knotS. These She lighted and care-
fully disposed all around the little GLASS. ,
covered room-wherevcr she could lind
place to stick her torchcs-so that the
brilliant ruddy glare might be visible in :
Ill directions, Bind there, alone in tho
Irealy SUNNI it of the tall light-house
'hlvcrIng in the cold wind and rain th,,
beat upon her slight figure, stood moor If,
.e Nellie, listening to the storm. strainina
Iet eyes through the darkness. and trnm,e
}}'IhS win anxiety and excitement as she
houSht OF her father in the storm. and If
'oor Brisler dying in the room below
'erIlaPs, bat still through il all seemed
o sound the sweet words of the HYMN :
Jesus, lover Of my soul.n
AN hour passed, and poor Nellie. intent.
listening, thought she heard sounds ho
o", ana then faint echo of some one call
nS her name. Then came strono hur.
led step on the stair, and in the red smoL,
,lare OF the pine torches she saw her FAX
+ standing. Oh, with what 4 sharn "rr
rtieI amt j y, she sprang forward 10
l AZ NM though at the very moment in
'n'cIl his arms We're outstretched to ra.
eve hcr-oyercome with cold. hIicno
MT anNieiy-she tottered and fell almost
lsehslble ut his feet Very tenderlv. win
'lrS IN his eyes, the rough light.honsa
eteper bore his little daughter below "nJ
laced her in bed, and there. with a ioI;
IouS consciousness of safety and rest
COR Nellie fell asldep She never owo op'
nlll the bright sunlight of the next n,,,nn
~ fell across her bed when onpn;no. H.
,es' she saw Nanny Sylvie's kind moth.
ny lace benaing over her, with tesrs
roaming down her sable cheeks. '"
press De Lord, dar aint anoder cb;ld -
1ll oe Gar ,llnas fit to hold pine.knot ~
hGr' SAID the ailectionate crearnro
'ouuly. An | hcerd Jem Long saw
I',, ms boat cone in las night, dat Ell
lan't been for de lighthouse lamn Nv
+ tothers would sartinly been lost 3 liz
" And so should l." said Mr., Iatio
ndly smoothing his little dourhtor,,
Ilr, and then he told how he had ga 49,
IN vain for the light, and not seo; M,c' =.
III ',. attempted to cross in the storm and
rkneSs' when suddenly q red glare S i'2
one! out and revealed to him that he ya o /.
llI'ng last upon one of the most dance n"' =.
5. oil The reefs. From this he had 81 M
hGuity cXlricated himself, and r, %I'l1 ING
me strange light had succeeded ''G ~ =,
lc1lng home in safety, and there bn n NJ
ma Old Brister us we have doso,;l n"'
HE Jack, worn out with rnhhinm oeu,
ing lay asleep by the fire. ' VINO ana s
IS NeIi'e' and what could be the n nore
OF the red litful glare in the I ii"ht So
use tower? Almost sinking with 7a nS, treic
apprehension, the father had monn ,t"