The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-07-05
NELLIE IN THE LIt;PT.EOUSE.

Il
An equal mercy for His child
Bret Harte. IN Xarpers Magazine for July.
NELLIE IN THE LIGHTHOUSE.
On the lonely Carolina coast arc many
small islands, interspersed with sandy
shoals and rocky reefs. which 9ender it
dangerous for vessels that approach too
near. On this account light houses are
established at proper intervals, and it is
about the jewellers in one of these that
have a little story to tell.
The name Of the keeper of this light
house was John LATHE. His wife was
dead, and he lived there with his two chill.
drcn, and a faithful and attached negro
couple, whom the children called Nanny
Sylvie and Uncle Brister. Sylvie had
been their nurse. and both she and her
husband loved them as though they had
been their own.
You may think lighthouse on a small
isla ld-wherc no one else lived EXCEPT
two tishermen's families-a lonely place
for two children. Perhaps it was; but
Jack and Nellie did not think so. In good
weather they had splendid times on the
beach, running up and down tho firm
white Sapd, hiding amid the rough rocks
that at low tide stood above the water, or
picking up pretty shells, and bits Of
man, -colored sea-weed, thrown up by the
waves. Sometimes they played with the
waves themselves. as merrily as though
they had been living plavmates They
would 90 low down to the waters edge,
and watch some swelling billow as it came
rolling onward to the shore, and cry
detiantly: "Come on! YOU can't catch
us.' and then. as the white foam. crest
curled thrcateningly over toward them,
they would run up the beach, with
the billow in full chase, until the
foamy crest broke about their bare
little feet, and went gently sliding
back into the sea, to give place TO another.
Sometimes the billow would Ovcrtake
them and give them thorough drench.
ing; but this only excited their mirth.
For sea-water does not give chills and
colds, and it soon dries; and as their dress
was coarse and simple, there was no dam
ger Of that being hurt.
One day, by some accident, the glass of
the lighthouse was broken. and Mr.. LATHE
found it necessary to go in his boat to the
mainland. in order to procure materials
for repairing it. The little town at which
he made these purchases was some five or
six miles inland, and he might not return
unit quite late.
"If | am not back before sunset, Bris-
ter" said he to his sable assistant, "be
sure 20 light the lamp in time. You know
1t will be as necessary to me as to others"
He said this because between the light
house and the shore were many dangerous
rocks, some lying beneath the surface Of
the water and others above it, to run upon
which in the dark would break boat to
pieces. But Mr.. LATHE was familiar with
the channel and he knew that, with the
light for a guide, he could steer so as to
avoid the rocks.
Now, Mr.. LATHE had not been long gone
when there came to the light house, in hot
haste, little, ragged boy, begging that
Aunt Sylvie would come to his mother,
who had been taken suddenly and danger
ously i'll. There was no doctor on the
isla.d, and Sylvie was very clever as
nurse. So she fastened away with all
speed to the fisherman's wife, who lived
quite mile distant, at the opposite cx-
tremity of the island-f first, however, tell
ing the children to be good and not stray
away from the light. house, and warning
her " ole man" to take good care of them,
well knowing, at the same time, that such
warning was not necessary, for Uncle
Brister would have sacrificed his own life
for the little ones, whom he had helped to
carry in his arms almost from the day of
their birth. They were gentle and ODE
dent children. though it had always been
observed that Nellie, who was only seven
years old, possessed much more 'firmness
and decision of character than Jack, near
ly two years his senior. She was also
more generous; and am afraid 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 Nellie who carried the basket, while
Jack amused himself with playing by the
way: or, if Sylvie made ginger cakes or
"puffs," and gave the two first baked to
the children, it was Jack who claimed the
biggest or the incest looking, and not un.
frequently got taste of Nellie's also.
The children played all this morning
very happily together, building fort Of
loose rocks, like the great stone fort which
they could see in the distance, many miles
away. In the afternoon they went in
doors, where they found Brister standing
at one of the windows, shading his eyes
with his hand and looking anxiously
toward the west.
DO you see the boat, Uncle Brister ~
inquired Jack, standing on tip-toe to look
out.
"Piease de Lord, wish could dat"
answered the old man, more as if speak,
ing to himself than to them. ~ don't
like dc looks a. dat ere sky, and dere
amt never no good in dem switchy mares
tails" pointing to some long, scattered
clouds which were M wing rapidly up
from the west. LEI knows anytHiny't
all, knows we'se gwine to have a squeel-
in, squalin' storm. Please dc Lord Massa
and Sylvie was safe home"
The old mans prediction was correct.
In less than an hour the wind burst upon
them, the waves were dashed into foam,
anil the storm rOared around the light
house in all its fury. The children, sit
ting by the fire, listened 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
maze 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 10 ngnt the lamp. AS he crossed
the room the children noticed that he stag.
gered little. and caught hold of the
dOOr-post to steady himself. Then he nut
his hand to his forehead, and So stoon XII XII
moment; then began feebly to ascend
heavy fall and, to their horror, the chill.
dren saw the old man lying at the foot of
the stairs, motionless and, apparensly,,
dead. 49, 49,
They started up with cry. and rushed
toward him. He was not bleeding any.
where, but his breathing was thick and
heavy, and though his eyes were open he
did not appear 10 see them, or to know
anything. The truth was, the old man
had had stroke of-apoplexy.
What shall we do! oh, what s1nN we
d0!" cried Nellie, bursting into an agony
of tears.
We can't do anything" sobbed Jack,
hopelessly. 81 wish, oh! l wish father
and Nanny SylNie were here"
Nellie, kneeling by the side of Brister,
seemed to make an effort at composure.