The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-07-05

|
how cold his hands are, and rubbing
might do him some good. Oh, Jack, let
us try to pull him to the fret"
With great difficulty they succeeded in
drawing the old man in front of the great
hearth, where Nellie placed pillows under
his head, and covered him with ablanket.
Then she heated a little brandy, and put
spoonful between Bristcr's lips, and the
two children then commenced rubbing
him with all their little strength, though
| Nellie trembled and the tears rolled down
Jacks face. But, in truth, twas trying
situation for them, alone and helpless as
they were.
Suddenly Nellie started up with a cry.
The lamp, Jack! Oh, Jack, the lamp
isn't lighted!'
1t was dark now, and the storm, though
subsiding, still ragged. How many fish
ing vessels out at sea, and caught in that
sudden storm, were now vainly looking
out for the warning beacon that was to
save them from danger and guide them
into safety; and her father! Did she not
remember his parting words to Bristcr:
Be sure and light the lamp in good
time. 1t is as necessary to me as to
them.''
And TIE lamp was not lighted! In
storm and darkness her father might be
even now struggling amid those foaming
waves and trcacherOus 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. tremblingly, Nellie rose
to her feet.
"Oh, Jack, father! We must light the
lampw
1--WE can't" answered poor, frightened
Jack, helplessly. 1--WE don't know how !"
She felt that it would be of no use to APP
peal farther to him-not that Jack was
heartless, but irresOlute and vacillating
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
Isrister, jack" she said; land rub him
all you can. will try to light the lamp"
But you don't know anything about
| it. and l don't want to stay by myself"
sad Jack, blubbcring; =" 1 wish father was
| here"
Nellie went carefully up the narrow
winding stair to the top of the light house.
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 the rain
beat against the thick glass by which this
little room in the top of the tower was
surrounded, and swept in strong titful
gusts through the broken panes; and
Nellie thought that even were she able to
light the lamp, it must inevitably be put
out again. What was to be done? If she
could only keep light of any kind burn
ing, 1t might be of some use. There was
n 1oc II oAss,n II, L.
hurrying down she got this, and lighting
it, carried it up again, and hung it where
she trusted il might be seen. But it shOne
so feebly, that she feared it wodld not be
noticed, or might even be taken for the
light of a fishcrman's cottage, in which
case it would serve only to lead as,ray in
stead of guiding safely.
Poor little Nellie wrung her hands in
despair. On, if she only had somebody
to help her! How futile, and forlorn, and
miserable she felt! And just then-she
never knew how it was-just then she
seemed to hear, amid all the rear 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 it
by heart, and now she stood invOluntarily
repeating fragments of it to herself, until
she came to the words:
=" Other refuge have | none:
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.
Leave. oh leave ME not alone
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is STAYED:
All my help from Thee bring"
A strange feeling of peace and comfort
stole into the heart of the child. "God is
here: lie can help me-" was her thought;
and instantly after, she recollected that in
the wOOd-shed connected with the kitchen
was great pile of pine. knots. The wind
could not blow out the flame of a pine
knot, but would rather serve to fan
it. So down the steep, wearisomc
and presently returned to the top of the
tower with her arms full Of the pine.
knots. These she lighted and carefully
disposed all around the little GLASGOW.
cred rOOm-wherever she could find
place in which to stick her tOrches-so
that the brilliant, ruddy glare might be
visible in all directions. And there, alone
in the dreary summit of the tall light
house, shivering in the cold wind and rain
that beat upon her slight figure, stood
poor little Nellie, listening to tie storm,
straining her eyes through the darkness,
and trembling with anxiety and excite
ment as she thought Of her father in the
storm, and Of poor Brister, dying in the
room below, perhaps. But still through
it all seemed to sound the sweet words of
the hymn, "Jesus, lover of my SOUL"
An hour passed, and poor Nellie, in
tently listening, thought that she heard
sounds below, and then a faint echo of
some one calling her name. Then came
strong hurried step on the stair, and in
the red smoky glare of the pine torches
she saw her father standing. Oh, with
what sharp cry of relief and Joy she
sprang forward to meet him, though ut
the very moment in which his arms were
outstretched to receive her-overcome
with cold, fatigue and anxiety--she tot
tered and fell almost insensiblc at his
feet. Very tenderly, with tears in his
eyes, the rough lighthouse keeper bore
his little daughter below, and placed her
in. bed; and there, with delicious con-
seriousness of safety and rest, poor Nellie
fell asleep. She never awoke until the
bright sunlight of the next morning fell
across her bed, when, opening her eyes,
she saw Nanny Sylvie' kind, motherly
face bending over her, with tears stream
ing down her sable cheeks.
"Brss de Lord, dar amt anOder child
in all de Car'linas fit to hold a pine knot
to her." said the affectiOnatc creature,
PAOuufy. AL L ACCAu OClA LUX say
when his boat come in las night, dat eff
it hadn't been for de lighthouse lamp, he
an t'others would sartinly been lost.''
"And SO should l." said Mr.. LATHE,
fondly smoothing his little daughters
hair, and then he told her how he had
watched in vain for the light, and not See
ing it had attempted to cross in the
storm and darkness, when suddenly red
glare had ShOne ont and revealed tn him
that he was drifting fast upon one of the
most dangerous of the reefs. From this
he had with difficulty extricated himself,
and guided by the strange light had sue
ceeded in reaching home in safety, and
there had found old Bristcr as we have
described, while Jack, worn out with rub
bling and crying, lay asleep by the fire.
Where was Nellie! and what could be the
meaning of the red fitful glare in the
lighthouse tOwerf Almost sinking with
fear and apprehension, the father had
mounted the stairs, and there, at the first
glimpse Of his little daughter-pale and
- n