The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-21


difficulty he had in climbing up to the top
of the lighthouse, he was not often with his
father at such times. Still he understood
enough about the matter to pour The oil into
the lamps and trim and light the wicks.
He had just poured portion of the oil
into the first lamp, lifting the large can
with some difficulty, when the support be-
meath his feet suddenly gave way and he
fell heavily to the ground, striking his face
against the sharp edge of the can.
For a few minutes Willie was quite
stunned by his fall, and lay white and mo-
tionless on the floor, a thin stream of blood
yelling up from his forehead. The chair
had been standing rather unevenly on the
floor, which Willie had not noticed. In
leaning forward little, as he had to reach
the lamps, he had disturbed his balance,
and hence the accident.
But Willie's swoon was not deep one,
and presently his consciousness returned.
He rose, set the chair, the stool, and the
books in their former position, this time
taking care to arrange the pile quite even
", and again raised himself upon them
The blood was still flowing freely from his
forehead, but Willie needed it not. His
whole mind and energies were engrossed III
his task his one object was to get it quick
" and successfully accomplished. Thro'
the windows he saw the night had turned
out a very dark one, not single star illum-
mating the black sky, and Willie knew
that on such a night the danger to the
ships, if there were no lights to guide them
while passing that treacherous part of the
coast would be greatly increased.
One by one Willie replenisned the lamps
with oil, turned up the wicks and lit them
from the light with which he had provided
himself The broad light flashed its
streaming radiance far out over the dark
waters-a guiding star to whatever mig lat
be abroad upon the seas that night.
WilIie's task was done, but as he again
descended to the lower rooms of the light
house his feet shook beneath him The
strain Of strength and nerve 70 one so small
and frail of body had been very severe, and
/ now that his task was over, Willie felt as if
every bit of strength had gone out of him.
But there was the feeling in his heart, too,
that he had done all that he could, that
/ God had answered his prayers, and gave
/ him just as much strength and skill as was
necessary for the work which had fallen on
him to do.
/ He sat down in the little sitting-room OF
! the lighthouse to await his faIher's return,
/ hoping with an intensity of feeling that
may be imagined that nothing had hap
/ pened him which would prevent his reach>
ing home before the oil in the lamps was
. exhausted.
The plan of the wreckers-for such the
men were who had waylaid Kenneth Mayne
had thus completely miscarried. They
left the village together, waited in ambush
for Kenneth Mayne as he made his way
home, and assailed him in the manner de
scribed.
/ As soon as it grew dark the conspirators
proceeded to a long ragged reef that stretch
ed out from the land far into the sea, al
most covered by the water at high tide,
but lifting jagged, raw-like ledge above
the surface at low water. Here the mer
raised lamp, suspended it from tripod
of poles and arranged it in such manner
that it slowly revolved, turning now q
bright side, now dark, towards the sea
and thus resembling at a distance the
lamps of the real lighthouse. But they
had hardly lit their false beacon when they
saw, to their rage and chagrin, the light
house itself fash forth its strong brigb
blaze. Their hopes for Turing some unfor
tunate ship to its destruction upon The
cruel reef, and securing a rich prize from
the wreck were frustrated. They knew o
the presence Of the lighthouse keeper
son. but had never for a moment anticipa
ted that the "wee cripple" as they called
him, would have strength and spirit enough
to manage the lamps.
But baff1ed in their designs, and enraget
as they were, the wreckers were not s.
blinded by anger as not to perceive that
would answer no purpose of theirs to al
low the lighthouse keeper to remain al
night as they left him. 1t might only in
crease the chance of their detection il
their attempted crime, or if anything hap
pened to Mayne through nights expos
ure, aggravate the case against them,
their deed ever come to light. So the
Judged it safest to return to where the
had left Mayne and release him.
Long before Kenneth Mayne reached th
lighthouse, of course, he saw that tn
lamps were alight, and when he did reac
home and heard Willie's story, his jo
and pride in his little lame SOD, who ha
that night so bravely done his dnty-a
: bravely as though he had had double hi
!. actual strength-could hardly fiud expires
; sion in words.
"Thauk God, laddie - he said '-tha
b by God, ye haa been upborne this nicht t
do your duty sac bravely and sac well ~
TEN RULES FOR You've MEN. N.-Alway
, pick up poker by the cold end.
Never spend your money when you ca
get things for nothing.
Do not desp;se a twenty cent cigar or
; two dollar dinner because another ma
, pays for it.
, Remember that it costs more to go to
high priced theatre than to take oac
pew in free church.
, Nothing is troublesome to you that otl
er people do for you willingly.
Never pay to day the man you can pJ
of until tomorrow.
Never trouble yourself to do for anotht
what be can DO just as we'll for himself
Never buy what you don't wan. simpl
because the man says he is Just out OF it.
Do not poultice your own elbow for tt
boil on another mans neck.