Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-25

HHBetsVoi0fo, no G0uid nHd tD6 proper
oil for tho light. At last, however, be
found it, spilled . lot Of IL ID pouring IL
out into the small dan, and got the rest
safely up the first flight Of stairs, Stub
following rather aleepily. The light
tower was built high above the dwelling
part Of the house, and was reached by
ssvsral steep flights Of stairs and finally
by . ladder to Q trapd door. The roofand
walls flrrofqm about four feet from the floor
were glass aud the lamp and reflector
stood on Q kind Of standard about five
feet high. All the beautiful brass
plates we're kept d. brilliant as mirror,
and Che windows were, transparent and
speckless as pure water. II was John
Hudson's duty to keep them in this con-
dition. Inspectors were always dropping
in at unexpected times, and dismissal
from the post would have followed any
lack Of proper attention to these details.
But it was the light house keepers pride
to keep them bright and FURNISHED even
beyond any laws and regulations.
Jack reached the foot of tho ladder,
and was slowly mounting when his foot
slipped and he fell. Stub looked at him
helplessly, and waited for him to pick
himself up, Jack had hold Of his lantern,
and fortunately II had not got extin.
Iguishcd; the oil can fell at 4 little dis.
tance. bus ST H
What's the matter nowi What ais
my footr said he, making several inef.
fectual attempts to stand. "Myl how
II hurts = and then he held II in his hand
while he bravely kept the tears back. II
guess 1ve sprsined it, o. something.
What shsll1 doi I could manage to
slide down stairs again ana watt there
tin father comes. But Then the light !;
that ought tcbs attended to. Obi why
amt father backT and he WINGED with
pain a. sudden twinge caine from his
ankle. r..r, ,g 4aE,g
"Oh, dear, ito tough work, . said he,
as with the oil can slung across one arm
he tried to climb the ladder with one
foot and one knee. ,......
II guess I'd better give It up-pshaw
what's fellow good for, anyway, If be
can't put himself out Of the way for other
folks once in q while. How the tower
shakes! What night it isw
The assent was made at last and the
light reached. Gust in time" said
Jack; "the oils oil but finished" l guess
! didn't put as much in as father did,"
and he hoped around the narrow space
and trimmed the lamp. It took him
some time, and the boys fingers were
getting stiff With cold, while his ankle
kept bringing . look Of pain across his
face.sEo lf'au Fh'aren "d' - }8gn
II shall freeze before get it done,"
groaned Jack, putting his finger ends
into his mouth to warm them. ''My loot
my foot!' he shrieked, as forgetting it
for an instant, he had stepped on it.
Stub, in the room below, gave q howl of
sympathy, and dashed frantica1ly at the
foot Of the ladder to reach his comrade.
IT can't stand it any longer! Oh, faith
er, fatherp aud Jack foil ttnconsciously
on the floor. t1a f f.
All was silent once again in the house;
no voice save the old clock tick-titking
the seconds away--the last minutes of
the old year. ... "
Loud blew the wind in the face of the
foot-sore man, bruised by an outstretch-
ed branch, unseen--in the darkness, and
striving, with unsteady steps to reach his
home. Ont at sea, o noble vessel was
battling with the storm, and happy
hearts, unconscious ofdanger, were think
ing Of the glad meetings Of Tomorrow
of the dear faces that should
welcome their return in the bright new |
year. Anxious hearts were beating in |
secret as the pilot and the captain paced
The deck uneasily, and peered through
the storm, and
Questioning of the darkness, which was seq
and which was land
Fishing Point light ought to show to
The norard," said the captain,
GIVE been looking for it, returned !
The pilot" ''but the snow is so binding
I've not been able to see it yet. There
t isw he exclaimed, after some min
ties more Of weary watching, and the |
NOW cloud seemed parted by warm |
,leam of light. And miles away, in q |
torm-rocked tower, lay q PROSTATE form,
odd and motionless, while the joy bells |
# the glad new year were ringing in |,
he hopes and triumphs Of q thousand
,earts.