Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-01-21

and. Friday discover the arrival of one an
twenty savages and disturbed them at thel
revolving repast. oButeJack got up so cal
ly,ln the mornings, and was so active a
the day, that no wonder his ideas bega
to stray and his eyes to blink and CLOSE
Stub had settled himself near for a littl
quiet meditation-nose between two blac
outstretched forepaws, and gaze fixed O.
nothing in particular; while Jane, havin
first made her toilet for the night by care
full washing and patting, dozed PEACEFUL
behiud the stove. Tired Jack slept, an,
dreamed he was Crusoe, and had just bull
beautiful sled, and he and Friday coas
ted down among the cannibals and sem
them flying on all sides; and the old clocl
licked, licked. while out doors the snow
blew IN whlrls. and a weary man Tough
hard against the wind, and sought to fine
again the beaten path to his home. Houl
after hour passed, till the faithful hammer
striking ten, woke Jack in bewildermen1
at not finding himself in his own littl,
bed.
whats the matter!" he said, shakins
himself and standing up. why, how
late 1t is! What can have happened t.
father?"
Stub reused up, but could not answer
the question, so wisely kept silence-peo
pie don't always. you know.
THE light! the light! Oh! suppose its
gone out? 1 must 60 up this very minute
to see, though it's awfully dark and thu
stove gone out, too; but I can't stop tt
make it up now. Come, Stub. you can &c
with me if you want to- said diplomatic
Jack, who really didn't like to go through
all those dark passages and stairwayt
alone, but who wouldn't have Stub know
it for the world.
The house had got all cold, and Jack
was hunting long about with shivering
fingers before he could find the proper oil
for the light. at last, however, he found
it, spilled lot Of it in pouring it out into
the small can, and got the rest safely up
the first fight of stairs. Stub following
rather sleepily. The light tower was built
high above the dwelling part of the house,
and was reached by several steep flights of
stairs, and finally by ladder leading to a
trap door. The roof and walls from about
four feet from the floor were glass, and the
light, lamp and reflector, stood on kind
Of standard about five feet high. All the
beautiful brass plates were kept as bril-
liant as a mirror, and the windows we've as
transparent and speckless as pure water.
1t was John Hudson's duty to keep them
in this condition. Inspectors were always
dropping in at unexpected times, and dis
missal from the post would have followed
any lack OF proper attention to these de-
tails. But it was the lighthouse keeper g
pride to keep them bright and FURNISHED
even beyond any laws and regulations.
Jack rea ched the foot of the ladder, and
was slowly mounting. when his foot slip
ped and he fell. Stub looked at him help
lessly, and waited for him to pick himself
up. Jack had kept hold Of his lantern,
and fortunately it had not got extinguish-
ed; the oil can fell at little distance.
"What's the matter now? What ails
my foot?" said he, making several ineffec-
tual attempts to stand. My! how it hurts!"
and he held it in his hand while he bravely
kept the tears back. II guess I've sprain-
ed it, or something. What shall do? 1
could manage to slide down stairs again
and wait there till father comes. But then
the light; that ought to be attended to.
Oh! why ain It father back?" and he win
ced with pain as a sudden twinge came
from his ankle.
''Oh, dear, it's 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 he
can't put himself out of the way for other
folks once in while. How the tower
shakes What night it isl"
The ascent was made at last and the
light reached. "Just in time said Jack;
''the oll's all but finished. I guess I didn't
put as much in as father did," and he hop
ped around the narrow space and trimmed
the lamp. 1t took him some time, and the
boys fingers we're getting stiff with cold,
while his ankle kept bringing look of
pain across his face.
Il shall freeze before get it DONE
groaned JACK, putting his finger ends into
his mouth to warm them. my foot! my
foot!" he shrieked, as forgetting it for an
he had stepped on it. Stub, in
the room below, gave howl of sympathy,
and dashed frantically at the foot of the
ladder to reach his comrade.
II can't stand 1t any longer! Oh, father!
father!" and Jack fell unconsciously on
the floor.
All was silent once again in the house;
no voice save the old clock tick, ticking
the seconds away-the last minutes of the
old year.
Loud blew the wind in the face Of foot
sore man, bruised by an outstretched
branch, unseen-in the darkness, and stri-
wing, with unsteady steps, to reach his
home. Out at sea, a noble vessel was
battling with the storm, and happy hearts,
unconscious of danger, were thinking of
the glad meetings of the morrow-think-
ing of the dear faces that should welcome
their return in the bright new year. Anx-
ious hearts were beating in secret, as the
captain and pilot paced the deck uneasily,
and peered through the storM, and
and which was land"
Fishing Point light ought to show to
the nor ard" said the captain.
''I've been looking for it, returned the
pilot, shut the snow is 80 binding I've not
been able to see it yet. There it isl" he
exclaimed, after some minutes more of
weary watching and the snow cloud SEEM
ed parted by warm CLEAN of light. And
miles away, in storm-rocked tower, lay a