Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-12-28

floor were glass, and the light, lamp and
reflector stood on a kind of standard
about five feet high. All the beautiful
brass plates were kept as brilliant as a
mirror. and the windows were transpar-
ent and speckless as pure water. It was
John Hudson's duty to keep them in
this condition. Inspectors were always
dropping in at unexpected times, and
dismissal from the post would have fol-
lowed any lack OF proper attention to
these details. But it was the lighthouse
keepers pride to keep them bright and
FURNISHED, even beyond any laws and
regulations.
Jack reached the foot of the 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 kept hold of his
lantern, and fortunately it had not got
extinguished; the oil can fell at little
distance.
"What's the matter now? What ails
my foot?" said he, making several inef-
fectual attempts to stand. "My how
it hurts !" and he held it in his hand
while he. bravely kept the tears back.
81 guess I've sprained it or something.
What shall I do? I 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
amt father back p and he WINGED with
pain as sudden twinge came from his
ankle.
ooh, dear, it's tough work." said he,
as with the oil can slung across on arm
he tried to climb the ladder with one
foot and one knee.
81 guess I'd better give it up
pshaw! What's fellow good for any
way, if he can't put himself out of the
way for other folks once in a while. How
the tower shakes What night it is I"
The ascent was made at last and the
light reached. "Just in time" said
Jack; sc the oils is all but finished. I
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.
81 shall freeze before I get it DONE"
groaned Jack, putting his finger ends
into his mouth to warm them "My
foot my foot - he shrieked, as forget
ting it for an instant, he had stepped on
it. Stub in the room below, gave
howl of sympathy, and dashed frantical-
ly at the foot of the ladder to reach his
comrade.
81 can't stand it any longer? Oh,
father! father - and Jack fell uncon-
scious on the floor.
All was silent once again in the house;
no voice save the old clock ticking the
seconds away-the last minute of the
old year.
Loud blew the wind in the face of
foot-sore man, bruised by an outstretch-
ed branch, unseen in the darkness, and
striving, with unsteady steps, to reach
his home. Out at sea noble vessel was
battling with the storm, and happy
hearts, unconscious of Danger, were
thinking of the glad meetings of the
morrow-thinking 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
questioned of the darkness, which was sea and
which was land"
Fishing Point light ought to show
to the nor'ard," 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
it is !" he exclaimed, after some minutes
more of weary watching, and the snow
cloud seemed parted by warm CLEAN of
light. And miles away. in storm-rocked
tower, lay a PROSTATE form, cold and
motionless, while the joy-bells of the
glad new year were ringing in the hopes
and triumphs of thousand hearts.
. Bravely the good ship Dauntless
sailed into port on that morning, with
colors flying and friendly cheers from the
shore.
ga pretty narrow escape we had last
night-so the pilot tells me-, said pas
senger to his friend, after a hearty
greeting. "All but lost off Fishing
Point. The light shone on the rocks
just in time, or we should not have been
here now"
But Jack never knew anything of this.
All he knew was that his father said,
patting his head: "God bless you,
sonny. If it hadn't been for the light
shining through the darkness of that
awful night, shouldn't have oeen alive
to take care of you now" And Jack
thought this quite made up for the long,
weary weeks of pain before he could use
his lame foot again.