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

| w 2. .-" tF 70 f.'
1t was the last day in the old year,
and yet it did not seem much like win
ter, though the maple trees were bare
and the flowers and dead. The oaks
were covered thickly with leaves. True,
when the wind blew it rustled through
brown, dry foliage very different to the
living tints of months back; but when
you looked at the soft, muddy roads, OF
the clear blue sky, you scarcely realized
that it was just past Christmas. e
John Hudson, keeper of the lighthouse
OF Fishing Point, was brushing his
weathor-beaten coat (once black, now
almost "sage green'), and giving part.
ing directions to John Hudson, Jr.--
called Jaek" by his familiars. "Now
mind you don't set the house on. FIRE
while am gone. I must fix that chin
ney when get back, or we'll be burnt
ont yet; and don't take to fooling with
the oil--there isn't very much Of 1t left
now. There's that cord of wood ii the
yard guess you had better fill the
wood boxes and pick up BIT. expect
the inspector will be round before long,
and we want to have everything taut
and trim when he comes. Get your
dinner when you're ready; ! may be
back in time, and l may not, with all
these errands to do in the village; but
anyway, shall be home this afternoon.
Good-by, sonny" and he tramped brisk.
ly away through the trees. -a..
Stub stdb! here, sir. You must
stay home with me. Father don't want
you. There's q rat, sure's livel Sick
it, Stub I S-ss-sick II p 81 .
Now" said Jack, after an exciting
chase, in which boy and dog had how
led and barked a most beautiful duet,
"pow, Stub, we'll wash the breakfast
things--won't WEEP
Stub looked knowing assent and sat
gravely on chair (Which no first knock
cd the cat Off while Jack washed aud
dried the few dishes 40 def as 10 girl. He
had lived here as long as he could re-
member. His earliest recollection was
looking at the bright reflector up stairs,
and seeing in it sweet, loving face,
with tender blue eyes, near his own.
His next memory Of the face was in .
coffin, pale and still, while his father
held his hand, and the minister from
the village talked in q low, sod tone.
But this was years ago, when Jack was,
az he would inform you, "only little
fellow" Now, from bis digni6ed age Of
ten years, he felt himself almost arrived
at mans estate. His father was former
~ sailor, but in consequence of losing
some of his fingers in the icy regions Of
the North, he had to accept the position
Of Lighthouse keeper-loving the sea too
well to think for moment of any work
further inland. Such stories as he used
to tell Jack in the winter days, when
they would be cut off by snowdrifts from
the rest of the world. Such thrilling
adventures delighted the boys ears in
the long, solitary evenings. Stories Of
the time on Labrador, when q tremen-
dous whale capsized o boats crew, and
two men got drowned; of the mutiny
that once broke out on the Fair Betsy,
and the sneaking Italian that got put in
irons for starting it.
Jack would goto bed witha creepy"
kind of feeling after those stories, but
the morning light always drove away
the shadows, and he would vow to him
self never to let such ridiculous stories
frighten him again. "Stub, let's play
Robinson Crusoe in the yard, now the
dishes are washed Jane (to the cat),
you can come, too, If you want" said
Jack, opening the door. Stub accepted
the invitation for himself and Jane by
making dart at her az She lay blinking
near the stone, and rushing her out doors
with scant ceremony.
This shed here shall be the cave, and
III wear Fathers fur cap and be Robin
sons Cruso. You can be Friday, Stub.
Yon are black, and you don't know
much, and Jane shall sit up here
On the wood-pile and be the par
rot. Now, Friday, you just stay
there while | 60 to get some sticks
Tor the wood-box and Jack, max
ng his work into play, worked with
, will, while the waves romped and
tossed about on the shore like
merry children, and o little gray
loud, no bigger than mans
,and, rose slowly in the north and made
mother dash of color in the brilliant
ky.
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