Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-29
In THE LIGHTHOUSE.

anu ycV ~ uid hoo oOoih ihuoH INV VIE
ter, though the maple trees were bare
and the flowers and dead. The oaks
were covered thickly with leaves. True,
when the wind blew ii rustled through
brown, dry foliage very different to the
living tints of months back; but when
You looked at the soft, muddy roads, or
the clear blue sky, you scarcely realized
that it was just past Christmas
John Hudson, keeper of the lighthouse
at Fishing Point, was brushing his
weather-beaten coat (once black, now
almost Usage green'), and giving part
ing directions to John Hudson, Jr.-
called "Jack" by his familiars. CHOW
mind you don't set the house on fire
while am gone. must fix that chin
ney when I get back, or we'll be burnt
out yet; and don't take to fooling with
! the oil-there isn't very much OF 1t lett
now. There's that cord of wood in the
yard | guess you had better till the
weONSSsss MN S>SNwp MN&, \SSYsSS
I the inspector will he round before long,
ana We waDt 70 6ayD sypythlDy tNNt
,MMM VIVA wks,N &e. cewes> Get ya0c
ainner whe1 you're reaay;1 nay De
back in time, md may not with MI
these pyramids to DO in the village; but
anyway, \ shah be home this afternoon,
Good-by sonny" and be tramped brisk
ly away through the trees.
"Stub! Stub! here, sW. You must
stay home with me. Father don't want
vou. There's rat, sure's / live! Sick
it, Stub! S-ss-sick it"
Now" said Jack, after an exciting
chase, in which boy and dog had how
led and barked most beautiful duet,
"now, Stub, We'll wash the breakfast
things-won't weW
! Stub looked a knowing assent and sat
gravely on chair whichhe FIRST knock
ed the cat off while Jack washed and
dried the few dishes as def asa girl. He
had lived here as long as he could re-
member. His earliest recollection was
looking ct the bright reflector up stairs,
and seeing in it o sweet, loving face,
with tender blue eyes, near his own.
His next memory of the face was in a
coffin, pale and still, while his father
held his hand, and the minister from
the village talked in a low, sad tone
But this was years ago, when Jack was,
as he would inform You, "only little
fellow" Now, from his dignitied age OF
ten years, he felt himself almost arrived
ut 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 toe
well to think for moment of any work
further inland. Such stories as he used
to tell Jack in the winter days, wher
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 o.
the time on Labrador, when q tremcn
dous whale capsized 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 IL
irons for starting it.
Jack would go to bed with a "creepy'
kind of feeling after those stories, bu1
the morning light always drove away
the shadows, aud he would vow to him
self never to let such ridiculous storie
frighten him again. "Stub, let's play
Robinson Crusoe in the yard, now th'
dishes are washed; Jane Ito the cat)
YOU can come, too, if you want" sale
Jack, opening the door. Stub accepted
the invitation for himself and Jane 10y
making dart at her as she lay blinkin.
near the stone, and rushing her out door
with scant ceremony.
This shed here shall be the cave, ant
Tll wear Fathers fur cap and be Robin
sons Cruso. You can be Friday, Stub
You are black, and you don't know
much, and Jane shall sit up herr
on the wood-pile and be the par
rot. Now, Friday, you just sta.
there while | 90 to get some stick
for the wood-box :" and Jack, max
ing his work into play, worked will
a will, while the waves romped ant
tossed about on the shore lik
merry children, and a little gra,
cloud, no bigger than a man
hand, rose slowly in the north and made
another dash of color in the brillian
sky.
llyIrZll 7 Iaa1o,o 20 - ,;,,1f uo;nr Z,