, 1882-05-12
THE EMERGENCY DRILL.

Sometimes in the long winter even
sngs, Henry Bruce amused himself max
ing out lists of lonely people, and his
own name always stood at the head. He
agreed that Robinson Crusoe had hard
time, but Robinson Crusoe could remem-
ber when he had as much company as he
wanted, and Henry could not. The Man
IN the Iron Mask was solitary enough,
bnt how about the time before he wore
iis AS for St. Simeon Stylites, Henry
would not put him on the list at all, be-
Tause, even if he did choose to live on the
iop of high pillar, he always had
crowd gaping up at him. Henry's griev-
Anee was one he shared with Adam; he
had never had boy to play with him.
His father was the keeper of light.
hpnse on the northern coast of England.
The lighthouse stood on rock two
miles out at sea, but Henry lived with
his mother and little sister in cottage
Gm the mainland. There was not an
other house within sight, and not boy
within days travel. Men used to come
MP the coast shooting and fishing, but
along, and although Henry had seen
him on vessels, he had never had good,
honest hours play or talk with q boy in
M his life.
There was another odd thing about the
life here. At all lighthouses in these
aSInes there are two or three men, so If
Gne gets sick there will be some one to
lake his place. But Mr.. Bruce had never
had an assistant. Everything had al
why's gone on right, and so the govern.
ment had never realized that he was
alnne, and he never spoke of it because
he was afraid that he would be paid less
Is he had man to help him. He ex-
pEcted Henry TO take the place of assist
91t rs soon as he was old enough. In the
meantime to educate the boy for possible
eontact with the world, he used to put
Ann through what he called "The Emer-
geDcy Drill" This related to different
matters, but it always began in the same
way. The first question was; "What is
Ire matter?" The second: "What first?"
4hen, "Do need help?" and if the an
Srer to this was ''yes," then: "Where
shall get it?" Henry became so used
o. these questions that he put them to
himself on many occasions, and he often
sznnsed himself playing he was general
n@ ihe battlefield or king out hunting,
sDd he imagined all sorts of troubles
when the "Drill" was of use.
One morning fl hing boat came in
b0nnd to the nearest town, and Mrs
Rruce asked the men to take her along to
hny yarn for the chlldren's stockings
They agreed, but told her she would
have to walk back, but she was willing
10 do this, although the distance was
Twelve miles, because, as she said, if
they did not take her she would have to
walk both ways.
Everything went on very we'll until
NEAR sunset when the sky began to grow
elondy, and little Lucy became cross
And sleepy and cried for her mother.
Henry gave her bread and milk, but still
sAe fretted. She did not want to play
and she would not go to slepp.
'tMy goodness he cried. 81 wish all
fnbies were grown up would rather
hnnt lions than take care OF your He
fhen picked her up and carried her TO
abe door. Now" he said, 1--WE will
watch for mamma"
The rocks stood up against grey and
heavy sky. The wind had begun to
moan, and the birds flew screaming over
The water. There was not sign of their
mother coming on the beach, and Henry
isit more lonely than ever. He looked
over to the light house and wished his
fsther would light it up, and it seemed
DO him that sunset, the time for lighting,
must surely have come. Suddenly q
little flag appeared in the lantern. Henry
Eprang to his feet.
"What is the matter?" he exclaimed in
aRal earnest.
"I don't know" was his reply.
"What firstg"
ITO go TO the lighthouse.
But he was mistaken. The first thing
be had to do was to dispose OF Lucy. He
eOuld not take her he could not leave
her.
"If you were only horse," he hur-
Eiedly cried. "I could put you in the
sable. If you were COW I'd tie you to
he stake; but what can l do with a
paby?"
Lucy can co." said the child.
''No, she can't" he answered. And
en- he looked out again, but his mother
not yet in sight, and the red flag
ich meant "Come at once, +" still shook
becRoned him.