The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-06-23
miscellaneous.
The Emergency Drill.

sometimes III Tue Inn4 W'ultf evenings,
Henry Bruce amused himself making out
lists of lonely people and his own name always
stood at the head He agreed that Robinson
could remember when he had Ms much com.
pauv ~ he wanted. and iIcaTv could not
His father WIS the keeper of lighthouse
ON the northern coast of England. The light
house stood on rock two miles ont ut sea
hut Henry lived with his mother and little
sister in a cottage on the mainland. There
was not another house within sight and not
q hoy within days travel.
Mr. Bruce had never had an assistant
Everything had always gone ON right, and so
the government had never realized that he
WAS alone, and he never spoke Oft because
he was afraid that he would be paid less ifhe
had man to help him. Hecxpccted Henry
to take the place OF assistant as soon rs he
WAS old enough.
| In the meantime TO educate the hoy for
possible contact with The world, he used TO
put him through what was called THE En-
Urgency Drill - This related to different
matters, but it always began in the same way.
| The first question was: "Whai is the mat
! ter ?""What first :' Then, "Do lnecd help 2"
ard if the answer be yes, then, where shall
get tt" Henry bccamse so used to the queS,
tons that he put them To himself on many
OCCASIONS and he often amused hmselfp
ing he was general on the battle field, or q
king out hunting and he imagined all sorts
oftroubles when the Drill was of use.
One morning Il fishing boat came in, bound
for the nearest town, and Mrs. Bruce asked
them To take her along to buy yarn for her
chldrens stockings. They agreed, but told
her She would have to walk back. She was
willing To do that, although the distance was
| oh. Il a
not take her abe would walk both ways
Every thing Went on very well until near
| sunset, when the sky began to cloud, and lit.
tie Lucy became cross and sleepy and cried
for her mother Henry gave her bread and
milk, but still she frctted She did not want
to play and she would not 90 TO sleep. My
goodness ~ he cried. II wish all babies were
grown up! would rather hunt lions, than
take care ofyou" He then picked her up
and carried her 10 the door Nov, j." he said
well watch for mamma"
The rock stood up against "a gray aud heavy
sky The wind had begun To moan, and the
birds flew screaming over the water. There
was not Il sign of their mother coming on the
beach, and Henry felt more lonely than ever
| He looked over to the lighthouse and wish
ed his father would light up, and it seemed
to him the sunset had come. Suddenly Il
IllllC nag ulptuICN III VIC ldultII. lltllIS
| sprang to his feet
what is the natter he exclaimed in
real earnest.
II don't know, was his reply
What first -
TO go 10 the lighthous
But lie was mistaken. The first thing he
had to do was To dispose of Lucy lie could
not take her; he could not leave her.
at you were only horse" he hurrcdlv
cried, 81 could put you in the stable. Ityou
were y cow I'd tic you to the stake but what
can do with baby"
Lucy can sc" said the child
No she can't he answered. And then
nc looked ont again, but his mother was not
in sight, and he red flag which meant Come
AT once still shook and beckoned to him.
He tied Lucy in her little chair with an
apron and wrote II note to his mother
DEAR MOTHER Father wanted me right
away and the lamp is not lii and it is after
sunset and hope Lucy won't get into trou.
bic. Your son,
HENRY BRUCE.'
| He put this not in front of the lamp and
! hurried off
| y boat WAS always kept ready, nd Henry
| sprang into it and rowed off with energy
! 1t was dark, however, when he reached the
| light house, and rain had begun to fall. He
tied his boat TO the pier and ran to the tower.
He opened small heavy bronze door and
entered n large, always dimly lighted room,
in which was stored coal and wood, oil for
the lamp, and fresh water from the main
| land
| The stairs were in this room and Henry
ran up The room above WAS the kitchen, over
! that was the he'd room, and from this a lad
der led 10 the lantern. All was dark and
ii
all was silent. Then heard Il grOan and rush
ed down the ladder, got the keepers hand
lamp and ran back. His father lay on the
/ floor his eyes were closed and blood ran from
/ his temple II was plain he had fallen and
hurt himself
! Henry began to cry. He did not know
/ what to do. Then he remembered that he
ought TO stop the blood, and taking his
| fathers handkerchief from his pocket he tied
| lp the wound
| Still his father neither spoke nor moved.
! Then he cried again And then he thought
ofhis mother. She must by this time be ut
/ home, and without hesitation he rushed of
! again, but this time 10 his boat. 1t took hut
! u moment 10 unite it and spring in and be
| off.
The rain fell heavily, the waves dashed on
! the rocks. and Henry looking llp, saw the dim
Z bulililt vi tue llpHt-lOuSt. lltSlDppcu rowing.
4 His heart gave n jump, and before his eyes
seemed to flash the Charge of the Keepers"
/ hung up in The light house.
You are to light the lamps ever, evening
at sunsetting, and keep them burning bright
and clear until sunrising"
His fathers faithfulness, the great import
ance oflghtng up, rushed into Henry's mind.
/ He turned his boat and rowed back few
rods But it could not be He must take his