The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-03-30
w ll-Drilled.

Sometimes in the long winter evenings,
Henry Bruce amused himself making out
lists of lonely people, and his own Dame
always stood at the head. He agreed
that Robinson Cruso could remember when
lie had as much company as he wanted,
and Henry could not. The Man in the
Iron Mask was solitary enough, but how
about the time before he wore it ! As for
st. Simeon Stylites, Henry would not put
him on the list at all, because, even if he
did choose to live on the top of high pill
lar. be always had crowd gaping up at
him. Henry's grievance was one he shar-
ed with Adam: he had never had boy
to play with him.
His father was the keeper of light
house on the northern coast of England.
The light house stood on rock two miles
cut at sea, but Henry lived with his
mother and little sister in a cottage on the
mainland. There was not boy within
a days travel. Men used to come up the
coast shooting and fishing, but curiously
enough no boys ever came along, and al
though Henry had seen him On vessels, he
had never had a good, honest hours play
or talk with a boy in all his life.
There was another odd thing about the
life here. At all light houses in these
times there are two or three men, so if
one gets sick there will be some one to
take bis place. But 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 of it because he was afraid
that he would be paid less if he had
rn ha1n ua n
take the place of assistant as soon as he
was old enough. In the meantime to edu
cate the boy for possible contact with
the world, he used to put him through
what he called "Tbe Emergency Drill
This related to different matters, but it
always began in the same way. The first
question was: "What is the matter ?"
The second: 'What first" Then, ado
| need help 2" and if the answer to this
was eyes, then: "Where shall get it -
Henry became so used to these questions
that he put them to himself on many oc-
casions, and he often amused himself
playing he was a general on the battle
field, or king out hunting, and he
imagined all sorts of troubles when the
''DrlF was of use.
One morning a fishing boat came in
bound to the nearest town, and Mrs.
Bruce asked the men to take her along
to buy yarn for the childrens stockings.
They agreed, but told her she would have
to walk back, but she was willing to 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 cloud,
and little Lucy became cross and sleepy
and cried for her mother. Henry gave
her bread and milk, but still she fretted.
She did not want to play and she would
not go to sleep.
"My goodness" he cried. 81 wish all
babies were grown up! | would rather
hunt lions than take care of you" He
then picked her up and carried her to the
door. "Now," he said, "we will watch
for mamma"
The rocks stood up against gray 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
felt more lonely than ever. He looked
father would light it up, and it seemed
TO him that sunset, the time for lighting,
must surely have come. Suddenly little
flag appeared in the lantern. Henry
sprang to his feet.
"What is the matter ?" he exclaimed
in real earnest.
II don't KNOW was his reply.
tWhat first n
''To go to the lighthouse"
But he was mistaken. The first thing
he had to do was to dispose of Lucy. He
could not take her; he could not leave
her.
"If you were only horse" he hurried
ly cried, 81 could put you in the stable.
If you were COW Pd tie you to the stake;
but what can do with a baby ?"
Lucy can co." said the child.
mo, she can't" he answered. And
then he looked again, but his mother was
not yet in sight, and the 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 note to his mother -
DEAR MOTHER father wanted me right
away and the lamp is not lit and it is after sun
Your son HENRY BRUCE"
He put this note in front of the lamp
and hurried off.
4 boat was always kept ready, and
Henry sprang into it and rowed off with
energy. 1t was dark, however, when he
reached the light house, and the rain had
begun to fall. He tied his boat to the
little pier and ran to the tower. Heopen-
ed small, heavy bronze door and enter
ed 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 kitch-
Ell, over that was the bed room, and from
this ladder led to the lantern. Henry
called but there was no answer. He went
up into the lantern. All was dark and
silent. He spoke again and again but
still all was silent Then he heard a
groan, and he rushed 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 1t
was plain that he had fallen and hurt him
self
Henry began to cry. He did not know
what to do, and the Emergency Drill"
didn't occur to him. Then he remember
ed that he ought to stop the flow of blood,
and taking his fathers handkerchief from
his pocket he tied up the wound. Still
his father neither spoke nor moved.
Then he cried again. And then he thought
of his mother. She must by this time be
at home, and without hesitation he rush
ed off again, but this time to his boat.
1t took but moment to unite it and
spring in and be off.
The rain fell heavily, the waves dashed
on the rocks, and Henry looking up saw
the dim outline of the lighthouse. His