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

eyes seemed to flash the "Charge to Keep
ers" hung up in the light house 50
''You are to light the lamps every evening at
sunsetting and keep them burning bright and
clear until sunrising."
His fathers faithfulness the great i'm
portance of lighting up, rushed into
Henry's mind, and again he involuntarily
repeated his Emergency Drill"
"What is the matter p
"The lamps are not lighted
"What first 2"
"To light them"
He turned his boat and rowed back a
few rods. But was it first? 1t could not
be He must take his mother over. His
father would die for want Of help. As he
paused, trembling, anxious, irresolute, he
remembered how often his father had said
that no wreck should ever be his fault, and
il was {. terrible night
Henry knew what his father would say,
and he at once rowed directly back. He
returned TO the house, stumbled up the
dark stairs, got the lamp again and ran
up into the lantern 1t took him but a
moment to light the lamps, and the glow
spread out Oh the sea, and aroused Iy the
glare his father opened his eyes.
"The lamps" he said
II have lighted them Henry replied ;
"and now am going for mother
stay" was the answer. and his father
closed his eyes again.
Henry hesitated, but he sat down in
the hard chair in which his father spent
each night watching. He knew what his
father meant The lights would 90 out,
and needed care all night
And so Henry sat there. The wind
howled the house shook and swayed ;
the thirds dashed against the glass
the rain beat on the roof, and all sorts OF
wild sounds seemed to be in the air.
Sometimes he got up and bathed his
fathers head with water. He brought d
pillow. He talked to him, but no answer
but moan, yet he never ceased to keep
the lights burning "bTight and clear"
1t seemed TO him nearly morning when
lie heard pounding at the lighthouse
door. He knew it was some one seeking
shelter, and he went down and opened it.
There stood a man and boy and
his mother
Henry cried them And he laughed
and lie clung around her neck, and he
poured out that his father was hurt and
he had kept the lights burning, and he
had to leave Lucy, and all Of it in one
breath.
But" said his mother, pushing back
her wet hair, II do not understand,
Where is your father? Where is Lucy 4
"He is up stairs. | left i note for YOU
by the lamp"
but hayenot been home, exclaimed
his mother. II have been all night on the
sea. Our friends here told me they would
give me passage back, so waited. 1t
tecane dark so early, and We dashed on
the rocks and our mast was broken. We
had no idea where we were, and we cOuld
not see the light house. Then all at once
it blazed up, and ali night, this fearful
night, we have struggled toward it,"
And so it was his mother that Henry
saved when he decided that bis father
would hold his duty dearcr than his life
and turning back took his place and kept
the signal lights burning.
How happy they all were that night
after the keeper was carried down stairs
and came to his senses, and told how he
fell and only had power to put out the
flag. The only thing that troubled Mrs
Bruce was the thought of Lucy tied
in her chair When Mr.. Bruce recovered
he asked for an assistant, and when the
man came behold he brought his son, a
year younger than Henry, and Henry felt
as # he had got his "AIan Friday" fOul
Continent.