Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-01-05


into nil the dark corners jack, with the
lamp and oil in his hand, following wari-
w, and Jane, with dignity suitable to Il
lady of her years, bringing up the rear.
Jack knew how to SET to work. He watch
ed his father daily, and had sometimes
been allowed to help him so, in very
short time. friendly glow of light pour
ed through the windows OF the little tow
er. and laid bare the deep, treacherous
rocks with blunt distinctness, while they
strove vainly to hide beneath the stormy
waves.
81 suppose we might as well get supper
ready now, against father comes, and
Jack laid the cloth neatly and cut the
bread with will. Like few rare and
isolated boys of his age, being hungry
was Jacks normal condition, relieved at
occasional intervals by being satisfied.
Supper was waiting-futher's tea was
, boiling and bubbling on the stove (Jack's
limited knowledge Of cooking had not
taught him that tea should never be al
lowed to boiJ. Jacks basin of broken
bread in readiness for the scalding milk,
some dried beef rs special treat, and
plenty of good bread, cheese and butter
besides. Inside all was warm and cosy,
=
and clustering.
Two hours passed, and still no father.
Jack had made tremendous effort to Je-
lay eating till he arrived Gut bit by bit
the broken bread had disappeared, fol
lowed by other selections from the bill of
fare, while Jane Tapped saucer of milk,
and the quondam Friday, forgetting his
canuibalistc tendencies, made hearty
| repast on dried beef and pieces Of Jacks
bread and butter
''Seven o'clock, and the father not
home yet Well. the light will burn an
hour yet without fixing Father says it
would bum longer than thai. but it's
safest to look at i'll every four hours, and
he's sure to be here before it wants look
ing 10. So jack got his favorite book
from the shelf, and settled down for IL
cozy read in his fathers armchair near
the stove. 1t certainly was very exciting
where Crusoc and Friday discover the
arrival of the one-and-twenty savages,
and disturb them in their revolving re-
past. But Jack got up SO carly mornings,
and was SO active all the day, that no
wonder ms IDEAS began to stray and his
himself near for little quiet meditation
paws, and gaze fixed on nothing in partic-
ular while Jane, having first made her
toilet for the night by carefully washing
and patting, dozed peacefully behind the
stove. Tired Jack slept and dreamt he
was Crusoc, and had Just built a beauti-
| ful sled, and he and Friday coasied down
among the cannibals and sent them flying
on all sides and the old o'clock tick-tick-
ed, while outdoors the snow blew in
whirls. and n weary man fought hard
against the wind and sought to find again
| the beaten path to his home. Hour after
hour passed, till the faithful hammer,
striking ten, woke Jack in bewilderment
at not finding himself in his own little
| bed.
"What's the matter ?" he said, shaking
himself and standing up. "Why, how
late it is , What can have happened to
father
Stub reused up, but could not answer
the question, SO wisely kept silence
people dol t always, you know.
"The light the light Oh, suppose
minute to see, though it's awfully dark,
| and the stoves gone ont, too but | can't
stop 10 make it up now. Come, Stub,
y
Jack, who really didn't like to go through
all those dark passages alone, but who
wouldn't have had Stubb know it for the
world
The house had got all cold, and Jack
was hunting long about with shivering
fingers before hc could find the proper
oil for tile light. At last, however, he
found it, spilled lot of it pouring it out
into the small can, and got the rest safely
up the first flight Of stairs. Stub follow
ing rather sleepily. The light tower was
built high above the dwelling part of the
| house, and was reached by several steep
flights Of stairs, and finally by ladder
to n trap-door. The roof ard walls from
about four feet from the floor were glass,
and the light, lamp, and reflector stood
on a kind of standard about five feet high.
All the beautiful brass plates were kept
as brilliant rs n mirror, and the windows
were transparent and speckless as pure
water 1t was John Hudson's duty to
keep them in this condition. Inspectors
were always dropping in ut unexpected
times, and dismissal from the post would
have followed any lack of proper atten-
ton to these details. But it was the
lighthouse keepers pride to keep them
bright and FURNISHED even beyond any
laws and regulations.
Jack reached the foot of the ladder, and
was slowly mounting, when his foot slip
ped and he fell. Stub looked at him
helplessly, and waited for him to pick
himself up again. Jack had kept tight
hold OF his lantern and fortunately it had
not been distinguished but the oil-can did
fall at u little distance,
/