Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-26
IN THE LTGHT HOUSE.

All, woei-for the good Old Year is dead
Nm. H. Burieigh.
@---------=
IN THE LTGHT HOUSE,
a New Years story.
1t was the last day in the old year, and yet
ii did not seem much like winter, though the
maple trees we're bare and the flowers all
dead. The oaks were covered thicky with
leaves. True, when the wind blew, II rustled
through brown, dry foliage very different to
the living tints of months back but when
you looked at the soft, muddy roads, or the
clear blue sky, you scarcely realized that it
was just past Christmas.
John Hudson, keeper Of the light house at
Fishing Point, was brushing his weather.
beaten coat (once black now almost sage.
green'), and giving parting directions to
John Hudson, jr.,-called Jack" by his ia.
miliars. "Now mind and don't set the house
on fire while 1 am gone. l must fix that
chimney when get back, or we'll be burnt
out yet aud don't take to foolng with the
oil-there isn't very much Of it left now.
There's that cord of wood in the yard. l
guess you had better fill the wood-boxes, aud
pick up bit l expect the inspector will be
round before long, and we want to have ev-
erything taut and trim when he comes. Get
your dinner when you're ready 1 may be
back in time, and l may not, with all these
errands to do in the village but any way,
shall be home this afternoon. Good.by SON
ny" and he tramped briskly away through
the trees
"Stub Stub here, sir. You must stay
here with me. Father don't went you.
There's a rat, sure's | live. Sic it, Stub
S s-s-sic it !"
Now, said Jack after an exciting chase,
in which boy and dog had howled and barked
a most powerful duet, now Stub, we'll wash
the breakfast dishes, won't we 2"
Stub looked knowing assent, and sat
gravely on chair (Which he first knocked
the cat OIL while Jack washed and dried the
few dishes 81 deft as a girl. He bad lived
here a. long as he could remember. His
earliest recollection was looking at the bright
reflector up. stairs and seeing in it sweet,
loving face, with tender blue eyes, near his
own. The next memory of the face was in
a coffin, pale and STILL while his father held
his hand, and the minister from the village
talked in a low, sad tone. Butthis was years
ago. when Jack was las he would inform
you) "only a little fellow" Nov, from the
dignifed age Of ten years, he felt himself
almost arrived at mans estate. His father
was formerly a sailor, but in consequence OF
losing some of his fingers in the icy regions
VI tub uOItus NC uhl W BOhltlOu VI
light house keeper-loying the sea too well
to think for moment of any work further
inland. Such stories as he used to tell Jack
in the winter days, when they would be cut
of by snow drifts from the rest of the world
| Such thrilling adventures as delighted the
boys ears in the long, solitary evenings Sto
ries Of the time on Labrador, when a tire
mendous whale capsized a boats crew, and
two men got drowned of the mutiny thai
once broke out on the Fair Betsey, aud the
sneaking Italians who got put in irons fol
starting it.
Jack would go to bed with "cIeepy" kind
of feeling after these stories, but the morn
ing light always drove away the shadows
and he would vow to himself never to allow
| such ridiculous stories to trouble him again
stub, let's play Robinson Crusoe in the
| yard, now the dishes are all washed Jant
Ito the ca) you can come, too, il you wan
to-" said Jack, opening the door, Stubb &C
cepted the invitation for himself and Jane by
making dart at her as she lay blinking nes
the stove and rushing her out of doors with
scant ceremony.
This shed here shall be the cave, and II
wear fathers fur cap and be Robinson Cru
soc. You can be Friday, Stub; you ar,
black, and you don't know much; and Jant
shall sit up here on the woodpile and be th
parrot. Now, Friday, you just stay ther
while 60 to get some sticks for the wood
box and Jack, making his work into play
worked with will, while the waves rompet
and tossed about on the shore like merr,
children, and a little gray cloud no bigge
than a mans hand, rose slowly in the nortl
and made another dash of color in the bril-
liant sky.
'Why, declare if it amt going to snow
| wish father would hurry up. How quickl
the clouds have come and they so heavy
too, az il they were Just bursting with TIA
piles of snow-hakes hid away in them Oh
my, won't it be jolly coasting, though
has not been half a winter yet-nO snow, eX
cept little that melted right away, and non
of the ponds we're frozen over. guess
had better see if my sleds are all right :" an
away Jack ran on this hollow pretence-thi
delightful piece of self.delusion about tn
condition of the "Artful Dodger;" for ha
he not examined it daily for the past tw
months, and longed impatiently for a chanc
to use it? "Oh, my, there's a snow. flake, a
sure as the world; and another and anothe
-swarms of 'eml" exclaimed Jack to h
small but select audience of Stub and Jant
They we're very amisble, and frisked an
gambolled with as great appearance of haI
py innocence as could be desired by any ont
1T is getting dark very quickly; not fou
o'clock yet. guess it's going to be prett
big fall this time, and-whew Stub, hes
the wind sounds squally, don't it."
Stub looked with an air of gravity throug
the window, and seemed to be of the opiI
ion that it certainly did appear very threa
ening.
"What keeps father 80 late, wonder?
it keeps on getting dark as fast as this, Il
light will have to be fixed pretty soon."
Thick and fast fell the snow. fakes, hurry
ing. seurrying down, as if in haste to 81
which could first reach the earth. Ever
now and then a violent gust of wind woul
come, that rOmped and rioted among the dr.
leaves that still olung to some of the tree
and, near at hand, the waves surged an
dashed and tossed themselves on the shoi
and against the rocks.
II know the lamp ought to be lit / ha
better go right away and do it, said Jacl
addressing his companions. As they raise
no objection, Jack started, material in ham
aud they followed-to see, no doubt, that o
erythiug was done fairly and squarely.
the stairs went the trio, Stub ahead, sniflir
and peering into all the dark corners Jael
with the lamp and oil in his hand, followiu
wsrily, and Jane, with dignity suitable to
! lady of her years, bringing up the rear. JaC
knew how TO set to work. He watched b
father daily, and had sometimes been allo'
ed TO help him so, in very short time,
friendly glow OF light poured through Il
windows of the little tower, and laid ba
= the deep, treacherous rocks with blunt di
= tinctness, while they strove vainly to hi'
: beneath the stormy waves.
'T suppose we might as we'll get supp
. ready now, against father comes, and Ja'
: laid the cloth neatly and cut the bread with
. will. Like few rare and isolated boys
I his age, being hungry was Jacks normal co
+ dition, relieved at occasional intervals by /
Q ing satisfied. Supper was waiting-fathei
s tea was boiling and bubbling on the sto
8 (Jack's limited knowledge of cooking hi
4 not taught him that tea should never be
! lowed to boil. Jacks basin of broken brea
+ in readiness for the soalding milk, some dri
t beef as a special treat and plenty of go'
" bread cheese and butter besides. Inside
was warm and cosy, CHEEKY and homs-ik
Z. outside, stormy and clustering.
!. Two hours passed, and still no faith