Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-02

be desired.
ats getting dark very quickly; not
four o'clock yet. guess it's going to be
Ia pretty big fall this time, and-whew' !
Stub, hear the wind; sounds squaly, don't
litw
Stub looked with an air of gravity
through the window. ard seemed to be Of
the opinion that it certainly did appear
threatening,
"What keeps fa her so late, wonderp
If it keeps on getting dark rs fast as this
the light will have to be fixed pretty
soop."
Thick and fast fell the snowflakes.
hurrying, scurryDg down, ms if in haste
TO see which could first reach the earth
Every now and then violent gust of
wind would come that romped and rioted
among the dry leaves hat still clung to
some of the trees, and near at hand the
waves surged and tossed themselves on
the shore and against the rocks
81 know the lamp ought to be lit. I'd
better 60 right away and do it, said
Jack, addressing his companions. As
they raised no objection, Jack started,
materials in hand, and they followed-to
see. no doubt, that everything was done
fairly and squarely. Up the stairs went
the trio. Stub ahead, snuf1ling and peer.
ing into all the dark corners; Jack, with
the lamp, following warily, and Jane,
with dignity suitable for lady of her
years, bringing up the rear. Jack knew
how to set to work. He watched his
father daily, and had sometimesi been
allowed to help him; 80, in II very short
time, friendly glow of light poured
through the windows of the little tower,
and laid bare the deep, lreacherous rocks,
with blunt dis!nclness, while they strove
vainly to hide beneath the stormy waves.
II 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 IL few rare and
isolated boys Of his age, being-hungry was
Jacks normal condition, relieved at occa-
sional intervals by being satisfied. Supper
was wailing,-father' tea was boiling and
bubbling on the stove (Jack's limited
knowledge of cooking had not taught him
that tea should never be allowed to boil
Jacks basin of broken bread in readiness
for the scaldng milk, some dried beef rs
special treat, and plenty of good bread,
cheese and butter besides. Inside. all was
warm and cozy, CHEEKY and homelike;
outside, stormy and blustoring.
Two hours passed, and still no father,
Jack had made a tremendous effort to
delay eating till he arrived; but bit by bit
the broken bread had disappeared, follow
ed by another selection from the bill of
fare, while Jane Tapped a saucer Of milk,
and the quondam Friday, forgetting his
cannibalistc tendencies, made hearty
repast on dried beef and pieces of Jacks
bread and butter.
Seven clock, and father not home
yet! viii the light burn an hour yet
without fixing. Father said it would
burn longer than that, but it's safest to
look at it every four hours, and he's sure
to be here before it wants looking to-"
So Jack got his favorite book from the
shelf, and settled down for a cozy read in
his fathers arm chair near the stove. 1t
certainly was very exciting-where Crusoe
and Friday discover the arrival of the one
and twenty savuges, and disturb them at
their revolving repast. But Jack got up
so early mornings. and was 80 active all
the day, that no wonder his ideas began
to stray and his eyes to blink and close
Stub had settled himself near for IL quiet
meditation nose between two black. out
stretched forepaws, and gaze fixed on
nothing in particular; while Jane having
first made her toilet for the night by
careful washing and patting, dozed peace
fully behind the stove. Tired Jack slept
and dreamed he was Crusoe, and had Just
built n beautiful sled, and he and Friday
coasted down among the cannibals and
sent them flying on all sides; and the old
clock licked, ticked, while out doors the
snow blew in whirls, and weary man
fought hard against the wind, and sought
to find again the 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 matterp' he said, shaking
himself and standing up. "Why, how
late it is! What can have happened 10
father?'
| Stub rousef up, but could not answer
the question, so wisely kept slent-peoplo
don't always, you know.
The light! the light! Oh! suppose it's
gone out! | must 90 up this very minute
10 see, though it's awful dark and the
stoves gone out, too; but / can't stop 10
make it up now. Come. Stub, you can 30
with me if you want to-" said diplomatic
Jack, who really didn't like to 60 through
all those dark passages aud stairways
alone, but who wouldn't have had Stub
know it for the world.
The house had got all cold, and Jack
was hunting long about with shivering
fingers before he could find the proper
oil for the light. At last, however, he
found it, spilled lot of it in pouring it
out into the small can, and got the rest
safely up the first flights of stairs, Stub
following rather sleepily. The light tow
er was built high above the dwelling part
of the house, and was reached by several
steep flights of stairs, and finally ny lad
der 10 n trap door. The roof and walls
from about four feet from the floor were
glass, and the light, lamp and reflector
stood on kind of stapdard about five feet
high. All the beautiful brass plates were
kept as brilliant rs mirror, and the win
dows were transparent and speckless as
pure water. 1t was John Hudson's duty
to keep them in this condition. Inspec
tors were always dropping in at unexpect-
ed times, and dismissal from the post
would have followed any lack of proper
attention to those details. But it was the
light house keepers pride to keep them
bright and FURNISHED even beyond any
laws and regulation.
|
was slowly mounting, when his foot
slipped and he fell. Stub looked at him
heiplessly, and waited for him to pick
himself up. Jack had kept hold of his
lantern, and fortunately it had not got
extinguished; the oil can fell at little
distance.
whats the matter nowp What ails
my footp" said he, making several neffec-
tual attempts to stand. My how it hurtsr
and he kept it in his hand while he bravely
kept the tears back. "I guess I've
spralned it, or something. What shall
dop l could manage to slide downstairs
again and wait there till father comes.
But then the light; that ought TO be attend
ed 10. Oh! why amt father back" and
he WINGED with pain as a sudden twinge
came from his ankle.
"Oh, dear, it's tough work." said he, rs
with the oil can slung across one arm he
tried to climb the ladder with one foot and