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

Jack had made tremendous effort 10 delay
eating till he arrived but bit by bit the
broken bread had disappeared, followed by
other selections from the bill of fare, while
Jane Tapped a saucer OF milk, and the quon-
dam Friday, forgetting his cannibalistio ten
denotes, made hearty repast on dried beef
and pieces Of Jacks bread aud butter.
Seven o'clock, and the father not home
yet Well, the light will burn an hour yet
without fixing. Father says II would burn
longer than that, but it's safest to look at il
in every four hours, and he's sure to be here
before it wants looking to-" So Jack got his
favorite book from the shelf, aud settled
down for a cozy read In his fathers arm
chair near the stove. II certainly was very
excitng-where Crusoe and Friday discover
the arrival Of the one and-twenty savages,
and disturb them in their revolving repast
But Jack got up no early mornings, and was
so active ali the day, that no wonder his ideas
began to stray and his eyes to blink and close
Stub had settled himself near for little qui-
ct meditation-nose between two outstretch.
ed forepsws, and gaze fixed on nothing in
particular, while Jane, having first made her
toilet for the night by carefully washing and
patting, dozed peacefully behind the stove.
Tired Jack slept and dreamed he was Crusoe,
and had just built a beautiful sled, and he
and Friday coasted down among the canni-
balls and sent them flying on all sides and
the old clock tick licked, while outdoors the
snow blew in whirls, and weary man fought
hard against the Wind and sought TO find
again the beaten path to his home. Hour af
ter hour passed, till the faithful hammer,
striking ten, woke Jack in bewilderment at
not finding himself in his own little bed.
whats the matter 2" he said shaking
himself aud standing up. "Why how late
it is What can have happened to father ?"
Stub reused up, but could not answer the
question: 80 wisely kept silence-people don't
always, you know.
THE light! the light Oh, suppose it's
gone out l must go up this very minute to
see, though it's awfully dark, and the stoves
gone out, too but / can't stop to make it up
now. Come, Stub, you can go with me-"
said diplomatic 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 ell cold, and Jack was
hunting long about with shivering fingers be-.
fore he could find the proper oil for the light.
At last, however, be found it, spilled a lot Of
it pouring it out into the small can, and got
the rest safety up the first flight of stairs,
Stub following 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 a lad
der TO a trap-door. The roof and walls from
about four feet from the floor we're glass, aud
the light, lamp aud reflector stood on kind
of standard about five feet high. All the
| beautiful brass plates were kept as brilliant
rs a mirror and the windows were transpar-
ent and speckless as pure water. 1t was
John Hudson's duty to keep them in this
condition. Inspectors were always dropping
in at unexpected times, aud dismissal from
| the post would have followed any lack OF
| proper attention to these details. But il was
the light house 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 slipped
and be fell. Stubb 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 e1tingushed
but the oil-cau did fall at a little distance.
What's the matter now? What ails my
foot p said he. making several Intellectual
attempts to stand. My, how it hurts :
and he held it in his hand while he bravely
kept the tears back. l guess I've sprained il
or something. What shall | doY l could
manage to slide down stairs again and wai
there until father comes. But then the
light that ought to be attended to- Oh
Why sin't father back p and he WINGED with
pain as sudden twinge came from his an
kle
"Oh, dear It's tough work." said be, at
with the oil-can slung across one arm h'
tried to climb the ladder with one foot and
one knee.
II guess I'd better give it up. Psbaw
What is a fellow good for, any way, if h'
cant put himself out Of the way for folk
| once in a while How the tower shakes
What night it is !"
The ascent was mado at last, and the lgh
reached.
Just in time" said Jack ''the oils al
but finished l guess didn't put as much il
as father did, and he hoped around tn
narrow space and trimmed the lamp. 1t tool
him some time and the boys fingers wer
getting stif with cold, while his ankle KEEP
bringing a look Of pain across his face.
81 shall freeze yet before get it done,
groaned Jack, putting his fnger-ends int
his mouth to warm them. My foot IN.
IT." he shreked, as, forgetting it for al
instant, he had stepped on it. Stub, in tn
room below, gave a howl of sympathy, AM
rushed frantically at the foot of the ladder l.
reach his comrade.
II can't stand it any longerl oh, father
father :" and Jack fell unconscious to tn
floor.
All was silent once again in the house n
voice, save the old clock tick ticking the sec
onds away-the last minutes of the old year
Loud blew the wind in the face of fool
sore man, bruised by an outstretched branch
unseen in the darkness. and striving with ur
steady steps to reach his home. Out at sea
a noble vessel was battling with the storm
and happy hearts, unconscious of danger
were thinking of the glad meetings of tn
morrow-thinking of the dear faces tbs
should welcome their return in the brigb
new year Anxious hearts were beating /
secret, as the captain aud the pilot paced tn
deck uneasily, and peered through the storm
and
Questioned of the darkness, which was sea, an
which was landl"
Fishing Point light ought to show TO ih
nor'ard, said the captain.
1--WE been looking for it," returned th
pilot" "but the snow is so binding I've nj
been able to see it yet. There it !" he 81
claimed, after some minutes more of wear
, watching, and the snow-cloud seemed parte
by a warm geam of light. And miles awal
in the storm-rocked tower, lay prostrs,
form, cold and motionless, while the joy
bells of the glad new year were ringing
the hopes and triumphs Of thousands {
hearts.
Bravely the good ship Dauntless sailed il
| " pOib Oh tuah WIN CulOEh II,
r ing, and with friendly cheers from the shor
"a pretty narrow escape we had last nigh
r so the pilot tells me, said a passenger to h
friend, next morning, after hearty gree
] ing. IAN but lost of Fishing Point. III
light shone on the rocks just in time, or v
should not have been here now to greet eaC
other"
{ But Jack never knew anything of thi
Q All he knew was that his father said, pattir
his head God bless you, sonny if it bs
MT been for the light shining through Il
8 darkness of that awful night, shouldn't
alive to take care of you now"
And Jack then thought that this quite mao
: up for the long, weary weeks of pain befo
he would be able to use his lame foot agaiI
1
SWEDISH Folk LoRE.-On New Yeai
night, after the light is put out in your be
room, you must throw your slipper over yo
; left shoulder, and then look the next morniI
4 to see in what position it has fallen. II Il
. toe points to the door, you will leave th
house during the year but if the toe poin
? inward then you will remain where you a
: for another year 1t is customary also,
, the same night, for the people to go out in
3 the house where the logs of wood are Ike
q that are used for fuel. Each one picks
the first log that comes TO hand II it is
. clean and shapely piece, so will his (her)
L., -. al