The Portland daily press., 1884-11-27

rrn towards home. How dark it wasl
She could scarcely keep the path; certainly
she would have lost it had she not known it
so WELL and helped too by the lightning
which incessantly burned in the sky. The
thunder was terrible, but it was hardly loud
er than the breaking Of the great waves.
And now the rain fell in torrents. Poor lit
tie, trembling Betty hastened on her way
making all the speed see could The gusts
of wind threatened to take her from her
feet, and she was often obliged TO sink down
on the sand TO recover breath aud strength
to ruu on again. The booming of the sig
nal gun grew fainter in the distance, but
she still heard it, and it nerVed her 10 strug-
gle on.
At home, Mrs. Brandon was waiting with
a troubled heart the coming of her daughter,
who should have been at home hours ago.
What could have befailen her! TIE moth
er's anxiety had reached a height almost un-
endurabe, when the door burst open, and
Betty, pale, drenched, and shigering, her
strength fairly exhausted, almost fell into
her mothers arms. it was some moments
before she could gasp out her story. But
she had already, on her way. alarmed the
men in the neighboring cottages, and they
we're making hasty preparations to set out
for the lighthouse iulet, while their wives
came crowdiug into Mrs. Brandon's little
kitchen, eager to hear for themselves all
Betty had to tell. They gathered around
The fire, discussing the probability of a
wreck, until little boy, who had gone off
with his father. came back with the report
that the ship was aground upon the rockst
but that they hoped to get off all on board,
and had sent him to tell The women to make
ready food and beds for the rescued. When
the men folk were discovered returning,
mothers and maidens, moved by one i'm
pulse of blended curiosity and kindness,
rushed out to greet the rescuers and the res
cued. But little Betty was the first to see
whom she had helped to save, and to
fall, with joyful cry into her fathers
arms. And not Betty alone-but many
found their loves in the group. Fathers
were restored to their children, husbands TO
WIVES anu eOAS W hhObuSAS. AuS A1OHSASS
Brandon was breaking up on tbs rocks: but
her freight of living souls was safe in the
shelter of the humble homes Of Fairhaven.
Joyfully rang out the bell of the fisher
mans chapel on the holiday morning, sum-
moning the people to the Thanksgiving SER
vice of solemn joy. What happy gatherings
after, in all the households of Fairbaven! In
the Brandon cottage father, mother, broth
er and sister sat together with hearts so full
of sweet satisfaction and gratitude that they
hardly cared to talk. SIT was Betty who
saved u.s." the father said: and he says it al
ways when he recalls that wild November
night. "The light of her beacon fire was
our first ray OF hope, and her brave hasten
ing little feet brought us rescue"
Betty can never forget that night, and she
is grateful to God whenever she remembers
its terror and its surprise that she was abe
to do the right thing at the right time. Her
unselfish serviceeof those who were in peril
not only made bright Thanksgiving Day
in ali the cottages of Falyhaven, but made
all the days of the year Thanksgiving days
in the flial devotion of her loving heart.