The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-07
IN THE LIGHTHOUSE.

blew it rustled through brown, dry foil.
age 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 lighthouse
at Fishing Point was brushing his
weather beaten coat (once black, now al.
most "sagegreen y, and giving part
ing directions to John Hudson,
Jr.-called Jack" by his famil
lars Now mind and don't set the
house on fire while am gone. l must
fix that chimney when get back, or Wen
be burned out yet, and don't take to fool
ing with the oil-there isn't very much Of
it left now. There's that cord of wood in
the yard; guess you had better fill the
wood boxes, and pick up bit. l expect
the inspector will be round before long,
and we want to have everything taut and
when you're ready; 1 may be back in
time, and l may not, with all these
errands to do in the village; but, anyhow,
l shall be home this afternoon. Good
bye, sonny, and he tramped briskly
away through the trees.
Stub! Stub here, sir. You must stay
home with me- Father don't want you
There's a rat, sure's live! Sick it, Stub!
S-s-s-sick it,"
"Now," said Jack, after an exciting
chase in which boy and dog had howled
and bSrked a most powerful duet, snow,
Stub, well wash the breakfast dishes
won't WEI"
Stub looked knowing assent, and sat
gravely on a chair (Which he first knocked
the cat Off, while Jack washed and dried
the few dishes as deft as a girl. He had
lived there as long as he could remember
His earliest recollection was looking at
the bright reflector upstairs, and seeing in
it a sweet, loving face, with tender blue
eyes. near his own. His 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 low, sad tone. But this was
years ago, when Jack was Gas he
would inform YOU "only little fell
low Now, from this dignified age of
ten years he felt himself arrived at mans
estate. His father was formerly sailor,
but in consequence of losing one of his
fingers in the icy regions of the north he
had to accept the position of lighthouse
keeper-lOving the sea too well TO think
for a moment Of any work further inland.
Such stories as he used to tell Jack in the
winter days, when they would be cut off
by snowdrifts from the rest of the world
Such thrilling adventures delighted the
boys ears in the long, solitary evenings.
Stories of the time on Labrador when a
and two men got drowned; of tn; mutiny
that once broke out on the Fair Betsey,
and the sneaking Italian who got put in
irons for starting it.
Jack would go to bed with creepy"
kind of feeling after these stories, but the
morning light always drove away the
shadows, and he would VOW to himself
never to let such ridiculous stories brighten
him again. "Stub, let's play Robinson
Crusoe in the yard, now that the dishes
are all washed; Jane Ito the cat, you can
come, too, if you want, said Jack, open
ing the door. Stub accepted the invita-
ton for himself and Jane by making
dart at her as she lay blinking near the
stove, and rushing her out doors with
scant ceremony.
"This shed here shall be the cave, and
I'll wear fathers fur cap and be Robinson
Crusoe. You can be Friday, Stub. You
are black and don't know much; and Jane
shall sit up here on the woodpile and be the
parrot Now, Friday, you just stay there
while go to gel, some sticks for the wood
box" and Jack, making his work into
play, worked with will, while the waves
romped and tossed about Oh the shore like
merry children, and a little gray cloud,
no bigger than mans hand, rose slowly
in the north and made another dash of
color in the brilliant sky.
why. l declare if it amt going to
SHOW! Inc ClouuS nave COIAeS anu tueJ
look heavy, too, as if they were Just burst
ing with the piles of snowfiakes hid away
in them. My! won't it be jolly coasting,
thought 1t hasn't been half winter yet
no snow, except little that melted
right away, and none of the ponds frozen
over. guess had better see if my sled's
all right; and away Jack ran on this hol-
low pretence-this delightful piece of
self-delusion about the condition
of the "Artful Dodger," for had
he not examined it daily for
the past two months and longed i'm
patiently for a chance to use it? my!
there's a snowflake, as sure's the world;
and there's another, and another-swarms
of 'eml" exclaimed happy Jack to his
small but select audience of Stub and
Jane They were very amiable, and
appearance of happy innocence as could
be desired.
"Its getting dark very quickly; not
o'clock yet. / guess it's going to be a
pretty big fall this time, and-whewi
Stub, hear the wind; sounds squally,
don't it?"
Stub looked with an air of gravity
through the windows, and seemed to be
of the opinion that it certainly did ap.
pear threatening.
What keeps father so late, wonder?
If it keeps on getting dark as fast as this
the light will have to be fixed pretty
soon.
Thick and fast fell the snowfakes,
hurrying, scurrying down, as if in haste
to see which could first reach the earth.
Every now and then violent gust of
wind would come that chung to some of
the trees, and near at hand the waves
surged and dashed and tossed themselves
on the shore and against the rocks.
Il know the lamp ought to be lit. I'd
better go right away and do it, said Jack,
addressing his companion. 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, snuffing and peering into all
the dark corners, Jack, with the lamp
and oil in his hand, following warily, and
Jane, with a dignity suitable for a lady
of her years, bringing up the rear Jack
knew how to work He watched his father
daily, and had sometimes been allowed
to help him; so, in a very short
time, friendly glow of light poured
through the windows of the little tower,
and laid bare the deep, treacherous rocks
with blunt distinctness while they strove
vainly to hide beneath the stormy waves.
suppose we might as well get supper
ready now, against father comes, and