Daily Republican., 1888-07-27
BILLY AND rHn L1oHrHoUsE.

afternoon to his young nephew, Billy
II shall have TO make you my assis
tant, and leaye the lighthouse in you
What" said Billy, abe left alon
in the lighthouse2D
He thought 1t was splendid to keel
the lights with Nahum Goodale, bu
to be left alone in that tower of stone
planted on a rock not much bigger
than the foot Of the tower, was an un
welc lme seclusion. All around thii
solitary rock swept tho great sea, raging
violently in storm.
"You see, Billy, / have found ouI
that we need some things at the light
very much" explained Uncle Nahum,
land l must 60 TO town after them.
will be back by lightng-up time. So
don't you worry"
"Wish [ could 80 with you"
land l wish you could, only-only
IL am expecting our supply OF water
may be brought Up to us every day,
and it comes by vessel; and if we are
both gone, and th . lighthouse shut up,
why"
"oh, yesl All right. I'll stay and
be assistant keeper"
"That helps me ever so much, and
will give you something to do.
Down IN the storer0om there is some
wood to be piled up, and then you can
sweep up; and if that work gives out,
why, please look at the library, dust
ing the books and putting them back
in their places. You know that occu
nattnV, ia l,,1I
Don't forget that"
THAT is worth remembering. will
write it down"
Uncle Nahum sailed away from the
lighthouse feeling that Solomon was
not the only person in the world who
could make maxim; while Billy went
to the slate up in the watchroom and
wrote the words, Occupation Is q
remedy for dull hours"
Then he hurried down the light
house stairs TO the storeroOm. Whist
ling away, he patiently piled the scat
tered wood. Then he swept the lit
tered floor.
"Now," said Billy, "I'll go up to
the watchroom and put the library in
order"
He took the books out of their
case, busted them and replaced them.
"How the time does tlyp exclaimed
Billy, "Uncle Nahum was right"
He went to the slate, and taking his
pencil wrote this under the now fa
nous maxim. ~ have piled the wood,
swept cut the storeroom, and attended
to the library; and 1 find that Uncle
Nahum is right. Time has gone real
quickp
What nextP He now went up to
the lantern in which was the lamp,
and then stepped outside on the para.
pet. This was rallied platform going
around the tower,
"Wonder where Uncle Nahum ls?"
said Billy. "I can't see his boat"
Between the lonely lighthouse and
the land no white sail could be seen
dotting the waters.
The sun will go down coon, and
the lamp ought to be lighted. Well" ."
mused Billy, 'if he shouldn't come,
the assistant keeper must light up for
Uncle Nahum"
Soon the sun burned on the crest Of
{ the hill far inland, like a bonfire kin.
died there, the flames playing up
through the clouds and igniting them.
"All readyW exclaimed Billy, stand
ing by the lamp, match In hand, "The
assistant keeper is ready"
Tie moment the sun sunk under that
crest of the hill, up flashed the light
in the lantern, kindled by the faithful
Billy.
"No Uncle MAJ unllu going down
| stairs to the kitchen. "Well, koccupG,
ton is a remedy for dull hours. Now
l will get supper for Uncle Nahum. l
can't do much as cook, but l can set
the tea.kettle on the stove and let the
water bile as Uncle Nahum says.
| That will do for his tea. Then can
toast ssme bread and cut solpsseold
meat; and--and--we will see Whds6sh
| be done"
In tho midat CT these preparations he
heard noise outside the lighthouse.
"Toott-tlw was Its cheerful sum
mons.
"Uncle Nahumi" said Billy, spring.
ing to the door of the kitchen. Then
he went down to the stoFeroom and
next to the door of the lighthouse, He
looked into the shadows. Uncle
Nahum m" he shouted.
"Ay, ayp was the response. Here
l ami"
Uncle Nahum moored his boat and
climbed the ladder fastened to the wall
Of the lighthouse.
"Why, why, Is 1t foggy2" asked
Billy. hTWas clear at sunset"
al know it, and 1t bothered me
Dreadfuuy sorry to be late, Billy, but
l struck the fog that came in from the
sea, and | must say it bothered me;
but your light brought me all right at
last. Come near running on Wreck
er's Ledge, but just then l saw your
light. Why, l feel proud of my as
sistant," declared Uncle Nahum.
Oh, how cheerful seemed the kitchen
of the lighthouse, snug and warm and
cheerful Uncle Nahum helped the
assistant cook, and the table was
spread with an abundant feast, Aunt
Sally having sent from shore several
OF her famous pies and jar of her
tDothsome preserves. The next morn
ing Uncle Nahum, having at sunrise
extinguished the lamp in the lantern,
was coming down through the watch.
room. He saw the slate on which Billy
had written the day before.
"Hal hal hal'' laughed Uncle Ma
hum, reading Billy's penmanship.
"Then Billy thought what said was
worth putting down: Occupation a
remedy for dull hours Let me add