Ellsworth American., 1891-07-30
Love at the Light.
: STORY OF THF MAINE COAST.

STORY OF IHF MAINE COAST.
II was the night before Christmas The
night st Bumhi, bee Ledge Light, as else
where along The New England coast, was
dark and dir,y and dismal.
Good reader. warmly clad, wcllfed. at
ease IN your chCrry. comfortable home, the
gentle wife at Your side before The open
urc, the happy children PLAYING about your
kuces, making ready t. hang their stock
ings within the deep replace, You can
never adequately conceive of danger and
distress, YOU can never know the dreari-
ness that may attend the holy Christmas
tide, spent in such q night and such a
place.
The little island reef on which is situated
one of the most important light stations of
the Maine coast i ten miles OFF shore. Its
colony consists, at present, Of three keep.
ers as brave aud honest men as ever kept
light two women, three children, New
foundland dog, and some hens and pig
cons
1t was almost ight-almost Christ
mas morning The heavens were obscured
with ragged. scudding clouds, through
which the moon. riding high. almost :t its
fun, pcerod timidly now and then. The
Sea ran high; and the Wild norlhea,ter
whistled hideou>ly around the massive
tower. II seemed a. If a hundred de,p per
ate, shriek!ug demons were turned lose up
on the Islands two acres Of crag and kelp.
Capt VIII was the head keeper Jimmie
and Jack were his Two assistants
1t was Captain WINS watch. He stood
ringing The huge fog hell which rested up
on heavy oak stanchion or frame " OF K
hulted TO the rock on the site OF the old
tower. Braced against the oaken iimber~
lt.-1 q, y
face. he stood pulling the rope and gszlpg
dreamIly toward the northeast into the
7 very teeth OF the gale.
Suddenly, To his horror, he saw vessel
loom up out of the fog like phantom
snip, and come crashing upon the ledges
81 the eastern end Of the island. Asha>t
he dropped the hetl rope. stared yacantly at
tie vessel whose outlines We're dimly visi
bic. listened a moment 10 the groaning
creaking cordage, the swapping -pars and
rigging. and the sickening thud of the
helpless hulk a. it rose and fell with the
heavy sea, While the sharp rruel hedges be-
meath seemed each time 10 We ii death
stab.
Again seizing the rope and giving few
mighty strokes, he rushed down the plank
walk TO the house. As he reached the
door rocket was let of from the dis
tresscd vessel.
Good God. bows" he shouted Justify
up the crooked stairway, there's vessel
ashore on the outer ledge Come turn
out lively there, We must get out to her
somehow or mother See her don't We.
boys" he asked as his two assistant, tum-
bled down The stairs and peered sleepiy
forth from the doorway. shes right on
top Of Eastern Ledge, near> can make
cut I've only been watching her half a
minute. She's 8 lumberman. | was out
rlngin' the bell when she went onto
the ledge. Thunder'n Mars You'd
oughter heard her bones scrunch when she
struck an then plank flew of her deck
Ike pine >havin's! Now. BOYS which of
u shah 20 on to her; Something's got
10 be done. an done in hurry. What Do
yon say: Its dirty night, rougher n
he'll. ashore or aiioat Look at that. will
ye" he exclaimed, great suite Of seas
went da>hing against the groaning, quiyer-
ing vessel. The lad that goes out TO her
NAV never
Don't say no more, Capn," interrupted
jim, Il IN your man. I'm goin' off to that
vessel if die for it, You an Jack both
have "lves and children. | amt got moth
I'M nor nobody. I've got only myself to
look after; an nobody would mourn my
ugly hulk if it went below an never come
up
Look er here exclaimed the Captain.
pointing to the wreck there goes anoth-
er rocket. they'd let off one jest before |
called you" at the same time answering
the vessels signal of distress by touching
oil his flash torch.
Hear that, will ye." put in Jack, as a
piercing, agonizing scream was borne faint
ly to them That was a woman l swear
| If I've heard one screech. I've heard hum
dred. That's jest the way my woman fires
up when she's stark, starin' mad"
i. Come, boys, help me off with the bot, "
urged the impatient Jimmie. running down
the narrow plank walk to the boat house,
drawing on his oil-skins as he went.
He quickly bundled into the stiff oil
skins, and Captain Will lashed a cork jack
ct around his chunky form while Jack
turned keg Of porgy oil over the sides of
the stout railing. down which it ran into
the sea.
There goes them porgies, back where
they blong," laughed he. II hope they'll
do some good tonight, to pay for bein
set free
The tide was at it's full. The landing
slip was on the northern side of the island.
and the swift running seas, lashed into
fury by the bowling northeaster. dashed
up the railway, creaming and churning and
kissing under the tiny platform upon which
the men stood, while the spray was blown
high over the ridge pole of the boat house
just behind them.
They had hauled the stout green dory to
the top of the inclined plane, down which
the boats were launched. In jumped the
brave, chunky Jim, and seated himself
squarely on the middle thwart. verita-
BILE triton be seemed, clad from top to toe
in oilskins, his yellow sou'wester buttoned
tightly over his round, rosy chops. He
knew no fear; his big gray eyes were
aglow with the spirit of adventure. And
there he sat, the noble lad. God bless him,
gazing into the teeth of the tempest. He
laughed at rushing wave and frowning crag.
defyiDg the elements. "Jim," said Jack, as
he and Captain viii, on either side,
grasped the dOry by the gunwales and be-
gan pulling it along the creased way, max
ing ready for the final push, Jim, that
was a woman we heared screech jest now,
'twan't no mermaid. l know mermaids
fur's | can hear 'em yawp. There's a
woman in this scrape. III warrant ye
'Twouldn't s'prise me one mite if twas the
means of fetchin' you in helpmeet. I've
always said, you know, that twas too bad
for such good lookin', ood-for-nothin'
cuss as yoE be to 90 through the world
afoot an alone. Women most ALWAYS