Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-01-25
PEGGY'S FORTUNE.
BIZ MARGARET sTENOER.

"every mite her own," Aunt Joanna
said, WAS amazing But everybody
was glad, for they loved Peggy well.
This is the way It came about.
At sunset In February, 1880, a strong
gale was blowing. q heavy sea running.
and the keeper Of station No. 4 had
kept close watch all day of the vessels
on the treacherous Jersey coast. To
his p-acticed eye storms we're gathering
frOm tie northeast and southwest,
boding i'll and not good.
a little girl, not more than ten years
old, stood in the open doorway Of her
home, talking to big, brorz zed man.
CHEEKY looking and strong; dressed in
great. coat and thick Scotch cap.
The surf came tum5linQ in ard roar
iEg on the wide beach. The sky was
thckening, and the Tildness OF the
gale would lave soon housed another
girl than Peggy.
'Do le me 90, father, Just for ono
minute II looks grand out there; but
do you think the vessels will all get
INF"
'RuD, run, then, for your sea rig,
and come along FOR a short walk; youH
be needed indoors tonight, Peg, l'm
it's coming fast; strange they didn't
anchor sooner. Tell mother to keep
plenty of her good coffee hot, and make
the old st-ve snap; plenty of wood piled
up, and plenty Of dry, warm clothes"
Keeper West was hardy beachman,
who for forty years had lived within
sound OF the sea. His especial fitness
for the work, his efficient management
of his crew of six surfmen, gave him
only good record of brave deeds.
From May till September the keepers
on the Atlantic coast are I'm active SER
vice as captains of their crews, having
entire control Of all station property,
and direct all operations Of the life
saving service. Many OF them 1--we in
the neat station houses all the year.
Hand in hand Peggy and her father
tramped along the beach, the wind
almost lifting the small figure of the
sand; but Peggy was used 10 sand and
wind, aud used to looking for sails at
dusk, and used to climbing to the
lookout, holding fast to her fathers
hand in November or February gales
The patrol met and changed at sunset
for the evening watch; exchanged
checks, and marched on and or, keep
ing sharp eyes seawarJ.
A thIee-masted schooner had
BlchOred a mile out ;another and anoth-
er, like speCks in the distance. 1t grew
dark. Peggy ran inside the snug little
house where the mother was fastening
the storm shutters, Lighting the big
lamps, putting one in its place in the
upper window. Peggy hung her wet
jacket and cap by tie FIRE, while the
kettle sung, just as though there was
no storm, and the coffee boi ed, and
the supper table was laid. a little
anxious looking mother, thin aud
brown, but kindly and efficient IN tGis
busy home. 1t began to rain, then
snow; and the chill wind turned them
into sleet.
Wont father come in for his coffee,
PeggyH"
"NoE yet" replied the little girl;
she and pstrolman Dick have gone
down half mile; they snw signals of
distress; the schooner looked like
wreckp'
"Let me take look, child" and the
mother climbed the narrow st&irway
to the roof, where the big glass always
lay, but 1t was too dark to see. The
keeper and his men ran to the boat
house. The signal guns came family
brough the storm. They made a FIRE
on the beach, but 1t burned htfuIly in
the rain. The red lights flashed scarlet
through the sleet, and one after another
was rapidly sent up. They saw them
from the nearest vessel a1d Hrsd gun
in TepOnse.
The beach apparatus was placed IN
to-. 81 H. - o. f,sI
ed to touch the rocking, tossing schooD-
er. Another and another line, but with
slest and wind they had parted. At
last, the little piece Of iron carried its
hfe-savipg line to the vessel. The
sailors drew 1t on beard. Tie "haw-
ser" was sent next, and then the
breeohes buoy was put into comuuui-
cation with the brave men on the shore.
The first person to land was the cap
tain. tie spTang out and exclaimed,
"Thank God for these menl l came
hrst TO see il ca bring my wife and
baby safely over, or will the life-boat
stand this seaY''
"NO, Captain, mol We'll land you
safe and sound, every one; with the
breeches buoy" answered Keeper
West. "HOw many of your crew."
IN Inc In all
Faster than can tell It, the line
swung across the sea and lack. This
time The pale, shiyerlng wife came IN
her husbands arms. She was so silent
and cold, one strong surfman wrapped
her in a blanket and ran with ber to
the warm house.
1t seemed an endless time, but
minutes were precious and few, when
back bounded tie buoy with the mate
holding close 20 his breast the little
baby, tucked warmly IN rugs and
wraps. He crowsd under the blankets,
as they put him in Peggy's lap.
1t was now two O'Clock in the morn
ing. Ths sea Numbered and roared,
but the wind bad lullsd. Out into all
these hours had flashed and shone the
light from the statiOn, seeming to draw
the haltfrozsn, wOTn-out men by It's
very shining, into safety and deliver
ancel The apparatus was housed in
the boat-house. The men had eaten
breakfast cTawled into their warm beds
for nap. Comfort and shelter were
always awaiting the wrecked.
But the pretty, pale wife Of the cap
tain saw nothing OF the brightness, nor
of the anguish; she lay on her cot toss
ing and moaning with fever and de-
lirium. Peggy fed the baby warm
milk and held him In her sma arms
all night; and they both slept, as only
children can.
"Don't fret. sir. the fever win be