The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-05-22
BY M.T.CALDOR.


Vernon recalled these words and dwelt
fondly upon the memory of the picture
then before him. That stout, athletic
form, that plain, hosnely face, but most
of all that CHEEKY, hopeful, resigned ex-
preston That lent such vivid charm
to the otherwise unprepossessin coun-
tennnce or Tom Harris.
After a nights rest and bountlful
breakfast from that most skillful of all
culinary artists, Dame Nature herself
albeit the butler who collected and set
out the savorF dishes was none other
than honest Tom-our little company
began to feel less like benighted out
casts, and to look upon the beautiful lit
tie island as "a home establishment.
The little girl wept bitterly when her
childish mind was made to comprehend
the @orrowful fate of her nurse and pro-
te0tor, yet with the versatility of in
fancy entered also into the keen delight
OF Walter Vernon, who cape:ed around
his father and Tom as they were busily
telling the trees needed for their per-
manent habitation, loudly rejoicing at
the beautiful sights around them.
On the third day they commenced an
exploring expedition along the shore
and some distance back into the iute-
rior. They found they were upon a
ssmallisolated island, yet evidently one
of a group, since from the top of
tallcDcoanut tree on the summit Of the
highest hill Tom declared he could see
dim line beyond the water that
marked the land, probably of similar
island. He made another discovery at
the.Bame time which he believed more
important to them, which was that the
wreck of their ship had not sunk, but
was lying evidently caught between the
jagged points of reef underneath the
w;gser.
Boundless sources of wealth were dis
closed to them, but no sign of human
habitation The bread-fruit cocoa,
cocoanut, vans, banana, plantain and
sugar-cane grew in spontaneous abund
ance, while Tom pointed out to them
the Abia-tree, bearing It's delicious
PUPPY fruit, and won Walters heart
completely when he handed him a
handful of the sweet native chestnut
Kata. Upon the elevated land they
found forests of stately trees, whose
'names were mostly familiar to Toms
experience or Mr.. Vernon's botanical
knowledge.
"Ah," said the former joyfully, paus-
ing beneath group Of apapa and faifai
trees, here is the stuff. Mr.. Vernon, for
our caLoe. We will visit the old ship
soon, and find out what's left for us
While they were examining the gen.
erous supply OF valuable timber the
children were gathering flowers Sud-
denly came a scream from the little
GIRL and loud shout for help from
Walter. Both Mr.. Vernon and Tom
turned in alarm. A trampling, rush
ing noise came from a thicket of tan
gled vines and underbrush, and out
darted a strengthening animal, up
setting the courageous boy, who had
flung himself in front of his weaker
companion.
While little Eleanor-she had given
so much of her name to Tom before
the shipwreck, but could not now be
made to recall the rest-clung frantic
ally to Toms neck, Mr.. Vernon in much
alarm;assisted his son to rise.
"Oh, father, father, what was .t-a
bear or a lion?" gasped Walter.
TOMS CHEEKY laugh rang out bolster
ously-
at was better than that, my boy-it
was cur pork-barrel still on it's legs.
Bye-and-bye the old fellow will give
you sausage to pay for this fright"
What, pig?" CALCULATED Mr.. Yer
no. much relieved.
Nothing else, sir. Wild hogs find
good living here, and so shall we. In
deed, sir, all the wants of decent hui
man cretur are supplied here. See
there, behind the sandal, is a candle
tree. We needn't stay long in the
dark
Mr.. Vernon sighed.
"Ah, Tom, show me tree where my
books, my precious books, grow, ranged
ready in a row for a hungry mind"
Tom scratched his head.
You've got me there; but if we can't
find any LETT in the old hulk, I hope it
amt bold in me to say / mistrust you
can write some for yourself"
You are an admirable fellow, Tom,
for expedients. 1 think I'll try. OF
course you'll provide plenty of paper
and ink"
Jest as much as you want" an
swered the old sailor tI.iumphantly, de-
lighted to see his random suggestion
was likely to work profitably in avert
ing the melancholy he dreaded so much.
"s'll show you some beans bye-and-bye
that will give better ink than any you
can buy in London. III be bound, for
sun and water can't fade it out; and as
for paper, bleach out some of my native
cloth for the strong, or make some of
the tender, like Chinese riee-paper.-it's
just what you want"
well said. When we build the
house I'll have study to write in
Come, children, you have an interest in
our plan; there must be hool-room
and parlor on purpose for little Ellie"