The Advocate and news., 1898-07-20
READING
BY MAeLE DIccs.

VIII get tired DeH0re tney reaCn the top.
"The little folks" were only too eager
to try; so mamma took Harrys hand,
papa had Margery by one hand and
Helen by the other, and then the climb
began, around and around the tower,
over 200 steps, Helen counted; and when
they reached the top, putting and pant
ing, they saw the largest lamp one
could imagine, with reflector as bright
as polished silver. The man who kept
the light house said If ne should let
the light go out once at night he would
lose his place. They all walked out on
platform and looked for miles over
land and sea. on in the dim distance
they could see their own wildwood, and
in every direction a beautiful view,
which paid them well for their long
tramp up the stairs. When they got on
firm ground again they felt a little
shaky In the knees and sat down to rest
in the home Of the keeper, pretty,
small white house with garden around
it, and six children of all sizes running
In and out.
"Do you stay here in the winter?"
asked mamma Of the keepers wife.
"Oh, yes, and long winter it is The
children walk over mile to school and
the storms are very bad. We tried to
have a happy Christmas last year, but
my children said they wished they could
get away from the sound Of the ocean
for one day. They do get tired and
lonely, but some days in the winter are
bright and sunny; then they run up and
down the beach as they do In summer"
After thanking the light house keeper
for explaining everything to them, the
children went back to Wildwood with a
much clearer Idea of a light house than
they ever had before. AS they were rid
ing on the train, Helen whispered to
her mamma that she thought it would
be nice to send box of things to the
keepers children next Christmas.
That's a good idea," said mamma,
land we will have a good time getting
1t ready"
One day they went about three miles
up the beach to visit fishing village,
and how they did open their eyes to see
so many fish. The little fishing boats,
or dories, seemed to all come in at once.
The brown fishermen drew the boats up
on the shore and then commenced TAX
ing out the fish in great basketfuls. AS
they were leaving the boat pier they
noticed a large fish dangling from the
end Of the pier. One Of the fishermen
told them that 1t was a man-eating
shark, which they had killed after much
trouble.
"This Is terrible fish, children" said
the fisherman. II will show you his
teeth; they cut just like sharp pieces of
glass. In some countries the natives
tiX handles to them and use them for
tools. This kind is not quite so danger
Gus as some; 1t Is blue shark, but the
white sharks are the dread of sailors
all over the world They follow ships
for long distances, feeding upon refuse
thrown into the sea by the sailors While
there is a sign Of one of these monsters
about vessel the sailors never go in
swimming, and take very good care not
to fall overheard, for they would be
sure to lose leg or an arm or possi-
bly, their lives II caught by one of these
sharks"
please don't tell me any more; will
dream about sharks, said Harry.
But the sharks are useful, too" said
the man. I'm some countries a large
business Is done with the oil of the
shark. His liver is dried in the sun and
thought to be great delicacy In some
countries, and the Chinese prepare a
soup from his skin. Sailors sometimes
take the spine of shark, polish it up,
bring 1t home with them and sell it
for big price to dealer in canes.
A good head Is put on 1t, and then 1t Is