Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-01-19

CAN wv '-~NN-
~ piece of luck -
A month later the Morning Post
contained the announcement Of the
marriage of Captain Percival Main
waring, of Her Majesty's Grey Horse,
to Miss Maude Lsfons.
The Keeper Of the Petit Manan Light.
Petit Manan lighthouse, or Tit
Nan, as the natives call 1t, Is one OF
those spidery-lookin affairs which rise
from the water among some dangerous
shoals off Winter Harbor Me, and Is
supported by four iron tubes securely
fastened into holes drilled into the
solid rock.
4 lonesome place is Tit Nan
lighthouse, miles from shore, and the
only means of communication Is row.
boat. There are no neighbors any
nearer and no visitors disturb the SOL
itude of the lightkeeper, except once
or twice a year, when the inspector
comes round or curious people from a
pleasure yacht climb the iron ladder
fer curiosity.
Amos Rice has kept Tit Nan"
light for more than a quarter of a
century, and his wife lived there with
him all this time. Their children were
grown and married off or engaged in
employment elsewhere, so that they
had nothing to trouble them and were
able to put by the greater part OF the
salary of $65 a month which the gov
ernment had paid Amos for protect
ing commerce 2sei2st disaster upon
the shoals.
A few weeks ago Mrs. Rice peace
fully terminated a long and lonesome
life and went to Join the choir invisi-
bic. Amos had to keep her body four
dsvs before he could fulfill his prom
ise to bury her with her folks at
Winter Harbor, for the sea was high.
1t is no easy job for man unaided to
remove a body from tower like that
into a rowboat that Is tossing furious
ly upon the waves, but Amos finally
did it. The first quiet morning he left
his bereaved home the very minute 1t
was lawful to put his light out, rowed
over a rough sea, snd upon his arrival
at Winter Harbor called up the sex
ton and minister and what friends
could be summoned, and after brlef
and impressive service the body Of
Mrs. Rice was committed to the dust
and her soul to God who gave it.
After they came from the cemetery
one Of the nsighbors asked Amos and
the friends to have a little refresh
ment. OF course they all accepted
and among others likely widow,
whose husband had been dead for two
wears and who was "bosrdin round
among her relatives for want Of a home
and income. Amos's grief was not
greater than his sense Of loneliness,
and, finding a sympathetic chord IN
the presence Of the whole company,
and, the parson being present, they
were Immediately married. The BRIDE
hurried over to her sisters to put up
her things while Amos continued to
receive mingled condolences aud con-
gratulations.
It was o'clock in the afternoon
when he started back to bis watery
evri. with his bride, with miles Of
rowing before him. If any ships were
out that night they must have won
dered why for the first time in a quar-
ter Of a century the CLEANS Of Tit
Nan light were not visible for more
than two hours after sunset. Amos
reached home at last, after performing
what be considers a good days work
for a man who is more than 60. He
rode many miles in dory, buried one
wife and married another, and, as in
the cas-. Of the King Of Denmark, the
funeral baked meats set forth the we'd
ding dinner.