The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-06-10
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year-old body. But he thought he
was older, much older than he was,
and big-well, wasn't he almost big
as hfs father? At least he would be
some day, and meanwhile he was
growing!
The May family-father, mother
and Freddy, six years old, going on
seven-lived on rock in the middle
Of the ocean, or, at least, five miles
from any other land. There was a
tall lighthouse on the rock, and at
the base OF this white tower was a
tiny house with five rooms. This
house was home, the only home Fred
dy ever knew.
The lighting of the great lamp of
che lighthouse had always been a
great attraction to Freddy. One day,
when his father carried him up, up
the winding stairs and showed him
now the lamp was lighted and how
its rays spread far out over the toss
ing ocean, Freddy felt that his little
world was the most wonderful that
any boy could imagine. Think of the
hundred steps up the tall tower and
the magnificent view from the top!
But as time added another year to
Treddy's age his little mind scared to
greater achievements. He was ac-
customed to storms and rough wealth
or. He knew that his father often
went out in his little boat to help
strange people who drifted near the
shoals. Sometimes he brought them
back In his boat, half dead and so
white! His mother then worked
hard to give them warm clothing and
hot things to drink and eat.
Freddy at first was content to
watch and help; then he wanted to
DO more. He wanted to go with his
father in the lifeboat to pick up the
shipwrecked people.
Some day, lad, when you get big
GER" his father answered his re-
quest.
After that Freddy asked every lit
Gle while. Am 1 big enough now to
30 with you in the boat, papa?"
mot yet-not quite yet," had al
ways been the response.
So Freddy had been forced to wait
and grow. How he counted the days
and looked at his figure in the glass
TO see II he was growingl When he
hrst donned his seven-year suit he
felt surely that he was almost big
enough to help save shipwrecked peo-
pie.
AS chance would have it his oppor-
tunity did come few days after this
Important event. There had been a
etorm at sea, not very heavy storm,
but one which made the sea pretty
rough Oft the shoals. The day after
Che storm the sun came up bright and
warm. The sea was rolling in long
swells.
Not a mile away from the light
house something was drifting heav-
lily. swinging slowly up and down
with the waves. A quick glance
through the telescope showed that it
was dismantled sloop, small coast
Ing vessel abandoned by its crew.
Mr.. May quickly got his boat in the
water. and was preparing to go to
the derelict when Freddy's lips falt-
cred:
Papa, am big enough to go!"
There was smile on the lightkeep-
er's lips, and, after glancing up at the
weather and down at the sea he said:
Yes, Freddy, you can go to-day.
Jump in the stern"
Now there. was no happier boy in
all the world than Freddy May at that
moment. He fairly tumbled down
the steps and dropped snugly in the
stern OF the lifeboat. His eyes were
bright and glowing. Wasn't he GO
ing to a real wreck?
To row to the dismantled sloop
was not long or rough one, and Mr..
May pulled so Justify at his oars that
they were alongside in no time.
When they reached the sloop Freddy
gazed at It In awe. Would there be
half-drowned people aboard, and
would he be strong enough to help
his father lift them into the lifeboat?
Now, boy. you stay quietly in the
stern until come back" cautioned
his father.
He tied the boat to the stern Of the
sloop and then nimbly climbed
aboard. He was gone long time, SO
long that Freddy got worried. What
would he do If anything happened to
his father? Could he row back to
the lighthouse? What If another
storm should come up and make the
ocean very rough?
He was thinking Of such dreadful
things when Mr.. May appeared above
and shouted:
Nobody aboard, Freddy. She's