Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-11-25
BOYS AND GIRLS.
FREDDY'S FIRST RESCUE.

FfoQuy May Was Dig LOT Ills age,
wearing a seven-year suit on a six
year-old body. But he thought he was
older, much older than he was, and big
well. wasn't he almost as big as his
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 light
house on the rock and at the base of
this white tower was tiny house with
five rooms. This house was home
the only home Freddy ever knew.
The ligh ting of the great lamp of
the lighthouse had always been great
attraction to Freddy. One day when
his father carried him up the winding
stairs and showed him how the lamp
was lighted and how its rays spread
far out over the tossing 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
Freddy's age. his little mind scared to
greater achievements. He was accus-
toned to storms and rough weather.
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.
the lifeboat to pick up the ship
wrecked people.
"Some day, lad, when you get big
GER" his father answered this request.
After that Freddy asked every little
while, "Am big enough now to go
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 if he was almost big enough to
help save shipwrecked people
AS chance would have it, his oppor-
tunity did come few days after this
important event. There had been a
storm at sea. not a very heavy storm,
but one which made the sea pretty
rough off the shoals. The day after
the storm. the sun came up bright and
warm. The sea was rolling in long
J swells.
Not a mile away from the lighthouse
something was drifting heavily, swing
ing slowly up and down with the
waves. A quick glance through the
telescope showed that it was a dis.
mantled sloop, small coasting vessel
abandoned by it's crew.
Mr.. May quickly got his boat in the
water, and was preparing to go to the
derelict when Freddy's lips faltered
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
Eyes, Freddy, you can go to-day
Jump in the STERN Now there was
no happier boy in all the world thar
Freddy May at that moment. He fair.
ly tumbled down the steps and dropped
; snugly in the stern of the lifeboat
His eyes were bright and glowing
Wasn't he going to real wreck?
The 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 il
in awe. Would there be half-drowneo
people aboard, and would he be strong
enough to help his fatherift them into
, the lifeboat?
t ''Now, boy, you stay quietly in the
/: stern until l come back" cautioned
> his father.
He tied the boat to the stern Of thu
: sloop and nimbly climbed aboard. He
was gone long time, so long tn a
r Freddy got worried. What would he
l do if anything happened to his father
: Could he row back to the lighthouse
What if another storm should come Vi
l. and make the ocean very rough?
He was thinking Of such dreadful
, things when Mr.. May appeared abov
and shouted:
a .'Nobody aboard, Freddy. She's bee
1t deserted for long time. Well G
I, back home now"
a. This announcement was not pleasin
:, to our little mariner. What disaI