Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-01-12
JANE HAYDEN.
Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure News
naner SNndica fc.l

Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate.)
Jane Hayden lived with her father
| and grandmother. for her mother died
when Jane was a baby.
Jane did not live in a city or
X most little girls, or in a house
with Il garden around it. for Jane lived
III a lighthouse, Il long distance from
land, n sometimes she did not see
anyone but her father IL grandmoth-
err for weeks at a time.
Once in "a while her father took her
in the boat when he went ashore for
supplies. but there We're always so
many things to bring back that there
was not room for Jane very often.
Jane had never been to school. Her
father had taught he; to read and
write, and there was not a place on
the map Jane did not know about, and
she could tell the exact location at once
of amy city or river.
Jane wanted to go to school as other
girls did, about whom she had read.
but it would cost more money han
her father could afford. N Jane stud
led in her lonely home. making the
most of the books she had until the
characters in them seemed like real
people to Jane.
One day when James father was go
ing ashore she was going with him, but
just before they started her father told
per a storm was coming up, and she
had better wait until nothe time.
de knew that Jane was not afraid,
but he did not want her to get wet
The tears came into Jane eyes, but
her father soon cleared them away
by saving. Never mind. daughter: L
Will bring YOU a new book. and NJ ext
time you shall go if it is good weather.
And it did storm. much harder than
James father had thought it would.
The waves and WING We're so furious
that he did not venture to leave the
shore. for he knew it would be risking
his life, and he knew that Jane would
light the big lantern.
When it was time for it to be light
ed Jane climbed the little winding
stairs and then the ladder. which led
to the big lantern.
She felt very proud to be the one
on whom the sailors really depended
that night, and when it was time to go
to bed she said to her grandmother:
The waves are dashing as high as
the top of the lighthouse, and if father
for the wind is blowing very hard. /
think l will sit up and watch, for if
the lights should grow dim or happen
to go u a ship might be wrecked n
father would be blamed for it,"
Jane 70 a book and sat in a
straight a chair, so that she would
not be too comfortable, for fear she
might fall asleep.
The storm increased until the waves,
dashing against the lighthouse.
seemed to be angry with it for stand
ing in their way.
Jane heard the bell buoy in the dis
lance, n then another sound reached
her ears. She opened the door and
listened, but the wind blew with such
force that she had to close the door.
Again the ound came, and this time
Jane knew what it was--a ship was
in distress somewhere out there i'm the
dreadful storm, and then Il horror
seemed to freeze her blood. as she
could not see the light shining upon
he water. 1t had gone out. There
once.
There were W. red lanterns hang
ing upon the wall. Jane lighted these
and ran up the narrow stairway to
the ladder and hung the lanterns on
either side of the tower.
1t was a few minutes before she
could relight the 3 lantern. and Jane
prayed that the red lights had guided
the ship. sounding its distress u
there in the storm, safely.
She did not go downstairs again.
but went to the foot of the ladder n
sat there until daylight for fear the
big light would go out again.
The sound of distress had ceased
soon after lane r%elighted the lantern,
and she wondered if she had been too
late or whether the light had shown
them he way and they had gone in
safety.
When her father returned the next
morning the sun was shining. He had