Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-07-27

B. C. B.
BRUCE AND THE LIGHTHOUSE
| 20 Father, see the lighthouse"
CRIED Bruce Dayton, pointing out
over the water to the house that
had attracted his attention.
| The buildimg was solid concrete
from top to bottom and it had neith-
er doors nor windows. On the top
was very large lantern and inside
of the lantern IVES large foghorn
and the light.
where does the hight house keep
er live?' asked Bruce!
In the little Village which you.
see over yonder," said his father.
His name is Bennett; Captain Ben
nett. know him WE'LL
But how does he take care of the
light so far awtay?"
He DOESN'T" said Mr.. Dayton.
The light tal0es care of itself.
The keeper presses button there
on shore, and that lights the light.
If it is foggy he presses another but
ton and that starts the foghorn, and
all might long the hight takes eare
of itself.'
Il don't see how it can do lit, y
said Bruce, thoughtf ullly
'Well, you shall see when vie get
ashore" said Ills father. eve are
going to visit Captain Bennett at his
Station. You cam ask him about 1T,
Bruce's father was a. governme nit
inspector of lighthouses and often
took the Little boy with him ON
short trips. Although Bruce was only
seven years old he KNEW more about
lighthouses than many grown people
for the was very much inte rested in
/ his fathers busimsss and made good
use of his eyes and ears on these
trips.
| BUT when Mr.. Dayton went ON
|
home with the housekeeper, for the
boys mother waa dead and as he had
no brothers or sisters he was very
lonely.
He was a timid hoy and afraid of
the dark, and although he was such
a big boy he often cried himself to
sleep.
Here we are" sadd MIR. Daytom a
halln hour later. when they stood at
door cf a meat white house. ''This
is Captain Benefits station, Bruce,
and here lis 'CaptaiD Bennett himself
They went into the station and for
the NEXT few minutes Bruce was SO
busy seeing things, THAT he forgot
to ask questions. He SAW the button
that Lighted the lamp and the button
that made the foghorn go; and then
Captain Bennett opened a trapdoor
and showed him great cable, al-
most as Large a'round as Bruce's body
that ram under the water all the
way out to the light.
This is an GRAND boz. that never
makes mistake said Captain BEN
nett, 1t is a mile and half out to
the light house, but my messages go
safe every time l press the button.
Would you like to send message
Dub to the light, Bruce?"
"Oh, yes" said Bruce, eagerly.
MAY l, Captain Bennett?"
Yes" said the captain. sit is all
most time to light the ldght. Be read,
to press the buttcm when give yol,
the word"
Bruce placed his finger ON, the
button, and fixed his eye ON the cam
tadih who stood by with his watch ia
his hand.
Now, said Captain Bennett. and
Bruce pressed the button. Am instar
later the big hight shone out oven
THE water.
Bruce WAS very thoughtful on the
way home. and when they arrived
and found a summons which CALLED
lids father on ONE of his long jour.
neys he said bravely:
I'm going to be like that light
that takes cane of itself, while YOU
are awhy, father"
That's right, my boy, said
M father, land Il ill ha lilxa Can,tai =,
BENNETT. Though I'm miles AWAY. |
SHALL he thinking of you and earning
for you just the same. "-7Mary T.
jackson. i'm Youths Companion.