Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-28

rr6 tAkTE RN.

acre many bright retieetors that made
At shine Just so many times as bright
y. livery evening the light in the
lighthouse shOne afar out over the sea
making bright path ON the water
that helped the ships 10 md their way
among the rocks and shoals. safely
10 the land.
The fisherman and his little lad
lived IN very small hut ON the beach.
Ever since he had been old enough TO
slt up for while after supper the
tsherman's little lad had watched for
,he great light in the lighthouse 10
Hash out across the water.
1t is as bright as the sun, or the
moon. or The stars he would sigh
very often. Il want. more than any
lining else. To be- The keeper OF the
lighthouse lamp
oh, sou can never do that, little
lad" the fisherman would say. The
Keeper of the lamp in tne lighthouse
IS a very Important person indeed.
ana IS always sent here 10y the King.
He would never think OF putting
humble folks like us, from a fisher
mans hut on the beach. in the light.
house"
One night there Was ship that
struck Il rock far out in the water
The hsherman's little lad was awake
ed from has sleep by The sharp call OF
her whistles, ana he saw his father
ana the other fishermen who had
strong boats run down TO the beach
and launch them and row our to help
the ship. Straight toward her they
rowed thru the light from the light.
house that showed them the way. And
Trey brought back the sailors and pre-.
cious cargo cf the ship safe 10 the
Land before morning.
1T is the most wonderful thing in
The world 10 tend SO great light"
the tisherman's little lad said over and
over again 10 himself Il shall never
be able to do so wonderful "A thing.
How wish that | could"
When he was old enough TO know
now 10 take care OF ii The fisherman
gave his little lad a lantqn /. was
small and had only tiny, pickering
flame, because the oil to feed it was
costly in those days and must be
used sparingly. But the little lad
found out that by keeping the wick
cut evenly and the brass parts of the
lantern polished, and the glass clean
and clear the lantern gave a steady
light, He used to Trim and fill il,
every day, and then light it after the
sun had set and put it in the window
Often people would pass up and down
the beach in the dark, and the light
from the little lads lantern helped
them TO find their way home.
once the king sent word that he
needed only one more pearl to make
the jewels in his crown complete and
he asked for one that was as round
as a raindrop and as white as a snow
Iake and as smooth as a bit of glass.
The fisherman had great haul of
nsh one day, and as he and The little
lad were taking them out OF the boat
that evening, they found. by the light
or the lantern, just such a pearl
among them, fastened TO an oyster
shell. They sent it to the King, who
wished TO pay them u great deal of
money for il, but they would not take
the money 1t was honor enough to
have m2de the Kings crown complete,
they decided.
IL was late one summer, when the
winds were beginning to blow high
and cold like the fail, that the fisher.
man decided 10 go in his boat for a
Longer trip than usual He was going
to carry load of dried fish and ex.
change ii at village tor flour and
sugar and cans Of milk food for the
winter for himself and the little lad
and enough for hungry stranger.
should one pass their hut.
Good by and good luck, And do not
forget to hang the lantern in the door
tonight, the fisherman called back as
he rowed away from the shore. 1T
may be cloudy: but | shall be home
by suppertime'
All day The little lad was busy mend.
!ng the nets and cleaning the fish.
house, and at last getting The supper.
He lighted his lantern and hung II
in the window, but at sunset his father
had not returned, nor at suppertime.
nor when it was black night and the
wind was high and the light in the
lighthouse flashed out across he dark
water.
Father oh, father, Where arc
YOU" the little lad cried as he ran up
and down the beach, but the wind car.
ried his voice back. Then he fetched
his little lantern and swung II out
over the sea.
Come back 10 me, father" he
cried.
When II was morning the fisherman
came. His cargo WAS partly gone and
his boat was leaking. but he rowed
home to safety. lie had struck 4 r0ck
and then been lost in the storm.
"How did YOU find your way. fl
ther?' the little lad cried. as the fish
erman pulled up on the beach "Dil
you iolowsthe lighthouse lieht?'
NO; 1t was ~ bright that it blind
cd my eyes" the fisherman said ~
saw "A tiny light, like a star dropped 10
the beach and shining TO show me thr
way home. What do you suppose IT
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