The Lighthouse

histling gently, and with his hands in his pockets, as though he had just returned from an evening walk.

ining, and unselfish beings, who do not secure much popularity or admiration in this world, but who secure obedient children, also steadfast and loving friends. Her favourite book was the Bible; her favourite hop

ommanded a small coasting sloop, of which Ruby had been the mate for several years. As we have said, Ruby had been prevailed on to remain at home for some months in ord

broath every day. But it was fated never more to cast anchor in that port. The great storm, to which reference h

about them. Wrecks occurred then, as now, but few, except the persons immediately concerned, heard of them. "Destructive fires", "terrible acciden

earn and to do in these improved times; and, especially, there is wanting to a large extent among us a sympathetic telegraphy, so to speak, between the interior of our land and the sea-coast, which, if it e

oasts bristled with dangerous reefs and headlands, lighthouses were few and far between. The consequence was, that wrecks were numerous; and so also were wreckers,-a class of men, who, in the absence of an efficient coast

but many of them were so, and their style of life, at the be

lific source of destruction to shipping. Not only did numbers of vessels get upo

ere, as we have seen, his body was afterwards found by the two fishermen. It was conveyed by them to the cottage of Mrs. Brand, and when Ruby entered he

upon the sad sce

no employment, and work could not be easily obtained at that time in the town, so there was no other resource left him but to go to sea. This he did in a small c

with redoubled zeal and energy. Besides this, Mrs. Brand had a brother, a retired skipper, who obtained the complimentary title of Captain from his friends. He was a poor man, it is true, as regarded money, having barely sufficient for his own sub

s, his heart invariably got into his throat, and absolutely prevented him from saying a single word. He tried to speak to his sister, but all he could do was to take her hand and we

the sloop to see him off, and shook hands as

e more you ponder of it. Wen a young feller sails away on the sea of life, let him always go by chart and compass, not forgettin' to t

wn life's tro

it wor a

elief that he had), and was in the habit of enforcing his arguments by quotat

, an' Provide

ed not remind you to

aw

eedn't; I'll do i

ll need a word of advice and

k, which was unfortunately lost on the nephew, in consequence of its be

n her hou

ommon hard

, ye know, and made of, d'ye

ietly and escape the press-gang. Ruby and his uncle had taken the precaution to go down to the harbour just a few minutes be

p must have got clear of the harbour by that time, he went along the streets whistling cheerfully. He had been a noted, not to say noisy, whistler when a bo

in Ogilvy, surely I seed you an' Ruby slinkin' down

d the captain, as he walked on; "but as it's n

a cross auld chap. Pl

sequence of his having resumed his musical recreation with redoubled energy, as he went rolling b