was only twilight and the western horizon was all dim and misty. And,
suddenly, a little friendly star shone out, just where he was looking.

"Oh," he cried, "what is that star? It just came."

Captain Solomon was standing near him, and he smiled at little Jacob's
question.

"That star, Jacob," he said, "is Boston light. We can't get in to-night,
but we'll go a little nearer and we'll stand back and forth until
daylight. Then we'll go in. But we sha'n't be there to breakfast."

Little Jacob gave a long, shivering sigh. "Well," he said, "I suppose
you can't go in to-night. That light is a long way off, isn't it?"

"Yes," said Captain Solomon, "it's a long way off. And, besides, the
wind is dying out."

Little Jacob didn't say anything for some time.

"The light-keeper must have to stay up all night," he said, then, "to
see that his light doesn't go out."

"Yes, Jacob," answered Captain Solomon, "he stays up all night, taking
care of you and me. Or he looks out for his end of it. There are two or
three of them--the light-keepers. And, in the daytime, he sees that his
lamps are filled and his wicks trimmed and his brasses bright and his
glasses polished. When night comes he lights his lamp, and he looks at
it every little while to make sure that it is burning all right. If it
wasn't, there might be a wreck."

[Illustration]

Little Jacob stood and watched the light for a long time without saying
anything. Captain Solomon stood and watched it, too.

"That is a very friendly light," said little Jacob, at last, drawing a
long breath and smiling at the light. Captain Solomon couldn't see the
smile, because it was dark; but he heard it in little Jacob's voice.

"It is, Jacob," said Captain Solomon, "a very friendly light."

"I guess it's my bed-time," said little Jacob. "Good-night, captain."

"Good-night, Jacob," said Captain Solomon. "By the time you're up, in
the morning, we'll be almost in."

And little Jacob laughed happily and went down to bed.

And that's all.

THE RUNAWAY STORY

Once upon a time there was a wide river that ran into the ocean and
beside it was a little city. And in that city was a wharf where great
ships came from far countries. And a narrow road led down a very steep
hill to that wharf, and anybody that wanted to go to the wharf had to go
down the steep hill on the narrow road, for there wasn't any other way.
And because ships had come there for a great many years and all th