Our light keepers many times live in isolated places, out on rocks and
shoals far away from land and neighbors, shut off from social pleasures.
In many places there can be no women and children about to cheer and
gladden their lonely lives. There is no sound but the cry of the sea
gulls soaring about or the beating of the restless waters, yet their
lives are given to their work. As the sailor loves his ship so the
light-keeper loves his light-house. Where there are three or four
keepers at one station they manage to make the time pass more
pleasantly. They must in many cases be sailors as well as
light-keepers, as it requires both skill and courage to manage their
boats in sailing back and forth between their lights and the mainland,
where mail, provisions and other necessaries are procured for their
comforts. Often they are drowned in making these trips. The passing of
the ships near their stations are like so many old friends to them. They
learn to love the passing boats and vessels, and it is a pleasure to
know our lights cheer and gladden the hearts of the sailors as the waves
run high and the wild winds blow on dark, stormy nights. May the hearts
of the light-keepers, as well as the life savers in the life saving
service along the great lakes and coasts, be strengthened and cheered in
the grand and noble work.
As we lie in our beds so snugly and warm.
The sailors are on the sea battling the storm.
As the sailors are tramping their decks in the midnight hours,
We are trimming our lamps in our light-house towers.