In a very remote
area, on a high
cliff, there was
a small
lighthouse.
 |
On that stretch
of the coast,
the sea was very
dangerous
because there
were numerous
rocks that could
lead vessels
into disaster if
they did not
realise the
danger in time.
For that reason
a lighthouse was
built in order
to help ships
pass safely by.
But the small
lighthouse was
always unhappy.
It thought its
life was very
dull and felt a
terrible envy of
the vessels
passing by in
the distance
going to distant
places, and of
the seagulls
flying free in
the air meeting
foreign
|
|
lands,
and even
the
stars
that it
watched
every
night
shining
in the
sky. |
But it lived
there, without
moving, day
after day, night
after night. Its
only distraction
was that every
day at dusk, the
lighthouse
keeper, that is,
the man who took
care of it,
would come to
switch its light
on so it would
stand there
turning and
turning and
turning...
The man who took
care of the
lighthouse lived
alone and was
the only person
in the vicinity.
One day, the
lighthouse
keeper fell ill
with a burning
fever and was
unable to get up
to perform his
usual duties.
That night no
one turned on
the lighthouse’s
light.
The lighthouse
was surprised by
the event, as
never before
such a thing had
occurred, and
was even more
surprised by the
darkness that
took over
everything. All
around was
dark... very
dark...
Heavy clouds
covered the sky
heralding a
storm and a
strong wind
began to blow.
Soon the rain
fell, pouring
down heavily. |
 |
Unable to see
anything, just
listening to the
sound of the
rain falling and
the noise of the
waves that were
crashing and
splashing, the
lighthouse fell
asleep.
The next day,
only with the
first rays of
the sun it could
see what had
happened
overnight.
A canoe was
swept away by
the waves of the
sea crashing
against the
rocks; a fishing
boat that used
the lighthouse
to indicate to
them which way
to go hit the
rocks and sunk.
And even a large
ship, which was
en route to
distant lands,
got stuck
between the
rocks and was
unable to leave.
Just then the
little
lighthouse
noticed the
extent of the
tragedy that
happened by the
lack of its
light and
realised how its
job was
important.
People were
rescued in time
and the
lighthouse
keeper was taken
to a hospital to
receive the
necessary
medical care.
In his place,
however, they
put a substitute
to be
responsible for
the lighthouse
until the
lighthouse
keeper was
healed and ready
to return to
work.
From that day
on, the
lighthouse never
lamented its
fate again. It
fulfilled its
task with good
will and love.
Happy, every
night it could
be seen turning
and turning and
turning...
And whoever saw
it from afar
could notice
that its light
had become more
lively, more
cheerful and
brighter!
Aunt Celia
