UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 235 



stormy weather and dark nights, but, by inducing 

 more travellers to visit them, it will help to cheer 

 their loneliness ; and as there is a something in 

 such very wild and dreary scenes, that touches 

 a stranger's sympathy, they will no doubt fre- 

 quently obtain little presents, which will enable 

 them to indulge in a few more comforts than 

 they can now afford. In truth this light-house 

 must be a melancholy abode ; the wind always 

 howling above, and the sea continually roaring 

 below, and sometimes even throwing its spray 

 over the windows. It was, however, very nice 

 and clean, and as comfortable as such a place 

 can be : my uncle took us up into what is called 

 the lantern, and explained the use of the con- 

 cave metallic reflectors which are placed behind 

 the lamps for the purpose of increasing the bril- 

 liancy of their light by reflection. He also 

 shewed us the contrivance by which the light is 

 made to disappear every two minutes, in order 

 that sailors should be able to distinguish it from 

 all other light-houses in the Irish channel. 



In returning, we observed that the tide had 

 ebbed in the harbour, which had been so full 

 when we first arrived, that the water came up 

 almost to the door of the inn. It was now nearly 

 empty ; great mud-banks extending from each 

 side, and leaving only a little winding stream in 

 the middle. This led to some questions about 

 the cause of the tides, and my uncle promised 



