Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-11-06
BY w. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON.

Chubby little Johnny proved tn
"ounce too much" for the aerial came
and brought him to the ground; an
then unluckily, not the baby, but tn
eldest hope of the family was lifte
out. The relief was too great for th
monster. The volatile creature
spirits rose at once, he jerked hi
halter out Of thefarmer's hand, an
with q wild bound mounted into tn
air! Vain was the acronaut's anchor
1t caught fora moment in q fence
but it tore away, and was off, dang
ling uselessly after the runaway bnl
loon, which so swiftly and steadily rose
that in few minutes those two littl,
white faces pccring over the edge O.
the car grow indistinct, and those
piteous cries of aPapa" "Mammar r
grew faint end fainter, up in the air
When distance and twilight mistt
had swallowed Hp Yoiees and faces
and nothing could bo seen but that
dark cruel shape, sailing triumphant
ly away with its precious booty, like
MI aerial privatcer, the poor father
sank down helpless and speechless
but the mother, frantic with grief
still stretched her yearning arms to.
ward the inexorahle heavens, and
called widely up into the unanswcra.
ing void.
The aeronaut stroye to console tho
wretched parents with assurances
that the balloon would ascend within
thirty miles of the town, and that oil
might be we'll with the children, proyi=
ded it did nat come down in water, or
in deep woods. In the event of it's de-
sccH4ing in 2 favorable spot, there
was but ono danger to be apprehended;
tho thought that the elder child might
step out, leaving the younger in the
balloon: Then, it might again rise,
and continAe its voyage:
"Ah no" replied the mother, nJcn-
ME waald never stir from the car
without Johnny in her arms!"
The balloon passed directly over
the market town, and the children
seeing many people in tho streets,
stretched out their hands and cried
loudly for help. But tho villagers
though they saw tho bright little
heads, heard no call.
Amazed at the strange apparition,
they might almost have thought the
translated little creatures small an
gel natigators on some voyage of dis,
covcry, some little chcrubic venture
of their own, as heading toward the
rosy cloud-lands and purple islands Of
sunset splendour, they sailed deeper
and deeper into tho west, and faded
away:
Some company they had, poor lit
tie sky-waifs! Something confortcd
them, and allayed their wild teprars,
something whispered them that below
the night and clouds, was home; that
above was God that whereyer they
might drift or clash, living or dead,
they would still be in His domain,
and under his care-that though
borne away among the stars, they
could not be lost, for His care would
follow them.
When the sunlight. all went away,
and the great comet came blazing
out, little Johnnie was apprehensive
that tho comet might como too near
their airy craft, and sot il an fire with
e whisk of its dreadful tail. But when
his sister assured him that that fiery
dragon was Gas much as twenty miles
away" and that. God wouldn't. let
him. hurt them, he was tranquillized,
but soon afterward, aaaid, II wiah bic
would come q little nearer, sol could
warm myself-T'm,so coldw :. -.
Then Jennie took off her apron,
and wrapped it shaut the child, say
ing tenderly: "This is all sister. has to
make you warm, darling, but she'll
hug you close ip her arms. and we
will say our prayers and you shall go
to Sleep" = ~ ..''
"Why how can + say my prayers,
before have my -sapPer2" asked lit
tie Johnnie. '..-
"sister, hasn't any supper for you,
or for herself but we must pray Al
the harder . salemqnly mn fesponded ion:
ME. ' = -. -.
So the; two baby:wandercrs. alone
in the wide heavens, unawed- by dark
ness, immensity and siiltesRtee, II RX tie
presence of the great comet and the
millions, Of unpitying .stars lifted
their little .clssped hands, and sabbed
ont their sorrpwfal "6ur Father" !"
and then that quaint httle supplement,
taryprayer:
= NaxI isy; ne aexn 70 sleep: