St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-12-04

Sister hasn't any supper for you, or
for herself, but we must pray all the
harder" solemnly responded Jennie.
SO the two baby wanderers, alone in
the wide heavens, unawed by darkness,
immensity and silence, by the presence
of the great comet and the millions of
Implying stars, lifted their little clasped
hands, and sobbed out their sorrowful
"Our Father and then that quaint
supplementary prayer:
Now lay me down to sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If should die befor, | wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take
"There. God heard that easy; for we
are close to him up here" said innocent
little Johnny.
Doubtless Divine Love stopped to the
little ones, and folded them in perfect
peace-for soon the younger, sitting on
the bottom of the car, with his head
leaning against his sisters knee, slept as
soundly as though he were lying in his
own little bed at home, while the elder
watched quietly through the long, long
hours, and the car 1oated gently on in
the still night air, till it began to sway
and rock on the fresh morning wind
Who can imagine that simple little
child's thoughts, speculations, and wild
lmaginings while watching through those
hours She may have feared coming
in collision with meteor-for many
were abroad that night, scouts and
heralds of the great comet-or perhaps
being cast away on some desolate star
island, or more dreary still, floating and
floating ON, night and day, till they should
both die of cold and hunger, Poor babes
in the clouds.
At length, happy chance, or Prov
idence-we will say Providence-guided
the little girls wandering hand to a cord
connected with a valve; something told
her to pulit. At once the balloon be-
gan to sink, slowly and gently, as though
let down by tender hands; or as though
some celestial pilot guided it through
wild currents OF air, not letting it drop
into lake, river, lofty wood, ,or inpenetra
ole swamp, where this strange unchildlike
experience might have been closed 10y a
death Of unspeakable horro4 but caus-
ing it to descend as softly as Il bird alights,
on spot where human care and pity
awaited it.
The sun had not yet risen. but the
morning twilight had come, when the
| little girl. looking over the edge of the
car, saw the dear old earth coming
nearcr-'.rising towards them," she said.
But when the car stopped, TO her great
disappointment, II was not on the ground.
but caught fast i'll the topmost branche,
ut' Il tree Yet she saw they were near
IL house whence help might soon come.
SO she awakened her brother and told
him the good news, and together they
watched and waited for deliverance
hugging each other for Joy and warmth,
tor they were cold.
Farmer Burton, who lived IN a lonely
house on the edge Of his own private
prairie, was a famous sleeper i'll general,
but on this particular occasion he awOke
before the dawn, and, though he turned
and turned again, he could sleep no more
SO at last he said to his good wife, whom
he had kindly awakened to inform heI
of his unaccountablc insomnolence. Its
no use; Iii just get up and dress myself,
and have Il look at the comet"
The next that worthy woman heard
from her waketul spouse was hastv sum.
mons to the outer door. 1t seems that
no sooner did he step forth from hi:
house than his eyes fell on strange por-
ttntious shape hanging in largc pear
tree about twenty yards distant. III,
could see no Likeness in it to anvthin!
earthly, and lie half tancied it might b,
the comet, who, having put out his ligh
had come down there to perch. In hi
fright and perplexity he did what ever,
wise man would do in like extremity
he called upon his valiant wife. Rein
forced by her he drew near the tree
cautiously reconnoltering. Surely neve
pear tree bore such fruit.
Suddenly there descended from tn
l thing plaintive, trembling little Voice
please take us down we are Yer,
cold p
Then second little voice said: can,
hungry too please take us down."
"Why vino are you! And where ar
: you .
The first little voice said ''We ar
Mr. Harwood's little boy and girl, an
| we are lost in a balloon"
The second little voice said, '' 1t is u
and we runned away with balloon
: Please take us down.
II Dimly comprehending the situation
J. the farmer, getting hold of dangln
e rope, succeeded in pulling down tn
balloon.
J., He first lifted out little johnny, VIII
ran rapidly few yards towards tn
), house, then turned around and stood &c
e Il few moments curiously surveying I'll
+ balloon. The faithful little sister WI
u So chilled and exhausted that she had /
y be carried into the house, where tren
81 bling and sobbing, she told the wonderil
story.
lie before sunrise 4 swift messenger W;
Il dispatched to the Harwood home, wit
: glad tidings OF great joy. lie reache
lie it in the afternoon, and few hours lat,
'e the children themselves arrived, in stat
i. with banners and music, and conveyt
III in a covered haywagon and four.
re Joy-bels were rung IN the neighbour
le town, and in the farmers brown hOu
'e the happiest family on the continc
thanked God that night.-AH tie Ie
ia RO,tHd.
ct a ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE. Sever
I'd years ago ayoung lady in Tazewell coun
ul was wooed by Il young man. He obtal
IN ed her consent and the consent OF the