The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-11-19
gales, SkriigccSS, net90tfs, G{E::
THE BABES IN THE CLOUDS.
AN AMERICAN TRUE STORY.

just ten years ago there suddenly burst
upon the western world magnificent
stranger from foreign parts, with ''alI his
travelling gIories on" Il was the great
comet of 1853, on the grand tour of the
universe.
1t seemed strange that petty human life
could go on as usual, with its eating and
drinking, tratficking and pleasuring, " lille
that flaming minister on his billion
leagued circuit, was preaching the won
ders of infinite immensity and power, and
the nothingness of earth. The comet no
longer runs his kindling race, like Vich
Alpine's henchman, with his fiery cross
announcing war and disaster.
Herald of battle, fate and fear.
He is on his own business, not ours
Under the tail of this particular comet,
doubtless many tale of love was told
IN the light of his swift spIeEdors many
a tender look exchanged. The astronomer
coolly swept the starry field with his glass,
unawed by the irregular night-gu pa
trolling the heavens, and the robber and
murderer disdain the awful witness. He
left us as he found us-joined to our NOR,
tai idols, wise in our conceit, weak and
worldly and wicked, but no castaways of
the universe after all.
We remember that comet summer, not
so much for its great astronomical event
as for two singular incidents that more
nearly touched our human sympathies,
even within sight of the most august celes-
tial phenomena.
One pleasant Saturday afternoon during
the comets appearance, an @ronaut, after
prosperous voyage, descended upon
farm in the neighborhood of large mar
ket town in one of the Western States
He was soon surrounded bv curious
group of the farmers family, and laborers,
all asking eager questions about the voy-
age and the management of the balloon.
That secured by an anchor and a rope in
the hand of the eronaut, its car but foot
or two above the ground, was swaying
lazily backward and forward in the even
ing air. 1t was good deal out of wind,
and sleepy and innocent monster in the
eyes of the farmer, who, with the owner 5
permission, led it up to his house, where,
as be said, he could hitch it TO his fence.
But before he thus secured it, his three
children, aged respectively ten, eight and
three, begged him TO lift them ''into the
big basket" that they might ''sit on those
pretty red cushions While the atten-
ton of the eroraut was diverted by more
curious questioners from neighboring
farm, this rash father lifted his darlings
one by one into the car Chubby little
Johnny proved the t'ounce too much'' for
the aerial camel and brought him to the
ground and then. unluckily, not the baby,
but the eldest hope of the family, was
lifted out. The relief was too great for
the monster. The volatile creatures
spirit rose at once. he jerked his halter out
of the farmers hand, and with a wild
bound mounted into the air! Vain was
| the eronauts anchor. 1t caught for a
moment in fence, but it tore away and
was off, dangling uselessly after the runs
away balloon, which SO swiftly and steadi-
! ly rose that in few minutes those two
little white faces peering over the edge of
the car grew indistinCt, and those piteous
cries of s'papa % mammal" grew faint
and fainter up in the air. $
When distance and twilight mists had
swallowed up voices and faces, and moth
| ing could be seen but the dark cruel shape,
sailing triumphantly away with its pre-
cious booty, like an erial privateer, the
! poor father sank down helpless and speech