Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-12-03

Sister hasn't any supper for you, or for
herself, but we must pray all the harder, sol
emnly responded Jennie.
So the two badly wanderers, alone in the
wide heavens, unawed by darkness, immensely
and silence, by the presence Of the great comet
and the millions of Implying stars, lifted their
little clasped hands, and sObbed out their sor-
rowrul Our Father" aud then that quaint
little supplementary prayer:
"Now lay me down to sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep;
III should die before wake,
pray the Lord my sonl 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-ior
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 Goated 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 childs
thoughts, speculations and wild imaginings'
while watching through those hours? She
may have feared coming in collision with a
meteor-for many were abroad that night,
scouts and heralds of the great comet-or per-
haps being cast away on some dcsolate star
island. or more dreary still, floating and float
ing on, night and day, till they should both
die of cold and hunger Poor babes in the
clouds
At length, happy change, or Providence
we will say Providence--guided the little
girls wandering hand to cord connected with
the valve; something told her to pull it. At
once the balloon began to sink, slowly and
gently as though let down by tender hands :
or as though some celestial pilot guided 1t
through the wild currents of air, not letting 1t
drop into lake, or river, lofty wood, or impcn-
ctrable swamp, where this strange, unchildlike
cxncriencc might have been closed by death
of unspcakabe horror but causing it to de-
scend MS softly as bird aligbts, on a 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 oldearth
coming nearer" rising towards them, she
said. But when the car stopped, to her great
disappointment. it was not on the ground, but
caught fast in the topmost branches OF tree.
Yet she saw they were near house whence
help might soon come, 50 she awakened her
brother and told him tile good news, and to-
cether they watched and waited for dcliyerance,
hugsing each other for joy and warmth, Tor
they were cold
Farmer Burton, who lived in lonely house
on the edge Of his own private prairie was a
famous sleeper in general, but on this particular
occasion he awoke before the dawn, and, though
he turned and turned again, be could sleep no
more. So at last he said to his good wife,
whom he had 50 kindly awakened to inform
her Of his unaccountable insomnolencc It's
no use ; III just get up and dress myself, and
have look at the comet"
The next that worthy woman heard from
ner wakeful spouse was a hasty summons to
the door. 1t seems that no sooner did he step
forth from his house than his eyes fell on a
strange, portentous shape hanging in large
near tree about twenty yards distant He
could see no likeness in it to anything earthly,
and he half fancied it might be the comet, who,
having put out his light, had come down there
to perch. In his fright and perplexity he did
what every wise man would do in like cx-
tremity; he called upon bis valiant vile
Reinforced by her he drew near the tree eau
tiously reconnoitering. Surely never pear
tree bore such fruit.
Suddenly there descended from the thing a
plaintive, trembling little voice: " Please take
us down; we are very cold
Then a second little voice said " And hun
grv too; please take us down.
aWby. who are you? And where are your
The first little voice said: 1--WE are Mr.
Harwoois little boy aud girl, and we are lost
in balloon
The second little voice said, at is us and
we RUINED away with balloon. Please take
us down"
Dimly comprehending the situation, the lar
mer. getting hold Of dangling rope, succeed
ed in pulling down the balloon
lie first lifted ont little johnny, who TAI
rapidly few yards towards the house. theI
turned round and stood for a few moments
curiously surveying the balloon. The ia''lhu
little sister was 50 chilled and exhausted tha
she had to be carried into the house, where
trembling and sobbing, she told the wonderful
story.
Before sunrise mounted messenger was dis
ratcbedtothe Harwood home, with glad tidins
Of great Joy. He reached it in the Afternoon
and a few hours later the children themselV'