The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-11-13

pereu them that below the night and
clouds was home; that above was God ;
that wherever 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
lgot be lost, for His love would follow
| them.
When the sunlight all went away. and
the great comet came blazing out, little
Johnnie was apprehcnslye that the comet
might come too near the airy craft, and
! set 1t on fire with whisk of It's dreadful
tall. But when his sister assured him that
the fiery dragon was "as much rs twenty
miles away, and that God wouldn't let
him hurt them. nc was tranquilized. but
soon afterward said, II wish he would
come a little nearer. so could warm my
sclf-I am so cold!"
T Then Jennie took Off her apron and
Wrapped 1t about the child, saying ten
derly, "This Is all sister has to mako you
warm, darling, but she'll hug you close In
Iiher arms. and we will say our prayers ana
you shall 20 to Sleep"
"Why, how can saymy prayers before
Ihave my supperS" asked little Johnnie.
"Slster hasn't any supper foryou or her.
self, but we must pray all the harder"
solemnly responded Jennie.
So the two baby wanderers, alone In the
| wide heavens, unawed by darkness. im-
mcnsity and silence-by the presence OF
the great comet and the millions of unpity-
Ing stars, lifted their little clasped hands
and sObbed ont their sOrrowfll "Our Fa-
thcr," and then that quaint little supple
mentary prayer
Now Lay me lown so sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keepi
III should die before wake,
pray the Lord my soul TO take.
"Therc! God heard that, easy; for We
are close to him up here,' said Innocent
little Johnnie.
Doubtless Divine love stopped to the
little ones. 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 rs sorndly asthOugh
he were lying In his own little bed mt home,
while the elder watched quietly through
the long, long hours, and the car floated
gently OH In the still night nir, till 1t began
to sway and rock OIL the fresh morning
wind.
Who can divine that simple little child's
thoughts, speculatiOns aud wild ilnagin-
ings 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 OH
some tlesolate star island. or, more dreary
still. floating and floating on, night anu
day. till they should both die OF cold anu
hunger. Poor babes In the clouds!
At length happy chance or Providence
we will say Provltencc-guldcd the
little girls wandering hand to q cOrtl con-
nected with the valve; something told her
to pull l.. At once the balloon began to
sink, slowly and gently, rs though let
down by tender hands, or rs though some
celestial pilot guided 1t through the Wild
currents of air, not letting 1t drop into
lake or river, lcafy wood or lmpenetrable
swamp, where this strange uncllildlike cX-
periencc might have been closed by
death of unspcakable horror, but causing
It to descend us softly as bird allghts on
a spot where human care and pity await 1t.
The sun had not yet risen. but the morn.
Ing twilight had come, when the little girl
looking over the edge of tho car, saw the
lear old earth coming nearcr=-."rssinS to-
kn(dsi} san, - sre'said. But when the car
stopped, to her great disappointment. 1t
was not OH the ground, but caught fast In
the topmost branches of pear tree. Yet
she saw they were near house whence
hclp might ceme, so she awakened her
brother and told him the good news, and
together they watched and waited for de-
llvcrance, hugging each other for JOY ana
for warmth; for they were very cold.
Farmer Buxton, who lived In n lonely
house on the edge of his own private prai-
rie, was famous sleeper In general, but
OH this particular morning he awOke be-
fore the dawn. and though he tnrncd and
turned again, he could sleep no more. So,
mt mt last lie sail to his good wife. whom
hc had kindly awakened to inform her OF
his unaccountablc insOmnolence. "lts no
use; just get up aud dress, and have look
ut the comet"
The next that worthy woman heard from
her wakcflil spouse was q frightened sum
mons to the door. 1t seems that no sooner
did Inc step forth from his house than his
eyes fell on a strange pOrtcntious shape
hanging In q large pear tree. not twenty
yards distant, lie could see In 1t no like
ness to anything earthly, and he half fam
c,ed II 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 10 In
like extremity; he called OH his valiant
wife. Reinforced by her, he drew near
the tree. cautiously accommodating. Surely
never pear tree bore such fruit.
Suddenly there descended from the
thing plalntive trembling little voice.
"Plcase take us down. We arc very
cold!n
Then n second little voice. "And hun
cry too. Please take us down"
"Why, who are you! And where are
your
The first little voice said: 1--WE are Mr..
IIarwoods little boy and girl, and We arc
lost In balloon"
The second little voice said: "Its us,
and we runned away with balloon.
Please take us down."
Dinlly comprehending the situation, the
farmer. getting hold of dangling rope
succeeded In pulling down tho balloon,
He first lIfied out little Johnnie. VINO
ran rapidly few yards towards the house,
then turned round, and stood for few
moments. clIrlOusly surveying the balloon:
The faithful little sister was so chilled ana
exhausted that she had to be carried Into
the house, where, trembling and sobbing,
she told her wonderful story.
Before sunrise mounted messenger
was dispatched to the Harwood home,
with tie glad tidlngs of great JOY. lie
reached 1t In the afternoon, anu lew
hours later tue children themselves ar
rived In state, with banners and music;
conveyed In q covered hay wagon ana
four.
JOY bells were rung In the neighborins
town. and In the farmers brown house
the happiest family OH the continent
thanked God that night.