Middletown transcript., 1868-12-26

main and under His care-that though
borne away among the stars they could
not be lost, for His love would follow
them.
When the sunlight all went away and
the great comet came blazing out, little
Johnny was apprehensive that the comet
might come too near their airy craft, and
set it on fire with whisk of its dreadful
tail. But when his sister assured him
that the fiery dragon was "as much as
twenty miles away" and that God wouldn't
let him hurt them. he was tranquilized,
but soon after said, ~ wish he would
come little nearer, so 1 could warm my
self, I'm so coldp'
Then Jennie took off her apron and
wrapped it about the child, saying tender
ly: This is all sister has to make you
warm, darling, but she'll hug you close in
her arms, and we will say our prayers and
you shall go to sleep"
Why, how can say my prayers be-
fore have my superb asked little
Johnny.
"Sister hasn't any supper for you, or
for herself, but we must pray all the har-
der" solemnly responded Jennie.
So the two baby wanderers, alone in the
wide heavens, unawed by darkness, i'm
mensity and silence, by the presence of
the great comet and the millions Of unpity-
ing stars, lifted their little clasp-hands and
sobbed out their sorrowful " Our Father"
and then that quaint little supplementary
prayer:
"Now lay me down to sleep,
Ipray the Lord my soul to keep;
If. | should die before wake
Ipray the Lord my soul to take"
90 There God heard that, easy; for we
are close to him up here" said innocent
little Johnny.
Doubtless Divine Love stopped to hear
the little ones, and folded them in perfect
peace-for soon the younger, sitting on
the bottom of the car, with his head lean
ing 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 hours,
and the car ioated 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
imaginings, while watching through those
hours? She may have feared coming in
collision with a meteor-for many were
abroad that night, scouts and heraids 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 change, or Provi-
dence-we will say Providence-guided
the little girls wandering hand to cord
copnected 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 it through the wild
currents of air, not letting it drop into q
lake or liver, lofty wood: or impeneisable
swamp, where this strange, unchildlko
experience might have been closed by
death of unspeakabic horror, but causing
it to descend as softly as bird alights OF
a spot where human care and pity await
ed it.
The sun had not yet risen, but tn,
morning twilight had come, when the littl,
girl, looking over the edge of the car, saw
the dear old earth coming risin:
towards them" she said But when th
car stopped, to her great disappointment
it was not on the ground, but caught fas
in the topmost branches of a tree. Ye
she saw they were near house whenc
help might soon come, so she awakene,
her brother and told him the good news
and together they watched and waited 70
deliverance. hugging each other for jo
and warmth, for they were cold.
Farmer Burton, who lived in a lionel
house on the edge of his own private prai
! rie, was famous sleeper in general, bu
! on this particular occasion he awoke befor
: the dawn, and, although he turned an
!; turned again, he could sleep no more S
at last he said to his good wife, whom h
, had kindly awakened to inform her of hi
, unaccountable insomnolence "It's no use
I'll get up and dress myself, and have
: look at the comet"
I The next that worthy woman hear
e from her wakeful spouse was hasty sun
e mons to the door. 1t seems that no soor
n er did he step forth from the door of h
t house than his eyes fell on strange, POI
$ tentops shape hanging in large pear tr,
p about twenty yards distant. He could s,
. no likeness in it to any thing earthly, an
s he had fancied it might be the comet, wh
having put out his light had gone dow
Q there to perch. In his fright and perple,
It ity he did what every wise man would {
in like extremity-he called upon h
c valiant wife. Reinforced by her, he DIRE
l. near the tree, cautiously reconnoiterin,
r Surely never pear tree bore such fruit b
e fore.
e Suddenly there descended from the thin
a plaintiye, trembling little voice: "Plea
v take us down; we are very cold"
e Then second little voice said: " Al
e hungry too; please take us down"
ic "Why, who are you? And where a
IL you from
IF The first little voice said f" We a
n Mr. Harwood's little how and 0irl and =