The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1869-01-23
Tsr1ms of Subscription.

One pleasant Saturday afternoon during
the comets appearances. ten years ago. an
9ronaut, after a prosperous voyage, de
scended upon farm in the neighborhood
Of large market town. in one Of the West.
ern States. He was soon surrounded by a
curious group Of the farmers family and
laborers. all asking eager questions about
Dthe voyage>dnd the management of the
balloon. That, sccnred by an anchor and
or0pe in the hands Of the eronaut. itss car
but foot cr two above the ground. Vas
swaying 1nzily backxard und fesknsR in
The evening .air. i waslA good deal ont sc&
wind. and was sleepy aud innocent mon-
ster in the eyes Of the farmer, who. with
the owners permission. led it up to his
house. where as be said. he could :. hitch
it" to the fence. But before he thus Sc
cured it. his three children, aged respectively
ten, eight snd three, begged him to lift
them into that. big basket" that they
. might cit on 8 those pretty red cushions" !"
While the attention OF the aronaut was d.
vested " more curious questioners from
neighboring farm, this rash father lifted his
daslings ono by Que into the car. Chubby
little Johnnie proved the '.ounce too much |"
for the erial camel. and brought him to
the fground; 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. aIa with bound mounted
into tho air. Vain was the eronaut's anchor.
II caught. for a moment in fence. but it
tore eyay. and was OF. dangling uselessly
aifer the runaway balloon. which SO swiftly
and steedily rose that in few minutes those
two little white faces peering over the edge
of the car grew indistinct, and those piteous
cries Of " Papa :" :. Mamma :" grew faint
and fainter up in the air.
When distance and twilight mists had
awallowed up voice and faces. and nothing
could be seen but that dark. cru. shape,
sailing triumphantly away with its precious
booty like an aerial privateer. The poor
father sunk down h.,t.!-ss and speechless
but the mother. frantic with grief. still
stretched her yearning arms towards tho |
inexcrablc heavens aud called wildly up into /
the unanswerlng void.
The 9ronaut stroye to console the wretched |
parents with assurances that the balloon
would d. -scend within thirty miles of the
town, aud tat all might be we'll with the
children, provided it did not come down in
water, or in deep woods. In the event Of
its descending in favorable spct. thers was
but one danger to be apprehended; he
thought that the elder child might step out.
leaving the younger in the balloon. Then,
it might again rise. and continue its voyage.
..Ah, no. replied the mother. Jennie
would never stir from the car without
Johnnie in her arms"
The balloon passed directly over the
market town. and the children se, ing many
people h, the streets, stretched out their
hands and cried loudly for help. But the
villagers. though they snw the bright little
heads, heard no call.
Amazed at the strange aspiration. they
might almost have thought the translated
little creatures small angel navigators. on
some voyage of discovery. some little che
rubic venture Of their own, as. beading
toward the rosy cloud-lands and purple
islands of sunset splendor. they sailed
deeper and deeper into the west, aud faded
away.
Some compsny they had. poor little eky
waits! Something comfort-d them. and
.llayed their wild terrors, something whis-
pesed them that below the night and clouds
vae home that above was God !; that where
ever 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 not be lost. for
His lore would follow them.
When the sunlight all vent away. and the
great comet came blasting out. little Johnnie
was appreAensive that the c0met might come
loo. near the airy craft. and .set it on fire ,
With whisk Of its dreadfal tail. But when
his sister assured him that the fiery dragon
sas a much a. twenty miles away. and
that God wouldn's let him hurt them. he was
hut saou aft~rward said II ,
Wish he would come little nearer, 80 could
warm myself-I am 90 cold !"
Then jennie took of hei apron and
strapped it about the child. saying tendsrly.
. This is al sister has "a g.aks yen yarn.
1arliag. bat shs'll hug yoR plpse in her srms
md we will say our psay+ss and you shall
70 to Sleep" i
:. Why, how can say my prayers befcrr .