Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-28
MGsteuanp.
THE BABES IN THE CLOUDS.
AN AMERICAN TRUE STORY.

One pleasant Saturday afternoon during
the comets appearance. ten years ago, an
srouaut, after prosperous voyage, de-
scended upon farm in the neighborhood
of large market town, in one ofthe West
ern States. He was soon surrounded by
a curious group OF the farmers family and
laborers, all asking eager questions about
the voyage and the management of the
balloon. That secured by an anchor and
rope in the hand of the aronaut, It's car
but foot or two above the ground, was
swaying lazily backward and forward IN
the evening air 1t was a good deal out
of wind, and was a sleepy and innocent
monster in the eyes of the farmer, who,
with the owners permission, led it up to
his house, where, as he said, he could
bitch it 10 the fence But before be thus
secured il, his three children, aged re .
spectiyely ten. eight, and three. begged
him to lift them Into that big basket" that
they might sit on those pretty red cush-
ions" While the attention of the @ronaut
WAS diverted by more curious questio7ers
from neighboring farm. this rash father
lifted his darlings one by one into the car.
Chubby little Johnny prov ed the "ounce
too much" Tor the serial camel. and brought
him to the ground; and then unluckily, not
the baby, but the eldest Of the family, was
lifted out The relief was too great for
the monster. The volatile creatures spir.
its rose at once, he jerked his halter out
of the farmers hand, and with bound
mounted into the air, Vain was the ero-
naut's anchor. Ii caught for a moment in
fence but il tore away, aud was eff,
dangling uselessly after the runaway bal
loon, which 50 swiftly and steadily rose
that in a few minutes those two little
white faces peering over the edge of the
car grew indistinct, and those piteous cries
Of"Papa," Mama" :" grew faint and faint
er, up in the air.
When distance and twilight mists had
swallowed up voices and faces. and
nothing could be seen but that dark cruel
shape. sailing triumphantly away, with
its precious booty, like an aerial privateer,
the father sank down helpless and speech
less; but the mother. frantic with grief.
still stretched her yearning arms towards
the memorable heavens, and called wildly
up into the unanswering void.
The eronaut strove to console the wretch
ed parents, with assurances that the bal
loon would descend within thirty miles of
the town, and that all might be well with
the children, provided it did not come
down in water, or deep woods. In the
event ofits deseendingin favorable spot,
there was but one danger 10 be apprehend-
ed he thought the elder child might step
out, leaving the balloon. Then, 1t might
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 seeing ma
ny people in the streets, stretched out
their hands and cried loudly for help. But
the villagers, though they saw bright
heads, heard no call.
Amazed at the strange apparition, they
might almost have thought the translated
little creatures small angel navigators on
some voyage of discovery, some little
cherubie venture of their own, as. head
ing toward the rosy cloud-lands and pur-
pie islands of sunset splendor, they sailed
deeper and deeper into the west and then
faded away.