Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-12
THE BABES IN THE CLOUDS.
A TRUE AMERICAN STORY.

One pleasant Saturday afternoon dur
ing the comets appearance, ten years
ago, an aeronaut, after a prosperous voy'
age, descended upon farm in the neigh
borhood of large market town In one
of the Western States. He was soou
surrounded by a curious group of the
farmers family and laborers, all asking
sage questions about the voyage and the
management of the balloon. That, Sc
cured an anchor and rope in the hands
of the aronaut. its 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 sleepy and innocent monster
in tbs eyes of the farmer, who, with the
owners permission led it up to his house,
where, as he said. he could hitch it. to
the fence. But before he thus secured
1t, his three children, aged respectively
10, s and 8, begged him to lift them in
to that big basket that they might sit
on those pretty red cushions While
the attention of the eronaut was diverted
by more curious questioncrs from a neigh
boring farm, this rash father lifted bis
darlings, one BY one, into the car. Club
by little Johnny proved the ounce too
much for the aerial camel, and brought
him TO the ground; 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 spirits rose at once, he jerked
the halter out of the farmers hand, and
with bound mounted into the air! Vain
was the aronaut's anchor. ltcaught fol
a moment in fence, but it tore away
and was off. dangling uselessly after the
runaway balloon, which so 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 'Papar Mammal grew
fainter and up in the air.
When distance and twilight mists anC
swallowed up voices and faces, and moth
ing could be seen but that dark, crue
shape, sailing triumphantly away witt
its precious booty, like an aerial privateer
the poor father sank down helpless and
speechless, but the mother, frantic with
grief, still stretched her yearning arm:
toward the inexorable heavens, and call
ed wildly up into the unanswering void.
The aronaut strove to console the
wretched parents with assurance that tn
balloon would descend within thirty mile
of the town and that all might be wei
with the children, provided it did no
come down in deep water or in woods
In the event of its descending in a favor
able spot, there was but one danger to b.
apprehended; he thought that the eide
child might step out, leaving the younge
in the balloon. Then it might again ris
and continue its voyage.
tAh no. replied the mother, Jenni
would never stir from The car without
Johnny in her armsr
The balloon passed directly over tn,
market town, and the children seeing
many people in the streets, stretched GU
their hands and called loudly for held
: But the villagers though they saw tn
bright little heads, heard no call.
Amazed at the strange apparition, thel
might almost have thought the translated
little creatures small angel navigators OF
some voyage of discovery, some it'll
cherubic adventure of their own, as, head
ing toward the rosy cloudlauds and pur
pie islands of sunset splendor, they sail
ed deeper into the west, and faded away
When the sunlight all went away, anC
the great comet came blazing out, it'll
Johnny was apprehensive that the come
might come too near the airy craft, anc
set it on fire with whisk of IFS dreadful
tail. But when his sister assured hin
tina; the fiery dragon was 'as much a
twenty miles away and. that Goc
wouldn't let him hurt them. he was tran
quilted, but soon afterwards said, Il wisl
be would come little nearer, so | coulc
warm myself am so cold J
Then Jennie took off her apron, an,
wrapped it about the child, saying tend
erly:
This is all sister has to make vol
warm, darling. but she'll hug you close il
her arms, and we Will say our prayer
and ron shall 60 to sleep
Why boB Gao I say my prayers be