The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-10
U p IN A BALLOON.
BY REV. GEO. IL. HEPwoRTH.

How curious it is that whenever there
is one great show, dozen little ones
cuddle close to it, In Boston the huge
Coliseum stretched itself like giant on
the New Land, and for squares around
smaller and larger booths preempted
favorable location, where nostrums and
novelties were dispensed to those who
were not yet bankrupt. Monstrosities
crafty the morbid taste, and fascinating
sticks Of candy allure the appetites and
deplete the pockets of the younglings.
Having arrived at years of discretion,
L passed by on the other side, and was
walking leisurely homeward, when my
attention was arrested by mysterious
Enclosure, in the centre of which swayed
to and fro magnificent balloon, which
made regular half-hour trips to point
just quarter of a mile above The solid
earth. Then l hesitated. 70 90 up in
balloon was the one great desire of nv
boyhood. I had done almost eyery-
thing else, and this last experience
would round my life exquisitely. When
l was quite young 1 was kicked over
tive-rail fence by wild colt, who re-
turned my caresses with very impress
slve pair OF heels. l have several times
been almost blown to pieces with gun
powder, that never-failing fascination
to every one in his teens. / have aimed
rifle at woodchuck, and missing him
sent the ball within three inches of a
mans head. L have been on the water
In small sail-boat, and been tipped
over. In word, have done thou
sand delightful things, all of which gave
my father and mother sleepless nights,
and made them feel that was sure to
die an untimely death. But here was a
chance to add new experience to my
life; and, as l saw the immense Castle
in the Air swaying to and fro, all my
boylshness came back, and, in less time
than it takes to tell it, was inside the
inclosare, and in few minutes more in
the car of the balloon with Professor
Allen, the accomplished @ronaut.
The signal was given, and we began
to rise. When we were about a hun
dred feet up would have given all 1
possessed to be safely on the earth again.
Instinctively clutched the ropes, but
it did no good, for ropes and everything
else were all going up together. Pretty
soon grew more courageous, and then
thoroughly enjoyed myself. 1t was
very cloudy, but I got good view of
the whole city. The tops of the houses
were, far below me, and the church
steeples seemed slender as reeds. Just
then the Professor engaged my atten-
ton with some of his exploits, and when
next looked could see nothing. We
were In the middle of cloud, and the
man, the houses, the city, were wholly
hidden from view. We were out of
sight of land.
How far up are we, professor"
"Only about quarter of mile" he
answered.
A quarter of mile straight I'D
What IT the balloon should burst through
its lacings! In what shape should
appear after dropping twelve hundred
feet or more? This pleasant thought
would intrude itself. Only twelve hun
dred vertical feet well, that is not very
much, and yet if should fall, 1 think
the coroner's jury would have no diff
Guilty in discovering the cause of my
death.
IL was very queer experience. /
looked up; nothing to be seen. look
ed round; nothing to be seen. looked
down; nothing to be seen. / seemed
to myself to be as near nowhere as l
hope ever to get. The mist drifted by
me In a friendly sort of way, as if to
reassure me, and as though it wanted to
say:
My dear fellow, the Almighty is I'D
here just as He is down there. We
clouds roll, and surge, and dash our
fragile spray in obedience to the same
WM that governs the more solid ocean.
The Hand that holds you in its hollow
when you walk the earth, is underneath
you when you have the clouds for your
companions.
30 by degrees l grew accustomed to
my. new position, and sat quietly en-
Joylng not the scenery, but the situa-
ton, while the Professor told me of his
exploits in Paraguay in the service of
the army, and of his more recent ex-
periences as an @ronaut under the COM
mand OF Union generals Away up be-
yond the reach of hostile bullets, glass
and notebook III hand, he used to watch
the movements of the enemy. How
provoking it must have been to see a
little black object among the clouds,
and know that at every dress parade a
pair of sharp eyes we're looking through
powerful telescope, while "chiel
takin' notes would report to the enemy
what not even the most daring spy or
sharpshooter could discover.
Well, after awhile, desiring to see the
face of mortals once more, indicated
my desire to return to the planet. Slow
ly we descended, and, just as on board
vessel you find your way through the
fog until the headland, which at first
seemed only ghost, assumes tangible
and familiar shape, SO 1 watched, the
steeples and tops of houses came into
view far below me, and in five minutes
more 1 jumped out of the basket, and