The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-03-11
Ano&rson JnteQigent&r~
THE BABES IN THE CLOUDS.


r;es on" It was the great comet of 1858, on
the grand tour of the universe. -.
It seemed strange that pretty human hfe
could 60 on as usual with its eating and drlnk-
ing, toiling trafficking and pleasuring, while
that flaming minister" on his billion leagued
circuit. was preaching the wonders of Infinite
immensity and power, and the notninSneSS Oh
earth. The comet no longer runs his klndling
race like Vich-Alpine's henchnan, with his
fery cross announcing war and disaster,
Herald of bsttle, fate and fear
He is on his own business, not ours.
Under the tail of this particular comet
doubtless many a tale of love was told-in the
light of his swift splendors many tender look
exchanged. The astronomer cooliy swept the
starry field with his glass, unawed BY the reg;
ular night-guard patsotling she heavens, ana
the robber and murderer disdained the awful
witness. He left Us as he found us-joined to
our mortal idols, wise in our own conceit, weak,
and worldly, and wicked, but no eastaWays OF
the universe after all.
We remember that comet summer, not 80
much for its great astronomical event as iof
singular Incident that more nearly touched our
hnman sympathies, which will grovel in poor
earthly affairs, even within sight OF the most
august celestial phenomena
One pleasant Saturday afternoon during the
comets appearance, an aeronaut, after a pros
porous voyage, descended upon farm IN the
neighborhood of large market town IN one
of the Western States. He was soon surroan-
Sed hv q curious group of the farmers family
And laborers, all asking eager questions about
tie voyage and the management OF the bal
loon. That, secured bv an anchor and rope
in the hand of the aeronaut its car being
foot or two above the ground, was swaylng la
zilv backward and forward in the evening air.
II was good deal out of wind, and was
sleepy and innocent monster in the eyes OF the
farmer. who, with the owners permission, led
# mn 70 his house, where, as he said, ne could
hitch it to his fence. But before he had thus
secured it, his three children, aged respectively
ten, eight, and three, begged him to lift them
ssinto that big basket" that they might sit
on those pretty red cushions,
While the attention of the aeronaut was
diverted by more curious questioners from
neighboring farm, this rash father lifted his
darIines one by one into the car. Chubby lit
tie johnny proved the "ounce too much" tor
the aerial camel, and brought him to the
ground: and then, unluckily, not the baby,
but the aldest hope of the family, was lifted
out. The relief was too great for the monster.
The volatile creatures spirit rose at once, ne
ierked his halter out of the fathers hand, and,
with wild bound, mounted into the ali
Vain was the aeronauts anchor. 1t caught
for a moment in a fence, but it tore away, and
was off, dangling useessly after the h runaway
balloon, which so swiftly and steadily rose that
in a few minutes those two little white faces
peerine over the edge of the car, grew indis-
tinct. and those piteous cries of "Papa !" and
sMamma p' grew faint and fainter up in the
air.
When distance and twilight mists had swal-
lowed mn voices and faces. and nothing could
be seen but the dark, cruel shape, sailing tri-
nmphantly away, with its precious booty, like
an aerial privateer, the poor father sank down
helpless and speechless; but the mother, fran
tic with grief, still stretched her yearning arms
towards the inexorable heavens, and called
wildly into the unanswering void.
The aeronaut strove to console the wretched
parents with assurances that the balloon woulc
descend within thirty miles of the town, and
that all might be we'll with the children, pro-
vided that It did not come down in water or in
deem woods. In the event of its descending in
a favorable spot they thought that the elder
child might step out, leaving the younger in the
balloon. Then it might again rise and contin-
"Ah. nos replied the mother. "Jennie would
never stir from the car without Johnny IN her
arms"
The balloon passed directly over the market
town, and the children seeing many people IN
the streets stretched out their hands and called
loudly for help But the villagers, though
they saw the bright little heads, heard no calls.
Amazed at the strange apparltlon, they
might have thought the translated little crea-
lures small angel navigators, on some voyage.
of discovery, some little cherubic venture OF
their own, as, heading towards the rosy cloud
lands and purple islands of sunset splendor,
they sailed deeper and deeper into the east,
and faded away.
Some company they had, poor little skywaifs
Something comforted them and allayed their
wild terrors-something whispered that below
the night and clouds was home; that above
was God; that wherever 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 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
q whisk of its dreadful tall But when his SIS
ter assured him that the fiery dragon was "as
much as twenty miles away" and that God
wouldn't let him hurt them, he was tranquil
lized but soon afterward said, "I wish he would
come little nearer, so I could warm myself,
Pm so cod!'
Then Jennie took off her apron, and wrap
ped it about the child, saying tenderly, "Ihs
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 60 to sleep.
"Why, how can say my prayers before l
have my supper ?" asked little Johnny.
'Sister hasn't any supper for you or for her
self, but we must pray all the harder" solemn
Iy responded Jennie.
So the two baby wanderers, alone in the
wide heavens, unawed by darkness, immenslty,
and silence by the presence of the great comet
and the millions of Implying stars, lifted their
little clasped hands, and sobbed out their sor-
rowfrl, "Our Father" and then that quaint
little supplementary prayer:
Now lay me down to sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep;