Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-10-08
CHILDREN IN THE
CLOUDS.

CHILDREN IN THE
CLOUDS.
4 True Story from "All tn
Year Round.'' kn1R
Ope pleasant afternoon during the
comets appearance, some ten years ago,
an aeronsut. af'er . prosperous voysgr,
descended upon = large farm in the
nelkhborhoQd OF largo farm market
|soyn ~ one Of the Western States. H.
va soon surrounded by q curious group
!of the farmers family and laborcrs. all
|asNng eager Questions about the voyage
IA,1 the manaeemet Of the balloon
Tat, sccured by an anchor snu rope
Iinthe hand Of the::aeronaut, its..car about q
foot or TWO above the ground, was sway
ing |azily back ward and forward IN the
evening air. It was good deal out OF
wind. and was sleepy and innocent
monsterin the eyes of the farmer. who.
with the owntrs permission, led it up to
bis house, where. he saii, he could hitch
it to the fence. But before he thus secur-
ed it his three children. aged respectively
10, s and , begged him 10 lit them into
that big basket, that they might sit on
thoee pretty red cushions.
While the attention of the aerOnant
was diverted by more curious question
srs from Sp1s IA.c
father lifted the darlings one by one into
the car. Chubby little Johnny proved
the ounce too much for the aerial camel, an
brought him to the ground; and then,
ualuckily, rot the bady. the eldest hope
Of the family was lifted out. The reli f
was too great. The volatile creature>'s
spirits rose at oncs., he jcrkcd the halter
out OF the farmers hand, and With a
bound uouoted into the air. Vain was
the aeronaut's anchor. 1t caught for a
moment in the fence. but tore away.
End was of dangiing nselessly after the
runaway balloon, which SO swiftly and
steadily rose that 10 few minutes those
two little faces peering over the edge OF
tho car grew in'istinct. and those pitaous
cries Of "Pap,!'' "Mamma!" grew
fainter in the air.
When distance aud twilight mists had
swallowed up voices and iaces, and moth
ing could be seen but that dark, cruel
shape, sailing triumphantly away with
its precious bpaty, like an aerial priva'
teer. the poor father sank down hclpIes:
and specclless, but the mother frantic
y It'll griei. still stretches her yearnine
arms towards the heavens, and called
wildly up iutQ tue unanswerab.e void
ness.
i The acronaut str0ve to console the
wretchcd parents with assurances tla
Ithe balloon would descend within thirty
m:...s Of the town, and all might bt
well with the children, provided that il
lid not come in deep water or IN tht
woods. In the event of its descending
in favorable spot, thfre was but ont
dang r to be apprehended: he thought
that the elder Guild might step cut, lpay
pg the younger in the balloon. Thel
lit might rise and continue its voy.
sge.
I "Ah, no!" replied the mother, 'Jen
hie would not stir from the car without
JOnnie In her arms. -
The balloon passed directly over tht
m srket town, and the children seeing
many people in the streets stretched 0u
their hands and called loudly tor help
But the villagers, thought they saw th,
ltright little heads, heard no calls.
Il When the sunlight all went away
land the great comet came blazing out
little Johnnie was apprehensiye tina
1.-THE comet might come. too near tn
airy craft, and set it on fire with it
| dreadful tail. But when bis sister as
sured him that the frey dragon was a
much IS twenty miles away, aud that Coz
wouldn't let him hurt them. he wa
tranquillizcd. but he soon alter said: s
! wish he would come . lit,leHnearer,: so
I could warm myself AIN so cold.
q Then Jennie took off her apron AIT
Wrapped 1t around the child, saying ten
i. ..erly:
d This is all sister has to make 20,
warm, darling. but she'll hug you clos
Rim her arms, and we will say onr prayer
land you shall 10 to sleep.'
4 why, how can l say my prayer
Z before eat my suppers' asked littl
Johnnie.
4 Sister hasn't any supper you or her
lself, but we must pray all the harder,
solemnly responded Jennie.
4 So the two baby wanderers. alone II
ihe wide heavens, unawed by darkness
.mmens,ty aud sil.pce, blythe presence''o
|the great comet, aud the millions Of III
J piting stsrs, lifted their clasped hand
a aud sobbed out their sorrOwtul 'Ou
Father. aud then that quaint little SUI
'lplemsntary prayer:
..Now l lay me down to sleep,
Iprsy the LORI my soul to ketE
j LII should die before wake.
!. Ipray the Lord my soul To take.
. "Ther.! God heard that easy; for "
!, lare close TO HIM up here" said innocen
, little Johnny.
Doubtless Divine Love stooRed to tb
!, little ones, and folded them in perfee
! peace, for soon the younger. sitting o
1.-The bottom Of the car, with his hea
! leaning against his sisters knee, slept .
|. sopndly ~ though he were lying in hl
/ klowp little bed at home; while the elds
!, watched quietly ehuugh the long. Ion
:, ,Ihours, and tho car Aoated gently on u
!. |snf niGbt cir, Gll It began to swsy IN
rock - the fresh morning wind.
At length . happy providence guide
:, the liasis girls wandering hand 10 , col
elconnect,ng the valve; something SCENE
10 tell her to pull II. At once the balloc
!. !bexsa 10 sink slowly and Gsrtly.
|. th0ssh let down By geptis hsnds. Or
ssithough some celestial pilot gsided
= tshsr>snwh fha s,sld A,arrnnfa ~ fhA air NJ