The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-19
CHILDREN IN THE CLOUDS.
A True Story from 'sAll the Year Round.'


comets appearance, some ten years
ago, an aeronaut, after a prosperous
voyage, descended upon large farm in
the neigborhood of large farm market
town in one of the Western States. He
was soon surrounded by q curious group
of the farmers family and laborers, all
asking eager questions about the voy-
age and the management OF the balloon.
That, secured by an anchor and a rope
in the hands of an aeronaut,i its car but
foot or two above the ground, was sway |
ing lazily backward and forward in the |
evening air. 1t was a good deal out OF
wind, and was sleepy ana inn0cehb
monster in the eyes of the farmer VINO.
with the owners permission, led 1t up TO
his house, where, as he SAID, he coulu
..hltch it'' to the fence. But before he.
thus secured it his three children, aged |
respectively 10, and 8, begged him to
left them into that big basket. that they
might sit on those pretty red cushions.
| While the attention of the aeronaut
was diverted Wy more curious question
ers from a neigboring farm, this rash
| father lifted the darlings one by one into
| The Car. Chubby little Johnny proved
| the ounce too much for the aerial camel,
and brought him to the ground; and then,
unluckyily, not the baby, but the eldest
hone 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 or the farmers
hand, aud with bound mounted INTO
the air. Vain was the aeronaups an
cuor, 1t caught for u moment in the
fence, but tore away, and was OH dang
! ling uselessiy after the runaway balloon,
which SO swiftly and steadily rose that
in A few miuuues those two little faces
peering over the edge of the car grew In
distinct, and those piteous cries OF
"Papaw "Ma0aW grew fainter UP III
the air.
When distance and twilight mists had
swallowed up voices ana races,
ana nothing could be seen but
that dark, cruel shape, sailing lrluM-
lphantly away with It's precious booty,
like an aerial priVateer, the poor latnef
sank down helpless and .speechless, but
Ihe mother, frantic with grief, still
stretches her yearning arms toward the
heavens, and called wildly up into the
unanswering VOID.
The aeronaut strove to console the
wretched parents with assurances lhat
the balloon would descend within thirty
miles OF the town, and that all might be
well with the children, provided 1t dId
not come down i'll deep water or IN the
woods. In the event of its descending
in favorable spot, there >Was Dut one
danger to be apprehended: he thought
that the elder child might step out, leav-
ing the younger IN the balloon. Then IL
might Iise and continue it's voyage.
SAh, mol" replied the mother, Jenny
: 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 streicheu out
their hands and called loudly for help.
But the villagers, though they saw the
bright little heads, heard no call
When the sunlight all went away, and
, the great comet came blazing out, little
: Johnny was apprehensive that the GOMEZ
q might come too near The airy craft anC
a sci IL on fire with whisk OF It's dreadfu
: tail. But when his sister assured hin
: than the fiery dragon was as mucn al
= twenty miles away, and that Goo
i wouldn't let him hurt them, he was tran
= oujlllZed, but he soon after SAID: -
~ wish he would come little nearer, SO
lcould warm myself am 50 cold!'
Then Jennie took on her apron ant
e wrapped it about the cnild, saying ten
n derly:
i "ihis is all sister has to make yo,
IS warm, darling, but she'll hug you clos
IA in her arms, and we will say our prayer
e and you shall so to sleep"
3 "Why, how can / say my prayers be
is fore | have my supper" asked Httl
II Johnny.
e "olster hasn't any supper for you o
e herself, but we must pray all the harder,
sOlemnly responded Jennie.
Y. SO the two baby wanderers. alone
, the wide heavens, unaWed by darkness
y immensity and silence, by the presenc
>. of the great comet and the millions {
~ unpitying stars, lifted their little claspe
. hands ana sobbed out their sorrowfl
~ "Our Father" and then that quaint littl
~ q supplementary prayer:
" sNow lay me down to sleep,
> Ipray the Lord my soul to keep;
D Ii should die before wake,
10 lpray the Lord my soul 10 take"
- "rherel God heard that easy; for W
=, are close to him up here" said innocel
=. little Johnny.
u Doubtless Divine Love stopped to th
= little ones, and folded them In perfet
n peace, for soon the younger, sitting Q
=, tbe bottom of the Car, with his hea
~ leaning against his sisters knee, sleI
VI as soundly as though he were lying
VI his own little bed at home; while the e
ie der watched quietly through the lon
long hours, anu the car foated gently {
the still night air, till it began TO sws
be and rock on the fresh morning wind.
ly Atlength a happy providence guide
e. the little girls wandering hand to col
rs connecting with the valve; somethiI
Dr. told her to pull it. At once the ballot
st began to sink, slowly and gently,
II. though let down by gentle hands, or
nd though some celestial pilot guided
ati through the wild currents OF air, not Il
a ting it drop into lakes or rivers, lea
ch wood or impenetrable swamp, whe
M this strange, unchi!diike experien
les might have been closed by death OF u
M speakable horror; but causing it to
an scend as a bird alights, on spot whe
ed. care and human pity awaited 1t.
in- The sun had not yet risen, but Il
TT morning twilight had come, when t
in little girl, looking over the edge Of &
cal car, saw the dear old earth comiI
of nearer--"rising toward them." she sal
yas Bat when the car stopped, to her gre
,ut disappointment, it was not on the groun
ry, but caught fast in the topmost branch
AN A tree. Yet she saw they were ne
nd house whence help might soon con
Try SO she awakened her brother, and te
at, him the good news, and together th
Gu. watched and waited for dellyeran'
me hugging eacn other for JOY and warm
lch for they were very cold.
,es Farmer Buxton, who lived in O lont
lin | ho,aa m tha adpa of his own DriVi