The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-06-15
gor nun,g Readers.
A HOLIDAY In A BALLOON.
BY CHARLES y. HURD.

BY CHARLES ". HURD.
IT was the 1st of May. The sky was
clear and cloudless, and the air like June.
There was just breeze enough to family
stir the swinging boughs of the trees and
the broad fields stretched out beneath the
sun like carpet of emerald. In the
wood, and by the side of the pasture
fences, the pink and white blossoms of
the trailing arbutus peeped timidly out as
if they knew the day, and were waiting
for the fingers that were to come and
pluck them.
May Day had always been holiday in
Brightview. and such day had not been
seen for years. AS soon as the dew was
off the grass the girls and boys wandered
off into the neighboring fields and along
the forest, hunting for May flowers and
| evergreens. Some of the more adventur-
Gus of the latter took a wide range, eX-
| tending their ramble a mile or two be-
yond the village, and toward the town
which lay twice that distance away from
home. Among them were the two whom
this story especially concerns-Johnny
Carter and Willie Adams. Johnny was a
stout, chubby y-faced boy of twelve, good
natured and full of fun, and always ready
for an adventure. Willie was two years
younger, and very much like his compan-
ion in disposition.
Il don't like to stick round with the
girls all the time,' said Johnny.
They're always wanting you to go into
wet places for 'em, or to climb after some
thing, or poke in among the bushes and
briers after leaves and things"
eff l had sister I'd get things for
her." said Willie, "but amt related to
a single one of the little girls, and the
ones bigger'n l am can help themselves"
During this and much more talk of the
same kind the two got separated from their
companions, and finally climbed the wall
into the road. There was a clump of
willows near, and cutting some of the
shoots they sat down upon the bank and
were soon engaged in the mysteries of
whistle making.
"Hullo!" suddenly exclaimed Johnny,
pointing down the road. " Here comes
Tom and Joe Billings with their fathers
old mare. And all dressed up, too. |
wonder where they're going?"
"To town, of course" said Willie, in
a half contemptuOus tone of voice.
"They feel so big because their father lets
'em drive round that old rackabones!
Just as if nobody else in Brightview
owned horse"
Il wish they'd ask us to ride said
Johnny, as the team drew near.
"Ain't room enough" was the CON-
ment of Willie.
"We could sit in behind and let our
legs hang over" insisted Johnny. Pm
going to ask EN-, anyway"
By this time the carriage had reached
the spot where the two boys were sit
ting.
I" say, Joe," shouted Johnny.
Joe pulled up with sudden jerk,
which almost threw his smaller brother
over the dasher, and turned his head to-
ward Johnny, who now came running
down the bank into the road.
"Where are you going? Give us a
ride, will you?" he asked in the same
breath.
We're going to town. answered Joe;
" me and Tommy. Father told US this
morning that if we'd take hold and help
him mend the fence around the calf-pas-
ture we might have the mare to go and
see the 'censiOn,
"Cension! what 'cension? What is a
'cension?" inquired Johnny; and Willie,
showing growing interest in the subject,
shut up his knife and came down into the
road.
why, a 'cension is a-'cension.
thought everybody knew what that was"
Is it alive?" asked Willie.
"Alive! a 'cension aliver' and Joe gave
a contemptuous shout. "Why, it's bal
loon. Tommy knows moren that"
"Say, now, Joc," said Johnny, coax
ingly, "mayn't we go with you? Willie
and me never saw a balloon"
81 don't believe the old mare would
draw four fellows" said Joe, doubtfully.
60, pshaw; yes she will, urged Johnny.
Gwen bear up just as light as we can !;
won't we, Willie?'
Willie declared that he would hold his
breath all the way, and finally Joe con-
sented. The two boys climbed in behind,
and once more the team logged along to-
ward the town.
Long before they reached it they could
see the crowd in the great field just out
side, where all the circuses pitched their
tents, and where the annual county fairs
were always held, and swaying, half
filed, above the heads of the people,
though held close to the ground by ropes,
was the balloon The excited boys urged
the mare to her utmost speed with clucks
and shouts, and the spot was soon reached
at last.
Johnny and Willie, with little Tommy
at their heels, sped across the field which
lay between, leaving Joe to fasten the
mare to the fence among crowd of other
teams. That done, he followed after, and
the four were soon engaged in the inspec-
ton of the wonderful object.
1t was not big balloon, by any means,
but still large enough to attract great
many people. The crowd was kept at a
little distance by ropes stretched around,
so that the preparations could be made
without interference. Everything hap
pened Just as it should, which is a wonder
full thing in balloon ascensions, and at
three o'clock the globe was declared
filled. Before getting into the basket, the
aeronaut proposed to allow those of the
crowd who wished to make short ascen-
sion, letting them up few hundred feet,
and then pulling them down again by a
long rope attached. The fee was only
twenty-five cents each, and several seized
the opportunity to "see what the feeling
was like" The number being soon ex-
hausted, the aeronaut proclaimed that
boys would be sent up for ten cents apiece.
"Lets go up" said Johnny, excitedly.
"Pve got forty cents, and I'll pHy twenty
if JOEL pay twenty"
awe might get killed." said Joe, eau
tiously, "and then who'd take the mare
homer"
"Oh, you're always afraid,' retorted
Johnny. "Willie and NELL go, won't
we, Willie?"
Willie expressed his willingness to go
wherever Johnny led, and the two crept
under the ropes, Johnny with twenty
cents in hand, which was accepted, and
the two helped into the basket.