Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-06-22

4 III dlfdlu we III ldNe 10 Wdlt I'LL IL
gets ready TO go down itself, and il
feels all the time as if it were getting
higher and higher!"
The tears stood in Willie's eyes.
Il read in n newspaper that when
folks want TO come down out of bal
loon they prick holes in it, Now, il
we had pins you and / would climbup
and give the old thing good stick
ing. And it's growing dark too"
And it was. The sun had gone
down, and the shadows lay long and
black across the fields and in the
valleys Here and there the lights
We're already beginning to twinkle
below, while above, the sky was thick
with stars.
There was another long silence.
Amt you afraid, Johnny" at last
inquired Willie.
Afraid? mol What's the use of be
ing afraid? we cant hit anything up
here and I know We'll come down
some time I'm cold though"
You put on this coat II little while,
Johnny, said Willie. I'm real warm
now, and l can near your teeth chat
ter"
No, no. Keep it yourself. like
to be cold. It's real fun to have your
teeth chatter / wonder what this
ropes fort Perhapa there's bell on
have ring ont Of t."
4 queer, rushing sort of sound fol-
lowed the pull; the balloon quivered
and shook for a moment as if it had
struck against some oppo sing sub
stance, and then it seemed as il it
were slowly sinking toward the
earth.
II bet we've done it now. We're 60
ing down, sure's you livel I've pulled
tiit SAtAhE thdh iitiN tiit pAiAOOh otuii
in, and we shall hit something in a
minute,"
They held their breath and waited,
but nothing happened.
We're standing still again." said
Johnny, looking over the side, but
we've dropped good ways. We
must have been as much as twenty
miles high when I pulled the rope,
and now we're down so low 1 can
hear bells ringing somewhere"
It's prayer meeting night said
Willie. Friday night, and they're
ringing for that. Perhaps my mother
hears it too"
More likely it's for nine o'clock, g
returned Johnny, land we're as much
as tousand miles away from Bright
view now. Perhaps when we come
down we'll have TO sail home in a
ship. L hope SO.
Cant you pull the rope again,
Johnny, just little?' asked Willie.
Il can see houses and lights under
us. I'm afraid If we keep going We'll
drop down among the Indians"
There was another pull on the rope
not SO long or SO strong as before,
but the same rushing sound followed,
and the boys felt that the balloon
was descending, not very rapidly, but
still surely TO the ground. La two
or three minutes there was a violent
/ jar, and Willie was nearly thrown
out of the basket. They had struck
the top of barn. but We're almost
Immediately dragged of. Then they
Were swept through the top branches
Of Il row Of elms, and after a few rods
more the basket became entangled
in an apple tree, in whose grasp it re-
mained.
You get ont first. Willie, and be
careful where you STEP" said Johnny.
I'm going to tie the old thing To a
tree with this rope, so therell be no
such thing as its getting away. Now,
are you down all right? Look out
/ for me, then"
In another minute both were safe
on the ground There was "a farm
house few steps away, and the
lights were still burning in the win
dow.
Seems to me this looks awful nat
ural here, remarked Johnny, as he
led the way to the house.
what are you going to say?"
whispered Willie, as they paused a
moment on the doorstep. Perhaps
they can't understand u.s."
"Oh, 1 can make signs" replied
johnny. well get along some
/ how"
He knocked. A woman with a
candle in her hand came to the door.
The moment the light fell upon the
faces of the two boys she uttered "a
scream and the candlestick fell to the
floor.
Mercy on us! Why, Johnny Car
ter! Oh, you wicked boys! where
have you here. father, father. come
herel Here are the boys. dropped
I
right down out of the clouds in our
own door yard. Why, you dear.
naughty, darling Johnny Carter!"
And she put her arms around his
neck and went Off into fit of hyster-
ical crying.
Both boys had until now stood
open -mouthed and dumb.
why, how did you come here
aunt Nabby?" at last broke out john
ny. with little struggle to free him
self. Il thought you were in Bright
view"
How did you come here? Why,
I've been here forty years. And this
is Brightview to-day as much as it
ever was. Your own fathers house
amt forty rods from here, and L left
your blessed mother not half an hour
ago, her eyes half out of her head
with crying about you"
The whole thing flashed upon the
boys at once. The balloon, all the