Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-15

'nae Helu the balloon StuH IN, and
we snail hit something in minuter'
Ihey held their breath and waited, but
nothing happened.
We're standing still again. said
Johnny, looking over the side" "bus
we've dropped good ways. We must
nave been much as twenty miles high
when pulled the rope, and now we're
down SO low | can hear bells ringing
somewhere
It's prayer meeting night" said Will
lie, " Friday night, and they're ringing
for that. Perhaps my mother hears it,
too"
More likely it's for nine O'clock" re-
turned Johnny, land we're much as
thousand miles away from Brightview
now. Perhaps when we come down we'll
have to sail home in ship. l hope So"
Cant you pull the rope again, Johnny,
just Ettle?' asked Willie 81 can see
houses and lights under us. I'm afraid if
we keep going Well drop down among
the Indians"
There was another pull on the rope; not
so long norso 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. In
two or three minutes there was violent
jar, and Willie was nearly thrown out of
the basket. They had struck the top of a
barn, but were almost immediately
dragged off. Then they were swept
through the top branches of row of elms,
and after few rods more the basket be-
came entangled in an apple tree, in whose
grasp it remained.
You get out first, Willie, and be care
full where you STEP" said Johnny. I'm
going to tie the old thing to 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 farmhouse a
few steps away, and the lights were still
burning in the window.
Seems to me things look awful natural
here" remarked Johnny, as he led the
way to the house.
What are you going to say?" whis-
pered Willie, as they paused moment on
the doorstep. Perhaps they can't IN
derstand u.s.
Oh, can make signs" replied john
ny. " Wen get along somehow"
He knocked. A woman with candle
in her hand came to the door, The mo-
ment the light fell upon the faces of the
two boys she uttered scream and the
candlestick fell to the floor
Mercy on us! Why, Johnny Carter
0, you wicked boys! where have you
| Here, father, father, come here! Here are
the boys, dropped right down out of the
| clouds in our own door yard. Why, you
dear, naughty, darling Johnny Carter!"
And she put her arms about his neck
and went off into fit of hysterical cry
ing.
Both boys had until now stood open
mouthed and dumb.
Why, how did you come here, aunt
Nabby?" at last broke out Johnny, with
little struggle to free himself g
lAouSue JOu Welc Ill DIlSutVlGW.
Chow did l 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 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 time, had
| been circling about right over the fields
and farms they knew SO well, and by
some unaccountable chance had dropped
them at last in the very heart of Bright
view, and almost upon the very doorstep
of Johnny's aunt. Neither uttered
word, but as if actuated by the same i'm
pulse, they darted out of the dooryard and
down the road, side by side, like two
young deer Five minutes more and they
were in their mothers arms. The two
houses of mourning were turned into
houses of rejoicing; the dead were alive
again, the lost found.