The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-30
THE INDEPENDENT.
BLOWN AWAY.

cn the Great Southwestern Railroad
The station stood alone on the oper
prairie, miles and miles frnm anywhere
in particular. Black river flowed
through the mountains, hundred miles
away to the north; and on sunny days.
the snowy mountains could be seen
glimmering on the grassy horizon.
The line leading to the Black river
met the Southwestern here, and thus 1T
was the place was called Black River
Junction.
The station-master and his wife and
three children lived in the little depot
quite happy, but there was not an
other family within ten miles in any dl-
rection.
At times the children thought it rather
lonely. There was nothing in particular
70 be done except to watch the trains
that stopped at the Junction several
times day Once in a while, freight
car would be left on the side track, and
the children soon found that an empty
freight car makes capital play house.
They could keep house in the corners
and make visit, or sit by the open door
and make believe they We're having a
ride.
One morning they were awakened by
a curious humming sound out of doors,
and they all scrambled up and looked
out of the window. How the wind did
blowl 1t whistled and roared round the
house and played on the telegraph wires
upon the roof as upon q huge harp. As
the wires were fastened to the roof, the
house became o great music box, with
the children inside. After breakfast the
morning trains arrived, but the wind was
80 high that the passengers were glad to
hurry from one train to another as quick
" as possible. Then the trains went
away, and the great wind harp on the
roof sang louder than ever.
The station-master said it blew gale,
and that the children must stay in the
house, lest they be blown away into the
prairie and be kost The station-master's
wife said it was pity the children must
stay in the house all day. There was an
empty freight car upon the side track
perhaps they might play in that. The
station master thought this a good idea.
and he took Kitty by the hand and Tom.
my in his arms, while Mary took hold Of
his coat, and they all went out into
blow They certainly thought that they
WOQlQ DC ny IlS Wluu du1i
blown quite into the sky. The empty
car was warm and snug, and, once in
side, they were quite out of the way OF
the wind.
Mary thought the rear end would be a
good place to keep house, but Tommy
preferred the other end, so they agreed
to keep house at both ends of the empty
car. This was nice plan, as it gave
them q chance to visit each other, and the
open part by the door made grand
promenade to walk on.
Louder and louder roared the gale.
Safe and snug in the car, they went on
with their play and thought nothing oi
the weather outside.
:. Suddenly the car seemed to shake, and
they stopped in their housekeeping and
ran to the door to see what had hap
pened.
Why, it's movingl Somebody's push
ing it, said Mary.
..They are taking us away on the freight
train. Come, we must get out.
II didn't hear the whistle, said Tom
nv. 81 guess something is pushing the
ear"
The girls leaned out of the door to see
what had happened. Why, where was
the platform What was the matter
with the station !? 1t was moving away.
No, it was the car It had left the siding
and had rolled upon the main line and
was moving faster and faster along the
road.
''Oh, we must sget outl They are
taking us away!"
.'No, no, said Kitty. 1--WE must stay
here till the brakesman comes round I
didn't hear them when they took us on
the train"
''There isn't any train," said Tommy,
looking up and down the line.
sOh, it's the wind It's blowing the
>canaway. We must put ON the brakes
and step it.
This was good plan, but how were
they to carry it out? The break wheel
was on top Of the car, and they were in
side. Faster and faster rolled the car.
1t began to rattle and roar as if dragged
along by a swift engine. In a moment,
Tommy began to cry. Mary tried to
look brave, and Kitty stared hard at the
level prairie flying past. It was of no
use. They all broke down together and
had hearty cry alone in the empty car
rs it rolled on and on before the gale.
The station-master's wife rolled up her
sleeves and put the house in order while
the children were safely out of the way.
The station-master, feeling sure the chill
dren we're safe in the freight car, sat in
his Office nearly all the morning. At
last, the beds were made, the dinner put
on the fire, and the mother wondered
how the girls were getting on in their
PLAYHOUSE on the track. She threw
shawl over her head and went out on the
platform. At once, the wind blew the
shawl over her face, and she could not
see exactly where she stood. Turning
her back to the wind she began to cali
tho children. How loudly the wind
roared through the telegraph wires!
Perhaps they could not hear in all this
din. May be they werc inside the car
oIt of hearing. She walked along to-
ward the siding. Not thing to be
seenl She wondered if there had not |
been a mistake? Perhaps the car was
on the other side track? No, the rails |
were unoccupied as far as she could see
in every direction. What did it mean |
What had happened? She staggered |
back into the station and startled her
husband with cry of despair.
s'The car! The children!"
The station-master ran out upon the /
platform and looked up and down the
line. Not car in sight! 1t had been
blown away before the terrible wind,
and was perhaps at this instant rolling
swiftly onward with its precious load to
destruction. What would happen to it
Would it meet train or run into O sta
ion? Would the children try to get
put, or would they stay in the car till it
was wrecked !?
He sprang to the door of the depot to
the terrible news down the
inc, but Just as he opened the door he
,aw faint white cloud on the western
lorizon It was train. Help was
coming. AT the same instant his wife
appeared with new grief and terror in
ler eyes.
II cannot get call in either direc-
ion. The wires are blown down"
This only added to the danger, for
here was now no means of sending word
n advance OF the runaway car. 1t must
70 on to its fate without help or warning.
Help is coming, mother. Here's O
rain bound east. "
Nearer and nearer came the train, and
he father and mother stood watching it
s it crept along the rails. 1t seemed as
T it would never come. At last, it
cached the platform and proved to be q
train bound up the Black
liver Road and not intended to go in
he direction in which the car had been
lown away. The instant it stopped, the
ran to the engineer and
Did his terrible story. The mother,