Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-07-26
BLOWN AWAY.

l. u
BLOWN AWAY gHlGj
There were three of them Kitty, Mary
and little Tommy the children of the
statiOn-master at Black River Junction,
on the Great Southwestern Railroad. The
station stood alone on the open prairie,
miles and miles away from anywhere in
particular. Black River flowed through
the mountains, a hundred miles away to
the north; and on clear 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 it was the place was call
ed Black River Junction.
The statiOn-master and his wife and
three children lived in the little depot
sauite happily, but there was not another
family within ten miles, In any direc.
AZ times the children thought it rather
aonely. There was nothing in particu'
lar to be done, except to watch the trains
that stopped at the Junction several
times day. Once in a while, a freight
ear would be left on the side track, and
the children soon found that an empty
freight car makes q capital play house
They could keep house in the corners
and make visits, or sit by the open door
and make believe they were having 9
ride.
One morning they were awakened by
a curious humming sound out OF doors
and they all scrambled up and looked
ont of the window. How the wind did
blowi 1t whistled and roared round the
house and. played on the telegraph wires
upon the roof as upon huge harp. As
the wires was fastened to the roof, the
house became a great music box, with the
children inside. After breakfast the morn
ing trains arrived, but the wind was SO
high that the passengers were glad to hur'
nv from one train to another as quickly
as possible. Then the trains went away,
and the great wind-harp on the ROOT
sang louder than ever.
The station master said it blew a gale,
and that the children must stay in the
house, lest they be blown away into the
prairie and be lost. The station masters
wife said it was pity the children must
stav in the house all day.. There was an
emDty freight car on the side track
perhaps they might play in that. The
station master thought this good idea,
and he took Kitty by the hand and Tom
INV in his arms, while Mary took hold of
his coat, and they all went out to the
empty car. Whew! How it did blowl
They certainly thought they would be
lifted up by the wind and blown quite
into the sky. The empty car was warm
and snug, and, once inside, they were
quite out of the way Of the wind.
Mary thought the rear end would be
q good place to keep house, but Tommy
preferred the other end, 80 they agreed
to keep house at both ends of the empty
car. This was nice plan, for it gave
them q chance to visit each other, and
the open part by the door made a 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 of
the weather out side. s :.
Suddenly the car seemed to shake, and
they stopped in their housekeeping and
ran to the door to see what had happen
ed. ..ssla.,.zs ~ 49, 49,
sWhy, it's moyingl Somebody's push
ing it" said Mary. s4
SThey are, taking US away on the
freight train. Come, we must get out"
"I didn't hear the whistle" said Tom
my. Il guess something is pushing the
The girls leaned out of the door to see
what had happened. Why, where was
the platform? What was the matter
with the station? It was moving away
No. it was the car. 1t had left the sid
inc and had rolled out upon the main
line and was moving faster and faste1
along the road. - Igt9tf
aOR. we must get outl They are TAX
ing us away" -. 80 ~ J
sNo, no, said Kitty. Eve must stay
here till the brakeman comes round. b
didn't hear them when they took US on
the train" VIA
"There isn't any train" said Tommy,
looking up and down the line.
: ooh. It's the windl It's blowing, the car
away. We must put on the brakes and
This was good plan, but how were
they tocary II outY The brake wheel
was on top Of the car, and they were In
side. Faster and faster rolled the car
II began to rattle and roar as If drag
Red along by swift engine. In mo
ment, Tommy began TO cry. Mary tried
to look brave, and Kitty stared hard at
the level prairie flying past. It was o.
no use. They all broke down together
and had hearty cry alone In the empty
car as it rolled on and on before the
gale.
her sleeves to put the house in order
while the children were safely out OF the
way. The station master, feeling sure
the children were safe IN the freight
car, sat in his Office nearly all morning
At last, the beds were made, the dinner
mt ON the fire, and the mother wondered
bow the girls were getting on in theil
Dlay house on tine 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 moi
see exactly where she stood. Turning
her back to the wind she began TO cal
, the children. How loudly the wind roar
ed through the telegraph w1resl Per
haps they could not hear in all this din
May be they were inside the car out OF
hearing She walked on toward the sid
ing. Not thing to be seenl She won.
defed If there had not been q installer
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 husbadd With cry Of des-
pair: .s z
s The station master ran out upon the
platform and looked up and down the
line. Not car In sight It had been