Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-07-23

TO be done, except to watch the trains that
stopped at the Junction several times a
dav. Once in while a freight car would
be left on the side track. and the children
soon found that an empty freight car
made 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 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 blow
1t whisted and roared around the house
played on the telegraph wires upon the
root rs upon huge harp! As the wires
were fastened to the roof, the house
became great music box, with the chill
dren inside. After breakfast, the morning
trains arrived, but the wind was so higt
that the passengers were glad to hasten
from one train to another US soon 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 lost. The station masters
wife said it was pity, the children must
stay in the house all day.
There was an empty freight car on the
side track perhaps they might play in
that. Tie station master believed it /;
good idea, and took Kitty by the hand and
Tommy in his arms, while Mary took hold
of his coat, and they all went TO the empty
car. Whew! How it did blow! They
certainly thought they would be lifted up
by the wind aud blown nearly 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 of the car
would be gooi place to keep house. but
Tommy preferred the oher end, SO they
agreed to keep house in both ends of the
empty car. This was Il nice plan, for il
gave them a chance to visit each other,
and the open part by the door made Il
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
weather outside.
Suddenly the Car seemed to shake. and
they stopped in their housekeeping and
ran TO the door to see what had happen
ed
"Why, it's moving! Somebody's push
ing it," said Mary.
They are taking us away on the freight
train; ccme we must get out"
:" didn hear the whistle" sal Tom
my. 81 guess something is pushing The
car"
The girls leaned out of the car TO see
what had happened. Why, whore was
the platform! What WAS the trouble with
The station? 1t was moving away-no, ii
was the car: 1t had left the siding and
had rolled out upon the main line ami
was moving faster and faster along the
road
ooh, we must get OUT They are taking
US away"
mo, no." said Kitty. 1--WE must stay
here till the brakeman comes round.
didn't hear them when they took us on the
train"
There isn't any train" said Tommy,
looking up and down the road.
oh, it's the wind Its blowing the
car away. We must put on the brakes
and stop it,
This was good plan, but how were
they to carry it outP The brake wheel
was on top Of the car and they were inside
Faster and faster rolled the car. 1t began
to rattle and roar as if dragged along by
swift engine. In Il moment, Tommy
began TO cry. Mary tried to look brave,
and Kitty stared lheal ut the level prairie
t, ing past. 1t was of no use. They all
broke down together and had long cry
llama in tho " "a If rnIlAI n anil
on before the gale.
The good wife rolled up her sleeves to
place her house in order while her children
were safely out of the way. The father,
feeling the children were safe in the car,
sat in his office nearly all the morning.
Finally, the beds were made. the dinner
placed on the fire,and the mother wonder
ed how the children were progressing in
their play house on the track. She DIRE W
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
clearly where she WIS. Turning her
back to the wind she began to- call the
children. How loudly the wind roared
along the telegraph wires. Perhaps the
children could not hear in all this din !;
may be they were inside the Car out of
hearing. She walked on toward the
siding; she wondered if there had not
been ii mistake; perhaps the Car was on
the other side Of the track; no, the rails
were unoccupied rs far us she could see in
every direction. " hat did it mean? What
had happenedP She staggered back into
the depot and alarmed herhusband with
cry Of despair
" he car! the childrenm
The station master ran out upon the
platform and looked up and down the line.
Not II car in sight! 1t had been blown
away before the raging wind, and perhaps
at this moment rolling rapidly onward
with its prescious load to obstruction.
What would happen to it? Would it NEE,
IL train OF run into stationP Would the
children try and get out, or would they
stay in the Car till it was wrecked?
He sprang to the door of the depot TO
telegraph the terrible news down the line,
but just as he opened the door he saw
faint white cloud on the western horizon.
1t was Il train; help was coming; At the
same moment his wife appeared with
new grief ill her eyes.
"l cannot get a call in either direction.
The wires are blown down.
This only added to the danger, for
there was now no means of sending word
in advance of the runaway car. 1t must
90 on to its fate with no help or warn
ing.
Help is coming, mother. Here's
train bound east"
Nearer and nearer came the train, and
the f,ther and mother were watching it
as it c'ept along the rails. 1t seemed us if
it would never come; at last it reached
the platform and proved 20 be Il passenger
train bound up the Black River road, and
not designed for the road on which the car
had been blown away. The moment it stop
ped the husband ran to the engineer and
gave his terrible DRY; the mother with
quicker wit, found the conductor and de.
that the engine be taken off and
sent after the children.
The conductor WAS a man of regular |
habits and such II bold request struck him
as something very unusual. Take the
engine off and leave the train waiting al
this lonely placer The idea was prepos-
.erousP Some of the passengers gath
cred near and asked him what was the
trouble.
Three children lost, blown away in an
empty car"
Some one said, "Yes, 60 at once. We
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