River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-07-31
BLOWN AWAY.
Enrique, in Puck.

There were three oil them Kitty, Mary
and little Tommy-the children of the
station-master at Black River Junction,
on the Great Southwestern Railroad. The
stationstood alone on the open prairie,
miles and miles from anywhere in par
ticular. 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 To place was called
Black River Junction.
The station master and his wife and
three children lived in the little depot
quite happily, but there was not another
family within ten miles in any direction.
AT times the children thought it rather
lonely. There was nothing in particular
to be done except to watch the trains
that stopped AT the junction several times
a day. Once in while, freight-car
would be left on the side-track, ana the
children soon found that an empty freight
car makes capital playhouse. They
could keep house in the corners and make
visits, or sit by the open door and make
believe they were having 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 whistled and roared round the
| house and played on the telegraph wires
| upon the roof as upon huge harp. As
the wires were fastened to the roof, the
house became great music box, with
the children inside. After breakfast the
morning trains arrived, but the wind was
so high that the passengers were glad to
hurry from one train to another as quickly
as possible. Then the trains went away,
and the great Wind harp on the roof sang
louder than ever
The statlon-master said it blew 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
stay in the house all day. There vas an
empty frelght-car on the side-track; per
haps they might play in that. The
station-master thought this 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 the
empty car. Whew How it did blow
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 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, for it gave
them chance to visit each other, and the
open part by the door mase 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 o
the weather outside.
Suddenly the car seemed to shake, and
they stopped in their Housekeeping and
ran to the door to see what had han
pened
"Why, it's moving! Somebody's push
ing it, said Mary.
"They are taking uss away on the
| freight train. Come. we must get out"
my. II guess something is pushing the
car"
The girls leaned out of the door to see
what had happened. Why, where was
the PLATFORM Whatwas the matter with
the station? 1t was moving away. No,
it was the car. 1t had left the siding and
had rolled upon the main line and was
moving faster and faster along the road
"Oh, we must get out. They are tax
ing us away"
mo, no. said Kitty. "We must stay
here till the brakeman comes round. l
didn't hear them when they took us on
the train
There isn't any train" said Tommy,
looking up and down the line.
''Oh, it's the wind! It's blowing the
car away. We must put on the brakes
and stopit."
This was good plan, but how were
they to carry it out2 The break wheel
was on top of the car, and they we're in
side. Faster and faster rolled the car.
1t began to rattle and roar as if dragged
along by swift engine. In moment,
Tommy began to cry. Mary tried to
look brave, and Kitty stared hard at the
level prairie flying past. 1t was of no
use. They all broke down together and
had hearty cry alone IN the empty car
as it rolled on and Tn before the gale.
The station masters wife rolled up her
sleeves and put the house in order while
the children were safely out of the way.
The statlon-master, feeling sure the chill
dren were safe in the fraight-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 play house F.!
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 call the children. |
How loudly the wind roared through the |
telegraph wires! Perhaps they could not
hear in all this din. May be they were
inside the car out of hearing. She walked
on toward the siding. Not thing to be |
Scent She wondered if there had not |
been mistake2 Perhaps the car was on
the other side track! No, the rails were
as far as she could see in ev-
cry direction. What did it meanl What
had happened9 Size staggered back in
to the station and startled her husband |
with cry of despair.
1.-THE car, The children"
The statien-master ran out upon the |
riaffarpl and lpoL-a1 ,,r, and dnTUr, tho /