Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1879-08-01
BLOWN AW Az.

There were three Of them, Kitty,
Mary and little Tommy, the children
of the station master at Black River
Junction, on the Great South Western
Railroad. The station stood alone on
the open prairie, miles and miles from
anywhere in particular. Black River
flowed through the mountains, hun
dred 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 South Western 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 happily, but there was not anoth-
or family within ten miles in any di'
rection.
At times the children thought 1t
rather lonely. There was nothing in
particular to be done, except to watch
the trains that stopped at the Junction
several times day. Once in a while, a
| freight car would BIZ lett 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 visits, or sit by
the open door and make believe they
were having ride.
One morning they were awakened by
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 rosred 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-b box, with the children inside.
After breakfast the morning trains
arrived, but the wind was so high
that the passengers were glad to hur-
nv from one train to another as quick
| ly as possible. Then the trains went
away. and the great wind harp sang
louder than ever.
The stati0n-master said it blew a
gale, and that the children must stay
In the house, lest they be blown away
into the prairie and lost. His wife,
However, said it was a pity the chill
dren must stay in the house all the
day. There was an empty freight car
on the side track perhaps they might
play in that. The station master
thought this a good idea, and lie took
Kitty by the hand and Tommy in his
arms, while Mary took hold of his
coat, and they all went out to 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, inside, they
we're quite out of the way OF the wind.
Mary thought the rear end would be
4 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 a 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 outside.
Suddenly the car seemed to shake,
and they stopped in their housekeeping
and ran to the door to see what had
happened.
"Why, it's moving. Somebody's
pushing it," said Mary.
"They are taking us away on the
freight train. Come, let's get out" said
Kitty.
II didn't hear the whistle" said
Tommy. ~ guess somebody is pushing
the car"
The girls leaned out of the door to
see what had happened. Why, where
was the platform What was the mat
ter with the station ? 1t was moving
away. No, it was the car. 1t had left
the siding and had rolled out upon the
main line and was moving faster and
faster along the road.
ooh, We must get out They are TAX
ing us away"
"No, no." said Kitty. "We must
stay here till the brakeman comes round.
| did not 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 stop it,"
This was good plan, but how were
they to carry it out The brake wheel
was on the top of the car, and they were
inside the car. Faster and faster rolled
the car. 1t began to rattle and roar as
if dragged along by swift engine. In
a 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 before the
gale.
The station masters wife rolled up
her sleeves TO put the house in order
while the children were safely out of
the way The station master, feeling
snre the children were 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 play house on
the track. She threw shawl over her
head and went out on the platform. At
ono. the wihd 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