The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-30
BLOWN AWAY.

SIaClOn-maSter at bluCk ItlVeT y uuCtlOu,
on the Great Southwestern Railroad. The
station stood alone on the open prairie
miles and miles from anywhere in par
ticular. Black River flowed through the
mountains, Il hundred miles away to the
north; and on clear days, the snowy
mountains could be seen glimmering or
the grassy horizon. The line leading tt
the Black River met the Southwestern
here, and thus it 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 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 a while, freight-cal
would be left on the side track, and 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 a 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 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-master's
wife said it was pity the children must
stay in the house all day. There was an
empty freight-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 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 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 hap
pened.
"Why, it's moving! 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
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? What was the matter with
the station? It 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 get out! They arc tax
ing US away"
mo, no. said Kitty. "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 line.
"Oh, it's the wind! It's blowing the
car away. We must put on the brakes
and stopi 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
It began to rattle and roar as if dragged
along by swift engine. In moment
Tommy began to cry. Mary tried t.
look brave, and Kitty stared hard at thu
level prairie flying past. It was of ne
use. They all broke down together anc
had hearty cry alone in the empty ca,
as it rolled on and In before the gale.
The station-masters wife rolled up he,
sleeves and put the house in order while
the children were safely out of the way
The station-master, feeling sure the chill
dren were safe in the fraight-car, sat il
his office nearly all the morning. At last
the beds were made, the dinner put on thu
fire, and the mother wondered how tho
girls were getting on in their play-hous,
on the track. She threw shawl owe
her head and went out on the platform
At once, the wind blew the shawl owe
her face, and she could not see exactly
where she stood. Turning her back t.
the wind she began to call the children
How loudly the wind roared through tn,
telegraph wires Perhaps they could no
hear in all this din. May be they wer
inside the car out of hearing. She walked
on toward the siding. Not thing to b.
seen! She wondered if there had no
been mistake? Perhaps the car was O,
the other side track? No, the rails wer
unoccupied as far as she could see in cv
cry direction. What did it mean? Wha
had happened? She staggered back in
to the station and startled her husband
with cry OF despair.
HThe car! The chlldren!'