Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-02-26
THE LOST CHILDREN.
Blown Away from Home.

Blown Away from Home.
There were three of them-Kitty, Ma.
nv and little Tommy-the children Of
the station-master at Black River juno:
tion. on the Great Southwestern rail
road. The station stood alone on the
open prairie, miles and miles away from
anywhere in particular. Black river
flowed Through the. mountains, hun
dred miles away to the norths and on
clear DAYS the snowy mountains could
be seen glimmering On the CLASSY hori-
zon. The line leading to the Black
river met the Southwestern here, and
thus it was that 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 direc-
tion.
AT times the children thought it rath-
er lonely. There was nothing in partic-
ular to be done, except to watch the
trains that stopped at the junction sew
eral times day. Once in while a
freight car would be left ON the side
track, and the children soon fonnd that
an empty freight car made 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
blowl 1t whistled and roared round
the house, and played upon the tele-
graph wires upon the roof as upon q
huge harp. AS the wires were fastened
to the roof, the house became huge mu-
sic-box with the children inside. After
breakfast the morning trains arrived,
but the wind was so nigh the passengers
were glad to hurry from one train to an
other as quickly as possible. 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-master's
wife said that it was a 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.
The station-master thought this good
idea, and he 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
blowI They certainly 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 a nice place, for it gave
them chance to visit each other, and
enade 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,a
they stopped in their housekeeping, and
ran to the Goor to see what had hap
pened.
.sWhy, it's movingl Somebody's push
ing it." said Mary.
sThey are taking us away on the
freight train. Come, we must get out"
IL didn't hear the whistle" said Tom
my. q 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? 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.
30, we must get out. They are taking
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.
40. it's the windi It's blowing the
ear away. We must put on the brakes
and stop it"
This was good plan, but how were
hey to carry it out? The brake wheel
was on the top of the car, and they were
inside.
Faster and faster rolled the car. 1t
,egan to roar and rattle, as il dragged
llong by a swift engine. In moment
Tommy began to cry. Mary tried to
ook brave, and Kitty stared fast at the
evel prairie flying past. 1t was no use.
They all broke down together, and had
hearty cry alone In the empty car, as it
oiled on and on before the gale.
The station-masters wife rolled upI
Ier sleeves to put the house in order.
Willie the children were safely out of the
ray. The station-master, feeling sure
he children were safe in the freight i
ar, sat In his.ofice nearly all the morn 6
ag. At last the beds were made, the