The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-03-04
THE LOST CHILDREN.

AuoIo Wofo tuIeo Oh UNCERTAINTY,
Mary and little Tommy-tho children
of the station master ct Black River
Junction, on the Great Southwestern
railroad. The station stood alone on
the open prairie, miles and miles away
from anywhere in particular. 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 CLASSY
horizon. The line leading to the Black
river met tue Southwestern here, and
thus it was that the place wes 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-
er family within ter miles in any direc-
ton.
At times the children thought / 4ath-
or lonely. There was nothing in par
ticular to be done, except to watch the
trains that stopped at the junction sew
eral times q day. Once in while a
freight car would be loft on tho side
track, and the children soon found that
an empty freight.car makes a capital
playhouse. They could keep house in
the corners and make visits, or sit By
the open door and make believe they
were having q ride.
One morning they were awakened by
curious humming sound out of doors,
and they all scrambled mp and looked
out of tho window. How the wind did
blowl It whistled and roared round
the house, and played upon the te.e-
graph wires upon the roof as upon q
huge harp. AS the wires were fastened
to the roof, the house became huge
music-box with the children inside.
After breakfast the morning trains ar
rived, but the wind was so high the
passengers were glad to hurry from
one train to another as quickly rs posi-
BILE. Then tho trains went away, and
the great wind-harp on the roof sang
louder than ever.
The station-master said il blewa gale,
and that the children must stay in the
house, lest they be blown away into
the prairie and lost. The station-mas-
ter's wife said that it was pity the
children must stay in tho house all day.
There was an empty freight car on the
side track; perhaps they might play in
that. The station-maste.t 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 blowl They certainly
would be lifted up by tho wind and
blown quite into the sky. The empty
car was warm and snug, and, once in
side, they were quite out of the way Of
the wind.
Mary thought the rear end would be
good place to keep house, but Tommy
preferred the other end, so they agreed
to keep house at both ends Of tho empty
car. This was nice place, for it gave
them chance to visit each other, and
the open part of the door made prone
made to walk on.
Louder and louder roared the gale.
Safe and snug in the car they went on
with their play, and thc1a sylt nothing of
the weather outside.
Suddenly the ca seemed to shake,
and they stopped in their housekceo~
ing, and ran to the door to seewhat had
happened.
":Why, it's moving! Somebody's
pushing it," said Mary.
They're taking US away on tho
freight train. Come, we must get Out"
I didn't hear the whistle" said
Tommy. II guess something is push
ing the car"
The girls leaned out of the door to see
What had happened. Why, where was
tho Y11O{ccr,,oC "1>ok
with the station? It was moving away.
No, it was the car. It had left the sid
ing and had rolled out upon the main
line, and was moving faster and faster
along the road.
20, we must get out. They are talk
ing US away"
mo, no. said Kitty, "we must sta1
here till the brakeman comes round. I
didn't hear them wher they took us on
the train"
"There isn't any train" said Tommy,
looking up and down the line.
%, it's the windl It's blowing the
car away. We must put on tho brakes
and step it."
This vas good plan, but he Y are
they to carry it out2 The brake wheel
was on the top of the car, and they were
inside.
Faster and faster rolled the car. It
began to roar and rattle, as II dragged
along by swift engine. In a moment
Tommy began to cry. Mary tried to
look brave, and Kitty stared fast at the
level prairie flying past. It was no use.
They all broke down together, al had
. hearty cry alone in the empty car, as
it rolled on and 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
sure 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 stove. and
the mother wondered how the girls
we're getting on in their play house on
the track. She threw shawl over her
head and went out on the platf ,rm. Al
once the wind blew the shpw, Ger her
face, and she could no. see exs :tly
where she stood. Turning her back to
the wind, she began to callzthe chill
dren. How loudly the wind roared
through the telegraph wiresl Per-
haps they could not hear her ir all this
g din. Maybe they were inside The car,
T out of hearing. SShe walked or toward
the siding. Not thing to be seen.
She wondered if there had been a Mis-
take. Perhaps the car was on the other
side track. No.: the rails were unoccu-
PIED as Tar as she could see in every d.
rection. What did it mean2 What
had happened? She staggered back
into the station and startled her hus-
band with cry Of despair. 49,.
E*a. "The carl The childreri" 49,.
The station master ran out on the
platform and looked up and down the
limo. Not q car in sightl II had been
blown away by the terrible wind, and
. il