Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-04-01
Misreilany,
BLOWN AWAY.

There were three of them-Kitty, Mary
and little Tommy-the children OF the
station.mastar at Black River Junction 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, hundred miles away to the
north, and on clear days the snowy
mountains could be seen glimmering In
the grassy horizon. 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 depot quite
happily, but there was not another family
within ten miles iu 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 a freight car would
be left on the side track, and the children
soon found that an empty freight car
makes capital play house. They could
keep house in corners and make visits, or
sit by the open door and make believe
they were having ride.
One morning they we're awakened by a
curious humming sound out of the win
dow. How the wind did blow. II
whistled and roared round the house, and
played upon the telegraph wires upon the
house as upon huge harp. As the wires
were fastened to the roof, the house be-
came a great music box with the children
inside. After breakfast the morning
trains arrived, but the wind was so high
that the passengers we're 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 station master said it blew gale
and the children must stay in the house,
lest they be blown away on the prairie and
lost. The station masters wife said that
it was a pity the children should stay in
the house all day. There was an empty
freight car on the side track; perhaps
they might play in that. The station mas.
ter thought this a 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.
Whewl How it did blow. They Ger.
tainly thought they would be lifted by the
wind and blown quite to the sky. The
empty car was warm and snug, and once
inside they were quite out of the way oil
the wind.
Mary thought the rear end would be q
good place to keep house, but Tommy pre-
ferred the other end, so they agreed Ia
keep house at both ends of the empty car.
This was a nice plan, for it gave them a
chance to visit each other, and the open
part by the door made promenade to
walk in. 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 push.
ing it, said Mary.
They are taking us away On freight
train. Come, we must get out"
81 didn't hear the whistle, said Tom.
my. 81 guess something is pushing the
car"
The girls had leaned out Of the door Ia
see what had happened. Why, where was
the PLATFORM What was the matter with
the stationp IL 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.
"oh, we must get outl They are taking
us away"
"No, no, said Kitty. ave 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.
| "0h, it's the wind. It's blowing the
car away. We must put on the brakes
land stop it,"