Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-09-02
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at Black River junction on the
Southwestern railroad. The sta
ton stood alone on the open prai-
frie, miles and miles from any
where in particular. Black NV
er flowed through the mountains
a hundred miles away to the
North, and on clear days the
snow mountains could be seen
glimmering in the grassy hori-
zon. The line leading to the
Black river met the Southwes-
tern 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-
ton.
At times the children thought
lit 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 an excellent playhouse.
They could keep house in the
corners and make visits, or sit
by the open door and make be-
lieve they were having a ride.
One morning they were awak-
ened by a curious humming
sound out of doors, and they
scrambled and looked out of the
window. How the wind did
blow. 1t whistled and roared
around the house, and played
upon the telegraph wire upon
| the house as huge harp. AS
the wires 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
| the other 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 a gale and the children
must stay in the house, lest they
should be blown away on the
prairie and lost. The station
masters wife said it was pity
the children should stay in the
house all day. There was an
empty car on the side track;
perhaps they might play i'll that.
The station master thought it
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
lit did blow. They certainly
thought it would be lifted up by
the wind and blown 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 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 a chance to visit
each other, and the open part by
the door made a promenade to
walk in.
Louder and louder roared the
gale. Safe and snug in the car
they went on with their play land
thought nothing of the weather
outside.
Suddenly the car seemed to
shake and they stopped in their
house keeping and ran TO the
door to see what had happened.
"Why, it's movingl Some
body's pushing it," said Mary.
"They are taking us away on a
freight train. Conceive must get
out"
81 didn't hear the whistle, Said
Tommy; 81 guess something is
pushing the car"
The girls had leaned out of
the door to see what had hap
pened. 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 upon the main ina
and was moving faster and fas-
ter along the road.
"Oh, we must get out. They
are taking us away"
"No, no." said Kitty, "we
must stay here till the brake
man 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 blow
ing the car away. We must put
on the brakes and stop it"
This was a good plan; but
i