The National tribune., 1893-08-03

cigar-shaped silk bag inflated with hydrogen,
beneath which were pair of immense wings,
with a rudder attachment and an ingeniousIy-
c0ntrived harness by which the adventn rOus
navigator WIS to he held in place during his
aerial voyages The labor Of constructing the
machine had been carried on in the privacy
of Mr.. PoppinPham's workshop, a large, barnike
structure in the rear of his residence, and no
one save his wife had any hint Of the mighty
addition that had been made to the world OF
invention. Mr. Poppingham had guarded his
great secret well for two reasons: first, because
he wished TO avoid the ridieHle of his neigh
hors. whom he regarded "a very obtuse and un-
appreciatiye people; aud. secondly, because he
feared that some night steal his idea before
he got it fully perfected and his eaveat fled at
the Patent Office
But now this wonderful piece Of mechanism
was complete in every part. his application for
a patent had been dnIy made, aud he WAS
ready for his initiatGry trip. With beating
heart he completed his preparations for his
first excursion through the air. while his wife
in state of great excitement, 1uttered around
the back yard, from which the air.ship WAS to
be launched, and offered cautionary suggestions
until he was nearly in a condition to fly with
out the aid of wings.
g How high dye s'poss you'll GO, Napoleon D"
she asked, as her husband buckled the straps
around him.
II dunno-two or three mile. mebbe," he
answered. carelessly.
"Oh, Napoleon! what if you should fallP"
'Twould jar my system good deal, | cal
c'Iate," he replied, grimly, as he loosed the
ropes that held down the cigar-shaped bag.
"0h. Napoleon !" shrieked his WIFE, between
her sobs, don't go so high IL you love me,
PROMISE me that you won't go up more'n a
miIe!"
The required promise was given, and mo-
ment later Napoleon Bonaparte Poppingham
with great Tapping arose, SO to speak, upon
the wings OF his own genus. Reaching hight
of six or eight hundred feet he sailed grace
fully over the turnip PATCH and On, ON toward
the far-oT western hills
As Napoleon mounted upward and gazed
upon the world beneath him, bis heart sweled
with triumph almost to bursting. At last
those who had always rdiculed him and
sneered at his inventions would be compelled
To acknowledge the power aud value of that
wondrous inventive faculty with which kind
Nature had so generously endowed him. How
easily this marvellous air-carriage was pro-
PEELED! single stroke of the broad pinions
lifted him many feet in the air, and then,
sweeping in gradual descent, he was borne
without effort over field and forest, hill and
vale. How perfectly the steering apparatus
seemed under control! A slight movement of
his foot, and he could change his course and
sail in majestic circles high above the heads Of
those poor puny human worms who were
tent to crawl upon the surface of the earth.
How pure tho air seemed Every inhalation
was like a draught of wine. His blood coursed
through his veins il had never done before,
and strange wild exhiiaration thrilled him
TO his hBger-tips. 1t seemed that he had but
just begun to live.
The world was his! 81 {e
AS he swept over the brow Of q hill near q
beautiful lake he heard Is loud noise, and, look
ing downward, saw venerable colored man
hundreds of dusky faces. He had come upon
negro camp meeting, and, seized with sud-
den fancy to hear the prayer. he circled Oh
noiseless wings above the sable throng and
listened. gn !lnC
"Oh. Dressed angel come down." prayed the
old man, in waverng accents. Come now!
Spread dy broad pinions an hy to us Tote
along dy sickle, for we am ripened grain, ready
for de harvest!"
Just then there was shrek from a colored
sister as the strange object hanging above their
heads came within the range of her vision. and
a momens later with diseordamt yells OF fear
and wonder. the congregation broke for the adj
joining woods and left he deaf old preacher
with only two visible auditors, Mr.. Poppingham
and crippled darby, whose crutehes had been
knocked out OF his bands in the scramble. and
who now lay fat his back, with an express
sion OF more than mortal terror on his face.
Oh. Mars Angel" he shreked, stretching
his hands toward the supposed supernatural
visitor, "don't min dat OIL Niger! Don't min
him, say! De grain amt ripe Dat OF fool
orter know hits de mos back ward season in
nigh on fohty year!''