The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-05-27
A Trip to the Moon.
(By "OloofD

cllous doesn't it? Bot wait uu1il
I've tod you about it, and then you
car laugh L you viii.
1t was On one evening in July. the
wind was ripping and tearing around
the house like q young cyclone. |
was lying in a hammock on our back
porch about half asleep, when ! was
suddenly awakened by a terrific noise.
Taking large parasol and hosting
it, stepped out Of doors to see what
had caused it. Fatal move! A gust
Of wind got under the parasol and |
was liftee from the ground. A cry
OF terror left me as | felt myself be-
ing carried up, higher and higher in
the air at the mercy Of the wind.
Great beads Of perspiration broke
oft upon my forehead, but | he'd on
for dear life.
To better my safety I swung O. e
foot over the crooked handle Of the
parasol. Now / felt g little more
comfortable. | was mounting Sky
ward. Great banks Of feecy clouds
we're passed. Up, up was carried,
gaining speed every minute until !
was fairly going at the rate Of rail
road train.
finally became accustomed to this
novel way OF riding and really liked
It. | began to wonder what the end
IL this strange adventure would be.
was now in the wonderful PLANET
Region" Stars were all about ME,
red. purple, green, and all colors.
Higher and higher mounted. Sure
iy I must be somewhere near the
moon by this time.
Suddenly and without warning q
bright light flashed about me. Some
thing struck my face and | was
knocked from the parasol. A cry Of
horror left my lips as felt myself
shooting downward But the next
minute it was changed to one Of as
constituent for I had fallen in the
top OF 2 large tree. What was my
surprise to find that | had landed in
the midst of q great woods.
But where was l? Surely could
not have fallen all the way to the
earth in that short time. was as
tonished and perplexed. Then !
thought Of the moon. / looked
around but it was nowhere to be
seen. All at once the terrible truth
dawned upon mel was on the
moon! Think of it! Ninety-seven
million miles above the earth, or at
least that is the said calculated dis
lance.
! could not see that the moon va
ried any from the earti1-the trees
and everything looked the same.
There was q path that looked like it
had been Travelled a great deal. Fol
lowing this I soon came to a clearing
in the woods, and here | saw some
thing that made me open my eyes.
Ii the middle OF the clearing there
stood large house-a regular castle
in fact. It was built Of massive
stone blocks, and reminded me some
what Of our capitol at Washington
city.
So far I had not seen any sign Of
human beings. So being little
curious to find out more about this
strange palace for felt sure it was
one walked boldly up and entered
one OF the doors which was open.
Everything was as silent as the
grave. The room entered was well
lighted, dozens Of little lamps hung
from the ceiling and every object
was clearly visible. In the centre OF
the room was an altar and on this
altar was one of the most hideops
idols that have ever seen, and be.
hind the altar burned a bright fire.
This room was probably the place OF
worship for the heathens for
guessed they were heathens from
the fact that the idol was there.
All at once | heard noise that
sounded like the screech Of q wild
cat. Turning in che direction OF the
noise, saw a sight which almost
froze my blood. There standing ir
one of the doors was the figure OF 6
man or beast, do not know which,
it somewhat rcSenlbied Gorilla
He was looking at me and sw. 2gine
a large billet of wood in his hand
By mighty effort | recovered ry
self and made & leap for the door
had just entered. There was anoth.
err screech and / knew that he was
after me, through the NO ds I ra-
not knowing which way | was going
| could hear close behind me the man
or beast that was pursuing. This on
| ly caused me to increase my speed.
Suddenly there doomed up before
me d solid wall Of darkness. Into
I I-e 7 j