Year: 1868

Just ten years ago there suddenly burst


upon the western world magnificent stranger
from foreign parts, with all his travelling


glories on" 1t was the great comet OF 1895


on the grand tour of the universe.


1t seemed strange that petty human life
could 90 on as usual, with its eating and
drinking, toiling, traficing, and pleasurirS,
while that flaming minister" on his billion
leagucd circuit, was preaching the wonders
of infinite immenslty and power, and the


notbinrness of the earth The comet no


longer runs his kindling race, like Vich


Alpine's henchman, with his fiery cross an


nouncing war and disaster.


Herald of battle, fate and fear.'


He is on his own business, not ours.


Under the tail of this particular comet
doubtless many tail of love was told-in
the light of his swift splendors many a ten
der look exchanged. The astronomer coolly
swept the field with his glass. unawed by the
irregular night guard patroling the heavens
and the robber and murderer disdain the aw-
full witness. He left us as he found us-joined
to our mortal idols, wise in our own conceit,
weak and worldly and wicked, but no cast
aways of the universe after all.


We remember that comet-Summer, not so
much for its strange astronomical event as
for two singular incidents that more nearly
touched our human sympathies, which will
grove. in poor earthly affairs, even within
sight of the most august celestial phenomena.


One pleasant Saturday afternoon, during
the comets appearance, an aronaut, after a
prosperous voyage, descended upon farm
in the neighborhood of large market town
in one of the Western States. He was soon
surrounded by curious group of the farm
er's family and laborers, all asking eager
questions about the voyage and the manage
ment of the balloon, that, secured by an
anchor ard rope in the hand of the aro-
naut, with its car but foot or two above the
ground, was swaying lazily backward and
forward in the evening air. 1t was good
deal out of the wind. and was sleepy and
innocent monster in the eyes of the farmer,
who, with the owners permission, led it up
to the house, where, as he said, he could
hitch it to the fence. But, before be thus
lively ten, eight and three, begged him to
lift them into the. big basket,n that they
might sit on " those pretty red cushions"


While the attention of the 9ronaut was d.
verted bv more curious questioners from a
neighboiing farm, this rash father lifted his
darlings one by one, into the car. Chubby
little Johnny proved the 'ounce too much"
for the aerial camel, and brought him to the
ground and then, unluckily, not the baby,
but the eldest hope of the family was lifted
out. The reiefwas too great for the monster.
The yolatiie..creature' spirits rose at once; he
icrked his halter out of the farmers hand,
and with wild bound mounted into the air.
Vain was the ;eronaut's anchor. 1t caught
for moment in fence, but it tore away and
was off, dangling uselesslv after the runaway
balloon, which so swiftly and steadily rose
that in few minutes those two little white
faces peering over the edge of the car grew
indistinct, and those piteous cries of "papai"
aud mama !" grew faint and fainter up in
the air.


When distance and twilight mists had
swallowed up voices and faces, and nothing
could be seen but the dark, cruel shape, sail
ing triumphantly away with its precious
booty, like an aerial prlvateer, the poor father
sank down, helpless aud speechless but the
mother, frantic with grief, still stretched out
yearniug arms toward the nexorable heavens,
and called wildly up into unanswering vuid.


The aronaut strove to console the wretched
parents with the assurance that the balloon
would descend within thirty miles of the town,
and that all might be well with the children,
provided it did not come down in the water
or deep woods. In the event of its descend
ing in a favorable spot, it-was thought that
the older child might step out, leaving the
one in the balloon. Then it might
again rise and continue its voyage.


All, no, replied the mother: 4" Jennie
would never STIR from the car without Johnny
in her arms" frats< e7efs sfeas


The balloon passed directly. over the mar
ket town, and the children, seeing many
people in the streets, stretched out their
hands and called loudly for help. But the
though they saw the bright little
heads, heard no Gail.


Amazed at the strange apparition, they
might have thought the translated little crea-
lures small angel navigators on some voyage
of discovery, some little cherubic venture of
their own, as heading toward the. e.rosy cloud
lands and purple islands of sunset splendor,
they sailed deeper and deeper into the West,
and faded away.


Some company they had, poor little sky
waits. Something comforted them and allay-
ed their wild terrors, something whispered
them that below the night and clouds was
home; that above was God, that wherever
they might drift or clash. living or dead, they
would still be in His domain and under His
care-that though borne away among the
stars, they could not be lost for his love would
follow them.


When the sunlight all went away and the
great comet came blazing out, little JOHNNY
was apprehensiye that the comet might come
too near their airy craft. and set it on FIRE
with a whisk of its dreadful tail. But when
his sister assured him that the fierv dragon
was - as much as twenty miles awayv and
that God would not let him hurt them. he
was tranquilized, but soon after said, sI
wish he would come little nearer, SO could
warm myself. I'm so cold ~


Then Jennie took off her apron and wrap
peditabout the child. saying tenderly, This
is all sister has to make you warm, darling,
but she will hug you tclose in her arms, and
we will say our prayers and you shall go to
sleep"


=. Why how can [ say my nravars hnfnra