Year: 1868

Just ten years ago there suddenly burst
upon the western world magnificent stran-
ger from foreign parts, "with all his travel


ing glories on" 1t was the great comet of
1858, on the grand tour Of the universe.


We remember that comet-summer, not so
much for its great astronomical event rs for
two singular incidents that more nearly
touched our human symtathios, which iciH
groyel in poor earthly affairs, even within
sight Of the most august celestial phenomena.


One pleasant Saturday afternoon during
the comets appearance an @ronaut, after a
prosperous voyage, desceudend upon farm
in the neighborhood OF large market town
in one Of the Western States. He was soon
surrounded by a curious group of the farmers
family, aud laborers, all asking eager ques-
tions about the voyage and management of
the balloon. That secured by an anchor and
a rope in the hand of the @ronaut, its car but
a foot or two above the ground, was swaying


azily backward and forward in the evening
air. 1t was a good deal out of wind, and
was a sleepy and innocent monster in the eyes
Of the farmer, who with the owners permis-
sion, led it up to his house, where, as he said,
he could hitch it to his fence. But before he
thus secured it, his three children, aged re-
spectiyely ten, eight and three begged him to
lilt them into that big basket" that they
might sit on those pretty red cushions"
While the attention Of the Hronaut was di-
verted by more curious questioners from
neighboring farm, this rash father lifted his
darlings one by one into the ear. Chubby
little johnny proved the ounce too much
for the .erial camel, and brought him 10 the
ground; and then unluckily, not the baby,
but the Oldest hope of the family was lifted
out The relief was too great for the mon
stcr. The volatile creatures spirits rose at
once he jerked his halter out of the farmers
hand, and with wild bound mounted into
the air Vain was the Gronauts anchor. II
caught for moment in a fence, but i tore
away aud was of, dangling uselessly after the
runaway balloon, which so swiftly and steadily
rose that in a few minutes those two little
white faces peering over the edge Of the car
grew indistnet, aud those piteous cries of
F" Papa !" " Mammal grew faint and fainter
in the air.


When distance and twilight mists had swal-
lowed voices and faces, and nothing could be
seen but the dark cruel shape, sailing tr-
umphantly away, with its precious booty, like
an erial priyateer, the poor father sank help
less and speechless; but the mother, frantic
with grief, still stretched her ycarnng arms
toward the inexorable heavens, aud called
wildly into the unanswering void.


The eronaut stroye to console the wretohed
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 in the deep woods. In the event
Of its descending in favorable spot, it was
thought that the older child might step out,
leaving the younger in the balloon. Then it
might again rise and continue its voyage.


"Ah, no." replied the mother, Jennie
would never stir from the car without Johnny
in her arms :"


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


Amazed at the strange appartion, they
might have thought the translated little crea-
lures small angel nayigators, on some voyage
of discovery, some little cherubc venture Of
their own, as heading toward the rosy cloud |
lands and purple islands Of sunset splendor,
they sailed deeper aud deeper into the west
and faded away.


Some company they had, poor little sky
waits. Something comiorted them and allay-
cd 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 aud 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 wbisk of its dreadful tail But when
his sister assured him that the fiery dragon
was as much as twenty miles away" and
that God wouldn't let him hurt them, he was
but soon alterward said, " | wish
no would come a little nearer, so could
warm myself, I'm so cold !"