Year: 1879

There were three of them
Kitty, Mary and Tommy-the
children of the Station master at
Black River junction on the
Great South Western Railroad.
The station stood alone ON the
open prairie, miles aud miles
away to the north, and on clear
days, the snowy mountains could
be seen sIlmme'ing on tae grassy
horifon. The line leading to the
Black River met the South Yves
tern here, and thus it was the
place was called Black River
Junction.


Tie station nas!9r and his
wife and three children lived in
the little depot quite happily, bat
there WAS not another family with
in ten mites, in any direction.


At times the children thought
it very lonely. There was moth
ing in particular done, except to
watch the trains that stopped at
the Junction several times a day.
Once III a while, freight car
would be left on the side track,
and the cli!t!Ien soon found that
an empty freight car made a cap
ital play house. They could
keep house in the corners and
visit, Or sit by the open door and
make bt lieVe they were having Il
ride.


One morning, they were waken
ed by a curious hunning soHrd
out of doors, and they all sciam
blrd up and looked out Of the
winuow. low the wind did blow.
1t wiistled and reared around
the house and played On the teie
graph wires upon the roof as upon
d huge harp. AS the wires were
fastened TO the root, the house
became d great music boz, with
the children inside. After bgea k
fast, the morning trains arrived
but the wind was SO high that the
passengers were glad to hurry
fiom one train to another as quick
" as possible. Then the trains
went away, and the great wind
harp on the roof sang louder than
ever.


The station master said that it
blew a gale, and that the children
must stay i'll the house, lest they
be blown away into the prairie
and be lost. Tie station mas
terss wife said it was a pity the
children must stay in the house
all day. There was an empty
frei ellt car on the side track; pc,
\ hapa they might play in that
: The station master thought this
good idea, and he took Kitty by
the hand and Tommy in bis arms
while Mary took hold Of his coat
and they al went out to the
empty car! WheW! How it did
Z blow! They certainly thought
L they would be lifted up by the
wind aud blown quite into tht
sky. The empty ear was warm
and snug, and on ce inside, they
were quite out Of the way OF The
wind.


Mary thought the rear ent
would be a good place to kcel
house at both ends of the empt,
Car. This was nice plan, for i
gave them a chance to visit eacl
other, and the open part by th'
door made d grand promenade t.
walk on.


Louder and louder roared til
gale. Safe and snug in the Cal
they went On with their play an
thought nothing of the weathe
outside.


6 Suddenly the car seemed t
= shake, and they stopped in thei
housekeeping and ran to the doc
to see what had happened.


Why, it's moving! Somebody
pushing it, said Mary.


They are taking us away o
I the freight train. Come, W
4 must get OUT


* L didn't hear the whistle,' sal
! Tommy. | guess something
pushing the car.'


The girls leaned out of the doc
to see what has happened. VIII,
where was the platform VIII;
was the matter. with the station
It was moving away. No, it W;
sthp car. 1t had left the sidu
and l:,,l rolled out upon the ma
hue aux: WAS moving faster dbl