Year: 1879




Railroad. The station stood alone on
the open prairie, miles and miles from
anywhere in particular. Black River
flowed through the mountains, a hun.
dred miles away to the north; and on
clear days, the snowy mountains could
be seen glimmering on the grassy hori-
zon. The line leading to the Black
River met the South Western here. and
thus it was the place was called Black
River junction.


The station-master and his wife and
quite happily. but there was not anoth-
er family within ten miles, in any di-
rection.


At times the children thought it
rather lonely. There was nothing in
particular to be done, except to watch
the trains that stopped at the junction
several times day. Once in while,
a freight-car would be left on the side
track, and the children soon found that
an empty freight-car makes capital
playhouse. They could keep house in
the corners and make visits, or sit by
the open door and make believe they
were having ride.


One morning, they were awakened by
a curious humming sound out.of.doors,
and they all scrambled up and looked
out of the window. How the wind did
blow 1t whistled and roared around
the house, and played on the telegraph
wires upon the roof as upon huge harp.
AS the wires were fastened to the roof,
the house became great music-box,
with the children inside. After break
fast, the morning trains arrived, but the
wind was so high that the passengers
were glad to hurry from one train to
another as quickly as possible. Then
the trains went away, and the great
wind harp on the roof sang louder than
ever.


The station master said it blew a gale,
and that the children must stay in the
house, lest they be blown away into the
prairie and be lost. The station-mas-
ter's wife said it was pity the children
must stay in the house all day. There
was an empty freight-car on the side
track perhaps they might play in that.


The station-master thought this a
good idea, and he took Kitty by the
hand and Tommy in his arms, while
Mary took hold of his coat, and they all
went out to the empty car. Whew !!
How it did blowl They certainly thought
they would be lifted up by the wind
and blown quite into the sky. The
empty car was warm and snug, and
once inside, they were quite of the way
of the wind.


Mary thought the rear end would be
good place to keep house, but Tommy
preferred the other end, so they agreed
to keep house at both ends of the empty
car. This was nice plan, for it gave
them chance to visit each other, and
the open part by the door made grand
promenade to walk on.


Louder and louder roared the gale.
Safe and snug in the car, they went on
with their play and thought nothing Of
the weather outside.


Suddenly the car seemed to shake.
and they stopped in their housekeeping
and ran to the door to see what had
happened.


"Why, it's moving Somebody's push
ing ii" said Mary.


| "They are taking us away on the
freight train. Come, we must get out =


81 didn't hear the whistle" said Tom
my. 81 guess something is pushing the
car"


| The girls leaned out of the, door to
see what had happened. Why, where
was the platform? What was the mat.
ter with the station? 1t was moving
away. No, it was the car. 1t had
left the siding, and had rolled out npon
the main line. and was moving faster
along the road.


"Oh, we must get out They are tax.
ing us away"


"No, no." said Kitty. "We must
stay here till the brakeman comes around
| didn't hear them when they took us
on the train" fah


"There isn't any train." said Tommy
looking up and down the line.


"Oh, it's the wind It's blowing The
car away. We must put on the brake.
and stop it,


This was good plan, but how wer,
they to carry it out /? The brake-whee
was on top of the car. and they wer,
inside. Faster and faster rolled the car
1t began to rattle and roar as if dragged
along by swift engine. In moment
Tommy began to cry. Mary tried hare
to look brave. and Kitty stared hard a
the level prairie flying past. 1t was o
no use. They all broke down together
and had hearty cry alone in the empt,
car as it rolled on and on before th
! gale.


The station masters wife rolled u
her sleeves to put the house IN orde
7 while the children were safely out Of th