  “Oh! brother, what is that?” exclaimed little Mary to her brother James. “What do you mean, sister?” “Why, that thing, away up in the sky,—what is it?” And Mary pulled her brother by the arm as she looked up at the strange-looking object. “Oh, that thing so far up in the sky; well, it is an odd looking creature. I wonder if it is a bird; let us ask John the gardener; perhaps he knows.” “John! John!” cried both children at once, “what is that wonderful-looking object, up there?” John looked up very wise, shook his head, and looked again,—“Oh! it is a balloon.” “Well, pray, sir, will you tell us what a balloon is made of,” said James, “and how it enables one to go up into the air so great a distance?” “The balloon is made of oiled silk, or of silk prepared with a solution of India-rubber, made perfectly air tight, and is filled with air, lighter than the common air we breathe.” “But where can this air be obtained?” said James. “There are many ways of obtaining it, but the easiest is to go to the gaslight company, and purchase as many gallons as may be wanted to make the balloon rise.” “This is, indeed, curious,” said Mary; “I never thought air was bought and sold.” “What is the use of a balloon?” asked James, who was very fond of asking questions about everything. “I don’t know that it is of any use, at present,” replied John, “but it may possibly be made of use at some future time.” “I should like to go up in it,” said James; “it must be so beautiful to sail through the air, and look down on the cities and villages, and green fields, and woods.” “Oh, dear!” cried Mary; “I should not like to go;—only think, we might fall out.” “Well, sister, I don’t think there is much chance of our ever trying it, though I should not be afraid. But let us go and inquire further about the matter, for it is certainly a very wonderful affair. I dare say father will be able to tell us a great deal more than John can, and we may meet with some one who has been above the clouds in one of these Ærial cars or baskets.” |
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