New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-02-23
Shut.EYe.TOWn.

On the sloping side of hill, just
where the shadows fall darkest from
the high peaks, is built the quaint old
city OF Shut-eye-town. Indeed, the
sides of the hill are SO steep that the
little houses must be propped up with
pillars made of wood or iron About
the whole city is built wall high and
strong. Four gates lead into the prin-
cipal streets, and they are hung on
hinges of rubber. These gates move
back and forth so noiselessly that the
people inside know nothing of it The
houses are small and lined with soft
velvet and feathers; they are of the
most queer shapes and sizes. The peo-
pie who live there look like ghosts in
their long white robes. They are ex-
ceedingly peaceable, and always quiet.
I think l never heard of such thing as
fight or even a quarrel inside the
walls of Shut-eye-town. There are
birds there, hosts of them, but they
never sing, they are as silent as the
people. They sit with their little heads
twisted to one side, and their wings
over their faces. There are cats and
dogs and chickens and horses and
cows, but they never NEW, nor bark,
nor crow, nor neigh. There are flow
ers there, too, but they hang down
their sweet heads and cry great tears
because the big sun never comes around
that way. The boys and girls in
Shut-eye-town never sing, or laugh, or
skip, or go to school, or have picnics.
1 have visited this strange city many
times in my life. Indeed, cannot re-
member when first went. I like the
place so much, and have become so
used to going there, that I feel very
much disappointed and sometimes even
cross if fail to take my usual journey
to the city on the hill. I once knew
four little men whose mamma told
them, one evening, that it was high
time they were off to Shut.eye-town.
But those naughty chaps set up such
a screeching and screaming that their
mamma was much troubled to know
what to do. She was thinking of some
plan to follow, and the lads were roll
ing on the floor when in walked the
great, fat, kind-looking old Mayor Of
the city of Shut-eye. His name wac
Very Sleepy, Esq, and he carried q
great knapsack on his right arm. All
the children liked this kind old man.
He stopped but a moment to whisper
something to the boys, and as he spoke
he dropped on eight eye-lids eight tiny
weights. These weights, though 30
small, held the lids down so firm
ly that the four little men could no
longer hold them open. Directly in came
the big Mayor again, and gathering
them up in his arms he carried them
off inside the high walls, and shut the
big gates fast and safe. He treated the
boys very kindly, as he does all the peo-
pie who visit his city. He took them to
ride in a balloon that had wings like an
eagles; and they visited cave with the
walls made of diamonds; they saw dogs
with elephants ears, and elephants with
long necks like the giraffe; they saw
horses with wings; and rats with pink
tails and blue eyes; there were robbins
with horns; and COWS that could sing
and dance; there were tops that would
buzz by touching spring; and rabbits
that played at baseball. Such wonder
full sights and such wonderful sounds as
these four lads did see and hear.
just as the sun lighted up the high
peaks the big Mayor opened all the
gates, and down in the town by the
river the bells began to ring and the
whistles to blow; and out came all the
people, the birds, the flowers, the horses
and cows, and Shut-eye-town was left
desolate. I love this city on the hill,
for it makes people who 60 there look
brighter and happier; when they are
tired it rests them; when they are cross
it makes them kinder; when they are
sick to 60 inside this coy city is most
sure to make them well again.-N. r
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