, 1889-01-10

ing rain, and we reach no spring, we
shall be dead men before another sun
has set"
The other men made no reply. Their
tongues protruded from their mouths,
parched and swollen from thirst, and
they could only turn their dull eyes
up to the cloud which passed above
them.
Kaiser cried aloud, "Papal papal
the rain will come; look up, it is your
Kaiser who calls you" But his father
seemed not TO hear him. ''Ohl good,
kind Onize," he said, in agony, ''goi
hasten to your queen and beg her to
and + will dieI"
But there was no need of the asking.
Already the drops were falling. The
men protruded their tongues and
stretched their lean arms to the merci-
full shower. Slowly they seemed to
regain life and movement and Kaiser
fain would have remained, but as soon
as the Rainfairies' work was done
Cloudland foated on and away.
Kaiser was trembling with excite
ment. Good Onize, F." he said, II have
learned the lesson. o, never again
will l grumble at a rainy dayl Do
take me TO your queen. I must tell
her"
Together they left the little room of
crimson and gold and Kaiser followed
his guide through the maze of halls
and corridors till they stopped again
before the curtain of rosy mist. The
old man called for q messenger TO her
aid them TO the queen, whom they
soon followed. The great hall was no
longer empty and silent. The queen
still sat on her throne, covered with
her shining hair, but no cloud veil
was there to hide her beauty. Around
and behind her stood Rainfairies, each
with n star shining on its forehead,
and down the center of the hall tables
were being laid, covered with all man
ner of wonderful and delicate food.
Down the center of each table baskets
of pink and white coral were ranged,
filled with colored anemones and sea
weed, and the dishes were all bright
tinted shells. Stars CLEANED by hun
dreds around and above, rejecting
themselves in the streams of crystal
water which flowed through little
channels cut in the floor.
The queen saw Kaiser's amazement
and beckoned him TO her. II feel
sure" she said, that you no longer
think there is nc good in rain. Our
good Wisdom says little, but teaches
much" Z.
Then Kaiser told her of all he had
seen, and how the Rainfairies had
doubtless saved his fathers life on
those burning sands.
"Oh, queen" he concluded, II see
now how good are the Rainfairies, and
again will 1 grumble at a rainy
day. But now l must go home and
tell my mamma how / have seen him,
but may l not come again to Cloud
land2"
The queen smiled q faint, mysterious
smile, which Kaiser thought made her
look more wonderful than ever.
Before you leave u.s." she said,
'tyou must share with me Cloudland
fare" Then she bade her attendants
commence the feast. Kaiser felt very
hungry, and when seated by the queen
on the ivy couch and helped to the
strange though delicious dishes, he
almost felt like always living in this
delightful cloud kingdom.
Music played softly in the distance,
The Rainfairies sparkled and chat
eOiSu oOuho nm, I'LL SIduudlly niS
eyes closed and his head dropped till it
rested on the queens shoulder. He
had a confused sense of light and
music; then he felt himself fall down,
down, down, when suddenly he awoke
to find himself lying on the easement
seat of his home.
The freight still hickered family
on the wall, but the rain had ceased,
and tha moon WINS LOOKING down from
the deep skies.
"Ohl MOON" cried Kaiser, with a
keen sense of loss, 'if l never see
Cloudland again won't you tell its
lovely queen that 1 am so sorry to
have fallen asleep, and that 1 will al
ways welcome andlove the Rainfairies
after this2"
Butt the moor made no reply, though
Kaiser thought she understood; only
sent her flood of silver light down on
his eager face.-Nina Lane Smith in
New York Home Journal.