, 1889-01-10

0 AA4Id WIN ASS "AA4N AN<LA-AVAI9 AhHS
water plants. Through the city
thronged myriads of ~glittering beings
like his guide, but they appeared not
to notice him as he followed Raindrop.
She stopped at last under a gigantic
arch of pcarly cloud, and struck q
shell which hung on the side. What
n funny door BELL" thought Kaiser.
At its summons a terrible looking per-
son appeared, dressed in a cloak the
color of n storm cloud, and when he
moved shafts of lightning flashed in
and out of its folds.
"Whence comes this mortal7' he
asked, and his voice rolled out like a
thunder clap, making Kaiser tremble
with fright.
"Do not be alarmed +" said Raindrop,
'he is the keeper of this, the queens
palace, and is called Thulge, which
means in our language, storm" Then
she turned and said: II would have
u gracious queen give this mortal
audience; conduct us to her"
With thunderous mutterings Thulge
led the way through hall and corri-
dor till he stopped before a door, over
which hung a curtain of rosy mist.
Through this they passed, after some
whispered consultation, and Kaiser
found himself in a long room. The
walls were hung with many stars
pillars of carved pearl supported the
roof, which was of colored vapor that
glistened like dew. All was warm and
bright, but strangely silent, save a
faint sound of music in the distance.
AT the farther end of the room hoated
a thin white mist, through which a
pale light glimmered, from what
Kaiser could not tell.
They passed down the room till they
stood before the cloud veil. "Ohi
Queen, " said R~aindrop, ga mortal is
here who would learn the secrets of
Cloudland. l pray you, gracious
majesty, give him audience"
AS she ceased speaking, the cloud
grew thinner and slowly melted away,
disclosing TO Kaiser's dazzled eyes the
most radiant and beautiful creature he
had e seen. On a throne of crystal
sat the Rain Queen, crowned with fine
stars which cleaned and shone with
great brilliancy. Her golden hair fell
in shining lengths TO the floor, and
through her dress of rainbow her arms
shone like snow.
fore her. Then the queen spoke, and
AN NbASS oOullAANu LllIODEh IllC TOOIl
like a running brook.
And so another mortal has found
his way to my kingdom-the first for
a thousand years. Men have crown
too skeptical TO be admitted here.
They would call it a dream, but you,
my little prince, have a child's belief
and will benefit by what you will see."
All Kaiser's fear vanished as she
spoke, and when she babe him come
near he unhesitatingly went up the
steps of the throne and stood beside
her. She smoothed back his curls.
And SC you thought rain of no use,"
she said. "You shall learn your mis-
take"
She beckonod with her wand, and
two fairies, hat he at first thought
snowflakes, stood by her. go bring
me Onize." The two snowhakes hoated
off and oon returned with a tiny old
man, whose white beard nearly COW
cred him. His forehead was lined and
his brows shaggy, but a kindly pair of
eyes beamed from under them.
This is Onize," said the queen.
I'm your language, his name means
wisdom" Then she turned to the old
man, and said: Take this child to the
Evening Tower, and explain as much
to him as you deem wise"
The queen waved her wand in token
Of dismissal, and they bowed them
selves down and out of the hall.
Kaiser was full of curiosity for what
he was about to see as he followed
Onize through long corridors and up
many stairs, till they stood in a small
room, all crimson and gold.
This is the Evening Tower" said
the old man. ut is what you see in
the west when the sun is setting. Now
look from the window"
KAISER did SO, and saw, far beneath,
green little forests, towns and rivers.
As he watched, in wonder, they Aoated
over a dry and arid country, in which
the rivers were almost empty, and the
foliage brown and parched. Over this
the Cloud Palace rested, and, lol from
under the window descended hosts of
fairies, which turned to raindrops as
they fell.
Kaiser exclaimed in delighted as
constituent, but old Onize checked
him.
"You are now to learn q lesson"
he said. Watch that parched coun-
try"
Kaiser did so, and saw the brown
grass gradually become fresh and
green, the dry river fill and run joy
ously on to the sea. He fancied he
could hear the birds blithely singing
among the dripping leaves, and the
flowers lift again their dainty heads
after their refreshing bath. II see,"
he said, 1.-THE rain is of much good to
the earth, but it does not help men
and children"
Old Onize stroked his curls, "TWait
yeta while" he said, land you will
see whether or no rain benefits NOR
tails" So they stood silently by the
window while the Cloud Palace floated
on.
For a long time neither spoke, only
stood silently watching from the
Evening Tower, as they passed over
fair countries and an expanse of
water, which Onize said was the sea.
At last they came to q land where no
green thing of any kind was growing,
only stretches of yellow sand, bright
and burning, over which now again
troops of camels passed, ridden by
! Swarthy NOR dreSSad in stranUa cos