The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-06


At the farther end Of the room iloated
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. "Ohl
Queen, said Raindrop, "a mortal is
here who would learn The secrets Of
Cloudiand pray you, gracious
majesty, give him audience"
As She ceased speaking the cloud
grew thinner aud slowly melted away,
disclosing 10 Kaiscrs dazzled eyes the
most radiant and beautiful creature he
had over seen. On throne of crystal
sat the Rain Queen, crowned with fine
stars which cleaned and shonc with
great brilliancy. Her golden hair fell
ia shining lengths TO the floor, and
through her dress OF rainbow her arms
Shono like snow.
Thulge and Raindrop bowed low be
fore her Then tho queen spoke. and
her voice sounded through the room
+ like q running brook.
And so another mortal has found
his way 10 my kimCdOm-tho first for
thousand years. Men have grown
too skeptical 10 be admitted here.
They would call it o dream, but you.
my little prince, have a child's belief
and viii benefit bywhat you will see
An Kaiser's fear vanished as she
spoke, and when she babe him come
near he uuhositatingly went up the
steps of the throne and stood beside
her She smoothed back his curls
And so yOu thought rain Of no Use,
/ she said. You shall learn your mis- |
take
She beckoned with her wand and |
+ two fairies, that he at first thought /
snowflake, stood 10y her Go bring |
me Onizc The two snowilaSes Aoated |
off and soon returned with a tiny old |
man. whose white beard nearly GOV /
cred him. His forehead was lined and |
his brows shaggy. bat a kindly pair Of
eyes bcamed from under them.
This is Onizc, said the queen !
In 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
lac was about 10 see as he followed
Onizo through long corridors and up
many stairs, till thcy stood in a small
room all crimson and gold
This is the Evening Tower" said
the old man. 1T is what you see in
the west when thesun is setting Now
look from the window"
Kaiser did SO. and saw, far beneath
green little forests, towns and rivers
As hc watched, in wonder, they 1oated
over a dry and arid country, in which
the rivers were almost empty, and the
foliage brown and parchcd. Over this
the Cloud Palace rested, and 10 from
under the window descended hosts of
faimes, which turned 10 raiDdrops 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 T
green, the dry river fill and run joy
Ously on % 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. Il see"
he said. the rain is Of much good TO
the earth, but it does not help men
and children"
Old Onize stroked his curls "Wait
yeta while, he said, "and you will
see whether or no rain benefits NOR
-als.' So they stood silently by the
window while the Cloud Palace aOated
IN.
For long time neither spoke, only
stood silently watching from the
Evening Tower, as they passed over
air countries and an expanso of
water, which Onize said was the sea
At last they came TO land where no
sreen thing of any kind was growing
'nly stretches of yellow sand, bright
md burning, over which now again
roops of camels passed, ridden by
warthy men dressed in strange cos
umes
Kaiser noticed that one of these pro
.cssions crept along very slowly, as
hough the strength Of men and beasts
vas nearly spent. He watched in
emily, and suddenly screamed with :
mingled terror and delight.
Look look Onize, it is nay papa ,
'eel on that camel. Oh, how white =
ND Ill lac looks Quick give me the h
hell; be Is speaking" n
The faint tones reached his ear It RI
vas indeed his own father who was y
pead,ing.
My comrades" he heard him say,
If yOnder cloud passes without bring
ne RAIN, and we reach no spring, we | -,
hall be dead men before another sun =;
las set. ~
The other men made no reply. Their :;
ongues protruded from their mouths, -
'arched and swollen from thirst, and -,
hey could only turn their dull eyes =,
p TO the cloud which passed above -
hem. n
Kaiser cried aloud "Papal papa y
he rain will come; look up, it is your y,
Kaiser who calls YOU" But his father - -
eemed not TO hear him "Ohl good, a. a,
ind Onize, " he said, in agony, go ~
asten 10 your queen and beg her 20 -,
end the rain Tell her it is my father ~
nd lac viii diew v,
But there was noneed of the asking %
Already the drops were falling. The "
len prOtudcd their tongues and az
-retched their lean arms to the merci =.
al shower Slowly they seemed to VI
ogain life and movement and Kaiser ".
ain would have remained, but as soon -
S the Rainfairies' work was done ia
loudland foated on and away. W
Kaiser was trembling with excite III
lent Good Onize, no said, II have a. ,a'
armed the lesson. o, never again I tn
al gumble at a rainy day DO ~
Ike me TO your queen l must tell 80 80
en- ni'
Together they left the little room Of REL
'imson and gold and Kaiser followed 'l I'
is guide through fhe maze Of halls ci'