The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-01-20
DICKS WONDERFUL JOURNEY.


1t was very rainy afternoon in No
vember, and little Dick Mason could
not go to school, because he had avery,
very bad cold. He was a good little
boy, and sat on the sofa all the after
noon reading fairy tales until his little
brother Frank came home from school.
The latter was accosted by torrent OF
questions from Dick, and Frank an
swered as many as he could, until he
grew impatient, and thought the only
way to shut Dicks mouth was to go
out and leave him. Just as he was go
ing out of the door Dick called after
him, saying: ooh, Frank, where is the
castle in the air?" and Frank did stop
long enough to say: "Oh, well, Dick,
you'll never get there, so what's the
use of thinkin' about it?"
After the door was closed Dick sat
very still, bordering over what Frank
had said. He thought he would like to
see the castle in the air very much in
deed. His eyes were almost shut now,
but he opened them again in = minute,
and there right before him was a little
old woman astride of q broomstick.
Dick thought he surely must be asleep.
and pinched himself and thought he
felt it very plainly. When Dick looked
again, the woman said: $50 little Dick
would like to see the castle in the air,
would he? Well. come along, just get
on my broom before me, 80 that l can
hold you on, and we'll CO."
Dick did not feel the least bit afraid
now, so in a minute more they were
speeding along at great rate through
the air.
1t was not long until they drew up
before a splendid large building. Its
walls were snow and mist, and the pill
lars under the walls were sunbeams.
After dismounting from their queer
steed, Dick and Mother Goose
(for she it was) entered great
door, and after passing through
several halls and passages they entered
large room. The room was lighted
by stars, and on each pillar of sunbeam
hung different-colored jewels, red, vel.
low, green and blue. There was no OOH
in the room except large man. with q
white beard and gold crown. who
came forward to meet the newcomers.
Mother Goose introduced him to Dick
as the Air King, who was to give q
grand party for his intimate friends.
The guests now began to arrive thick
and fast, pouring in at the door, while
the MAN from the Moon" jumped in al
the window.
He had with him huge cake of green
cheese, of which he gave Dick large
slice. Although Dick did not like it,
he was afraid of offending the jolly old
gentleman, SO he ate with as good grace
as he could.
Then came Little Jack Horner,'
who as soon as he came in, ran to the
farthest corner of the room, where he
stayed all the evening.
The next arrival was the "Old Won
an who Lived in the Shoe" She was
followed by her large family, who near
ly distracted the poor old lady by run
ming all through the castle, and eating
the green cheese which the "Man in the
Moon" had given them. Finally she
gathered them all together, and having
whipped them all soundly," she pu,
them to bed in the bottom of her enor
nous shoe. Little Boy Blue" was
there with his horn in his hand, which
he blew at stated intervals, Once he
let Dick blow it, but it gave him such 6
queer sensation that he refused it the
next time boy Blue" offered it to him
The next arrival was the best of all
Dick thought 1t was little fat man
with long, white, curly hair and rosy
cheeks, and white beard He wore {
fur-lined deerskin coat, and his fur
trimmed boots reached nearly to hi.
knees He had fur cap and fur nit
tens too He came in sleigh drawn
by four reindeer, with long anolers
This, as / suppose you know, wa'
Santa Claus" His sleigh was full o
TOYS, candies and nuts, which he distrib
uted among all the children, Dick in
cluded.
OF. NICK , ClOlslCo NCiC SONClSu WIN
snow-fakes, and icicles hung from hi
beard.
There were ever so many more.
ave not time to tell you all who wer,
there, but these are a few: "Simpl,
Simon" came without the whale which
he tried to catch in his mothers pail
Tom, the Piper's Son." was there will
the stolen pig under his arm, and be
lind him were Jack and JILL" will
the pail of water between them. Cross
Patch came carrying her spinning
wheel and drinking-cup; Little DO
Peep" looked very sweet in her shep
herd dress and crook, and "Jacl
| Spratt." who could eat no fat" an,
his wife, who could eat no lean" wer
a tine-looking couple.
Then came supper.
At the feast they had baked apple
and cranberry pies" The king sen
his pie of "four-and-twenty black
birds" and the queen sent excellen
bread and honey" The maid who's
nose was picked of while hanging on
clothes brought these delicacies-
They also had turkies from Turkey
and sandwiches from .he Sandwich
isles. After having eaten all they could
their host escorted them through tn
entire castle, showing them the snow
rain, hail, mist and dew rooms, all yer,
beautiful. One noted person was Their