The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-18
A DEWDROP'S STORY.


experience to relaUe2 Listen, and small
as I am, I viii tell you a story which I
know to be true.
About ten years ago I first visited this
beautiful meadow. What Did you know
that I am as old as that? Oh, dear, yes,
and a great deal o1deri But let me tell
you my story.
I Weakened one beautiful morning to find
myself swinging in hammock formed by
fresh blade Of grass which grew on the
bank Of this same little stream. Tho sun
was Just peeping over the hills, and the
morning was cool and delightful. The
breeze swung my hammock gently, and /
lay half dreaming I was still in cloud
land when I heard the voices Of children
just below me en- the bank. I wakened at
once and listened, for the children and
are always friends, and never tell their
seerets-exoept to other children like you.
And Willie a little girls voice was
saying, che sent his picture with the let
ter, and he looks just splendid -
'And he is coming tomorrow you
said, p came in a boys voice and in a dis
consulate tone quite in contrast to the
eager speech of his companion.
I peeped ever the edge of my grass leaf
and discovered girl and boy OF perhaps
10 and years, just seating themselves
on the grass a short distance down the
stream. The girls hair and eyes were
dark and the latter shone with pleasure
at the news she was imparting. The boy
was lighter, and there was troubled look
about his hazel eyes-a look which
thought the girl saw and rather enjoyed.
Yes, Cousin Harry is coming tomorrow
and viii probably stay and go to school
here next torn F"
But, Bessie, you viii let me carry your
books for you sometimes after he comes? /
can't quite bear to give that up" His look
was tender as well, so peeped over just to
see, when-I leaned too far, lost my bal
ance and rolled off the end of my grass
blade into the stream below.
The water swallowed me up and hurried
me on, and much as I wished to hear Bes-
sie's answer I felt sure that never, never
should
soon forgot my disappointment, how
ever, in my enjoyment of the wild frolic
was having over the stones with the many
companion drops which made up the
stream. Many days we danced on over the
pebbles and by the grassy banks were the
wild flowers grew and bent to kiss us as
we passed. Other little streams Joined US
from time to time and when we finally
reached a large city the stream had become
so many times larger than when I tumbled
in that people spoke of US as q river. To
such dignity had we attained.
On and on we went until we came to
the beautiful wide ocean, and then in its
great depths our river was swallowed up
dS AttG DGbI III UAlG lAGt46 6LASeA4A4 "a 4AAHN
I was afraid Funny, wasn't it, that L
should be afraid of the ocean when it was
Just made up Of little drops like MYSELF
But there seemed such a great crowd of
them that I could not realize that 1 was
Just as important as any other drop, and
so for awhile I kept feeling scared and
wondering what was going to happen to
me
One day I found myself right down at
the bottom of the ocean, and wish could
tell you all the wonderful things I saw
there. I can't begin to- but it was much
moro Interesting than anything had ever
seen upon the land There were tho most
beautiful shells and pieces OF coral and
sponges. And there were fishes of all kinds
and some of them looked pretty ugly, tell
you. lit makes me tremble yet to think Of
them-but some of them We're as beautiful
as any flower that grows up here on the
earth.
Well after long time reached the top
Of the ocean again and as lay there toss
ing, tossing in the light breeze and look
ing up at the glorious sun, L suddenly had
the strangest feeling as though was light
as air and L seemed to be going up, up,
up. You may imagine I wondered what
was happening to me then for though 1
had had some queer experiences cOuldn
remem Der ever feeling like that before. As
soon as I became composed enough to look
around discovered to my amazement that
I was far above the ocean and floating
about on a clOud-in fact that I was part
of a cloud. 1t was delightful as soon as
became used to it.
At times we hoated idly about enjoying
the scenery below US and the warm sun
shine above. At other times a sharp
breeze would strike us, and we would seud
along like the wind itself. Some Of these
rides were very exciting. We could see be
low us the great trees bending, sometimes
breaking in the storm, and the rain
drenching everything as it fell. After
some time spent in this delightful cloud
life we were suddenly chilled one night by
a cold wind which seemed to almost freeze
US. At the same time I folt myself be-
ginning to fall Down and down I won't,
when behold I found myself alighting in
this very meadow, almost on the spot
where 1 had swung in my hammock SO
many years ago. To complete my sur
prise, I heard a voice down by the bank of
the stream spying, And, Bessie, I have
thought of you all these years, and it is
the thought of you that has brought me
back.
ooh, Wilr' was all the answer heard.
Once more peeped over just to see.
Yes; surely they were the same, only grown
to young man and woman hood
''And may take you with me when 7
60 back AGAIN. VIII asked, and his voice
had the same wistful tone I remembered
so well. And Bessie, very sweet and very
rosy, answered. yes -
And then he slipped on her finger
beautiful pearl ring, and I do believe it
was the very same pearl that I saw at the
bottom Of the ocean and wished so much
to possess. but really this was better than
to have it for myself
watched them as they wandered down
the stream. Then they turned as they
came nearer, and heard Bessie ask, Do
you remember Cousin Harry, WHIP
81 think do, - he answered, and
laughed to myself at the tone in which he
said it.
-Ma Id = laata- f-o-., hin, .astaraa-