Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-05-24
The Ralry's Home.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Bob and Dot stood Just outside the
big front door of the old farmhouse,
looking at the rain. Such big black
cloud had rolled up over the blue
sky, and then the merry little rain
drops began to pitter-patter down on
the gravel walk and to sparkle on the
leaves of t<e flowers, who were SO
glad to hold up their faces and let
the cool water trickle down their
stems into the soft brown earth. The
sun was shining bright. and present.
ly Dot looked up at the sky and al
most screamed, she was SO startled
and pleased.
Look. Bob! Look! Oh, how lovely!"
And Dot pointed her fat little finger
at a beautiful rainbow arching right
across. One end seemed to be touch
ing the grass growing down by the
brook, and the other end fell in the
field Just opposite.
Its rainbow, Dot. You've seen
rainbow before, haven't you?"
mo, l haven't, never" said Dot,
with shake of her curly head. She
was only six and Bob was eight, so,
OF course, he was wiser than she.
isn't it pretty. Bob? Oh! fnks it's
lovely"
IF We could only run to the end of
the field, we could find out what the
rainbow is made Of. 1t is only Just
down there. can see where it ends
against those big trees" said Bob;
land I should like to know what a.
u.s."
Its like pretty Ribbon" replied
Dot, land p'r'aps it's where the FAIRIES
live; they would like it all blue and
green and lovely, wouldn't they?"
Lets go and see, shall we?"
"Oh, yes. Bob, let's CO."
Bob seized mis- hat and scampered
of at once, though the rain was still
falling softly. Dot slipped back to
cupboard under the stairs, and caught
up something which she carefully COW
cred up with her pinafore; then she
too, ran down the path. calling loudly
to Bob to wait for her.
How their little legs did hurry!
They ran SO fast they grew quite red
and out of breath, it seemed such a
long way down the garden to the field
gate, and when they got there the
gate was fastened up so tight their
little fingers could not undo it.
Fortunately. there was gap in the
hedge close by, and Bob crept through
without stopping to help Dot, which
was not very gentlemanly of him, but
he was SO excited about the rainbow
he quite forgot his manners.
Dot wriggled into the hole, but it
was SO awkward. because of the bun.
die she was carrying, and the black
berry bushes were prickly when she
caught hold of them, and great big
nettle stung her on the leg, but she
got through at last.
What shall we do, Bob, when we
get to the end? l 'spects the rain
bow goes down deep into the earth,
and we shan't be able to pull it out.
Oh, Bob, wish we had brought some
scissors to cut bit off for mother,
she would be so pleased"
But Bob had no breath for talking;
ne simply raced along to get to the
trees, and poor little Dot tried hard
to keep up with him, till the some
thing" she carried SO carefully began
to cry. Then she stopped to unfold
her pinafore, and out peeped the soft
furry face and blue eyes of a tiny
kitten.
"Yon wants to see the rainbow and
the fairies, don't you, Kitty dear? l
'spects I squeezed you too tight. But
never mind, when the fairy looks at
you she will be SO pleased. cos you
is so pretty" and Dot kissed little
Kitty right on its wet, black nose.
But little Kitty would ever SO much
rather have been left at nome, snug
and warm, in the cupboard under the
stairs, cuddled into her mothers soft
fur; only she couldn't speak to say SO.
How wet the childrens stockings
were, as they ran through the long
grass; but they did not mind bit.
All they thought about was to find
out the end of the rainbow, and see
II it was where the fairies lived.
By this time the raindrops had left
off falling, the sun shone out brightly
and the wind blew the black clouds
right away. They had nearly reach
ed the tree when Bob stopped and
looked all about him. Where was the
rainbow? There wasn't bit of it to
be seen anywhere! The sky was as
blue as ever it could be, and all the
lovely colors were gone.
How disappointed they were, Dot
began to cry, she was so sorry, and
Bob looked all about to see if he
could find ever such little bit of
rainbow left behind; but there wasn't
a scrap.
Presently he came creeping back
again, his eyes SO round and big.
Come quick, Dot, there's some
thing SO funny behind the tree. but
don't make noise, walk on tip.toe."
Dot dried her eyes on her pima
fore and followed Bob as quietly as
possible. At the back of the tree
where the buttercups and daisies
grew thick among the grass, and
clumps of primroses dotted the messy
mound, at its great root. she saw