The new South-news., 1908-03-28
JOHNNIE'S DREAM.



straight 90 him-s'fanse piercing
eyes she had. yet they had q kindly
CLEAN IN them which half assured
Johnnie. though he felt very far froll
comfortable
Cone" she said. and held out her
hand. ~izcncd and thin. 10 Johnnie.
This. however. was more han he
was prepared Tor. Ne tried 10 shrek.
but BIS voice died IN bic throat and
his tongue felt parched aud dry. How
be loved hla mother and little sister
nowi
u am 10 take yon 10 Babylard."
psid the old lady pleasantly She
seemed to be a witch
Bui Johnnie had forgotten al about
babica by this time and could have
crcpt under the pillow to escape this
little old woman. when she suddenly
anaiched him up and placing him IN
'front.' Of her sailed or on her broom
stick through the roof and away up
IN The direction Of the stars
Up, up. up they elidcd. swiftly, si-
icntly. into the night and such a feel
ing OF siddness crept over Johnnie
that he forgot 10 be frightened.
by and bye he recovered. and then
straight In front Of them. afar off In
the blue Sky. and looking for All the
world like the doyecot which stood In
johnnlc's gardcn-only ever 50 muth
larger, he saw great buiiding hang
Ing In mid air. The walls were or
ange-tlntcd Ike the sky ut sunset, and
fantastic windows gllmmered In them
like precious stones OF all colors.
Thithcr the old woman steered, and
as they came nearer high narrow
gate was 10 be seen. over which IN
large letters was carved BAByLAND.
Hero the old woman alightod. and
after knocking three times. the door
swung open and. all unbdden, they
entered wonderful world There
was no roof TO the building; 4, was
open TO the sky. Everywhere as far
as eye could see stood great tall trees
with the most peculiar egg -shapal
things growing on them like fruit.
And stranger stll, strutting about on
the soft green velycty turf. dotted
cndlcssly with gally-oolorcd flowers
which filled the air with enchanting
fragrance. We're great white birds like
pengulns Some OF these perched on
the tree branches, were busy pucknR
the fruit, while others passed silently
hither and thither among the trees
Carrying an egg-frult under each
wing.
Following one Of the latter. the two
strangers came. through the forest.
out into an open glade where count
less babies lay thick upon the grassy
sward with an army Of these same
birds watching over them with scri-
ous care. And In the reccsscs of the
underground. surrounding the glade.
were to be seen crowds of birds hatch
ius the eggs all laid carefully In nests
lined with softest down.
Here at last was revealed to Johp-
ME the great mystery aad as he looked
at the little ohcrubs rolling about on
The grass he seemed to have vague
recollection Of having been here him
self once upon time long ago. All
Of them were making noise with
their throats, which Johnnie felt in-
stinctively was not OF pain but hap
piness: and the little old woman. in
terprcting the questioning look on
lohnnie's face. explained TO him that
they were really singing in their own
language baby song which, being
put into English. goes somewhat like
this:
: Happy every one are we.
Bird and baby. flower and tree:
Never rain nor snow we see.
rra-la-lce. happy We
We have never dark at night.
Never with each other fight.
Never do hat what is right.
Tra-la-lce, happy wcl
! All the babies sent away
I Down TO Scotland every day.
+ Cry because they cannot stay,
Tra-la-lee. happy we
4 'Tis pleasant place 20 he.
$ You will an with me agree.
! And a happy family We.
E Tra-la-lee. Tra-la-lee'
Amazed and delighted Johnnie
Q would have stayed here forever: In
2 deed, he WAS sorry he had ever left
. Rur the old woman. thinking he had
seen enough for one day. hurried hin,
: back again to the gate, where they
G had arrived, Here she was setting him
r once more on the hrooms,ick when
o all Of a sudden. Johnnie slirred from,
+ her grasp and iell hoa i-over-heels
a understanding through the air like
4 a fancy iiseon. and croak Of laugh
r ter followed him rs he dropped earth
= yards through the sapory clouds.
Down he fell faster and faster. with