The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-09-16
CARA's CLOUD CASTLE.
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

EEe. paper SyLutSdlS.1 EErW
Cara, dear, I wish YOU would ae.
liver this gown for me this afternoon.
sighed Mrs. Benson one sunny OclopeT
day, as the girl came in from school
and dropped her books on the sew
ing table. II LAY promised 1t TO MIS-.
Brown before dinner time"
Cara jerked up the package GROSSLY
and set out IN her way across the
field. AS she went she grumbled to
herself about her fate. "Other girls
have SO much better things than l do"
she muttered.
a selfish girl. Her mother worked
hard to keep the girl nicely dressed
and at a good school, where she was
learning to be a teacher, but the child
did not appreciate this.
It was dusk when Cara rang the
bell at Mrs. Browns and was shown
into a beautiful parlor. On the
handsome portraits looked down from
the walls and richly carved mahogany
furniture was scattered about the
room, which bore every evidence Of
comfort and luxury. The October air
came softly in through the open win
dows, which looked out on spacious
grounds and beds of flowers. Cara
took a seat in a big chair before a
"How beautiful the clouds look"
murmured the girl fretfully. And
how dull is my life. What chance
have I to do any great deed or make
any famous name. Up there the
clouds look SO delightfully."- far away
from trouble-like great castles of
fairyland, hurrying toward the sum-"
Cara was surprised to feel her chair
floating. Very softly 1t rose in the
air and drifted out Of the window,
up, up till she saw she was approach
Ing a great cloud, snow white, which
was rolled up into the appearance
Of a castle. On the walls appeared
fairies Of every color, all radiant in
the evening flush which seemed to
sweep the heavens. AS the chair
a fairy sprang down from the wall
to greet the girl.
80 you are Cara?" said he fairy
kindly. welcome to Cloudland castle.
We saw you were unhappy and
thought we would bring you here for
hand, she led the girl over the mag
niicent palace. It's furniture was Of
gold, mirrors formed the sides OF the
| rooms and fountains Of jewels sang in
its snowy courts. In one room the girl
was surprised to see hundreds Of
| fairies sitting before a large loom,
| which is a machine on which cloth is
! woven. The sprites were very busy,
singing as they worked in the differ
| ent %colors, some using black, others
WIllte, MANY gray, S1oAel' 6oio dtio
crimson.
This is the room In which the
threads Of life of o mortals are
woven" explained the fairy. Here
in this castle in the clouds we live and
watch the people Of earth. Their
You see the dark threads for those
| Who are selfish and cruel, the bright
colors Of the gentle n kind"
Cara looked to where the fairy
the name of Cara" Eagerly she
| examined to see what threads the
| fairies were weaving into her life, and
sadly h recognized black and gray
as the most conspicuous colors. She
| hung her head in shame.
the cloud castle and told her to look
down upon earth. Strange to say, she
could see right down through the
roofs Of houses. Around the table In
some rich homes were gathered
groups Of auarreling. unhappy peo-
the smiling faces Of contented parents
and children. At her own home she
saw her mother patiently mending a
dress which the girl had torn the day
before and selfishly left for her
mother to fix. ~s~
| Cara's ayes flied with tears. -
I have learned tho lesson" she
said In a voice trembling with pain.
Il have been signing for wealth to do
great things and leaving undone the
simple duties at home, which are the
really great things OF life. How un-
kind I must seem to mother, who is
so good to me2"
Cara" called a voice at her elbow.
; Cara opened her eyes, not in her
| castle in the clouds, but in the parlor
IN which she had taken a nap. Here
is the money for your mother" said
the lady. And ii you care to teach
moons Of a week, I will pay for your
music lessons this year."
With a joyful heart the girl accept
ed and a home q different child
from the one which had left 1t an hour
before. Working hard to. make her
mother happy, she soon became one
Of the happiest girls herself.