Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-03
CHAPTER III


ssyXIHERE did you say we are go.
w ing7" cried Peggy, and Billy to
NoddinG, son Of the Sandman
Hal Ha! You are going 70 Iopsy-
Turvy City in the Land OF UpSide.
Down" answered Nodding win ms ms
sister walt 10 make you welcome. we
will start as soon as my sand gathcrerS
sleep"
on darted Nodding to urge the sond,
gatherers to greater speed He hastenco
from WORKER to worker, seeing that each
sack was filled tC the brim, and prod ing
the, lazy sand-gatherers with the sharp
quill point of the feather in his plumea
hat.
Peggy and Billy looked at each other
What does this mean?" asked Peggy.
II don't know" replied Billy braNelF,
but Ill bet we'll have fun wherever this
queer chap takes us. l like his looks.
Maybe we'll--" But Billy never An
ished what he was going to ray, for
by this time the sacks were flied and
the sand gatherers. bent almost double
under their leads. were sinking slowly
into the sand, vanishing from sight.
Are you ready to travel with meT
tinkled Nodding, the Sand.Man's son,
dancing in front Of Peggy and BILLY.
They bowed their heads silently. Then
you must shrirk :" laughed Nodiing in
hands as he tumbled words that sounded
like:
wink. slinki Shrink
4. While rub your hand!
: Shrinki Blink Wink.
disappear in sand!'
AS ne rubbed Rilly's hands. Billy be-
gar to grow smaller and smaller.
Fear mott" laughed Nodding. while
you are shrinking I'll tell you all about
myself to keep you from worrying. just
like a dentist tells you funny stories
while he is filling your teeth to keep
you from thinking about being hurt
"As have already said. am Nod
ding. My father is the Sandman. who
goes about at dusk scattering sand In
the eyes of boys and girls to make them
magic sleep-snnG from this place where
you slid down hill One little grain In
your eyes puts you to sleep, no matter
how hard you try TO stay awake.
1T is my duty TO come here each day
to watch over tho hundreds Of sand
sacks for my father, the Sandman. 1t
IS an important job. too for I must SEQ
that every sack Is filled with Just the
right am3unt OF sand. If there Is not
enough sand gathered some poor child
must spend a sleepless night, and that
means he will be cross and lazy the
my brother. Mapping. and my sis
ter Drowsy Doze, help my father on
his evening trips. They have scattered
sand in your eyes. Peggy and Billy, on
many and many n night. They hava
watched you and they like you They
want to know you better That is why
! am, taking YOU thrc ugh the sand to
eur homo In Topsv-Turvy City"
Ey this time Billy had shrunk to tho
size Of Nodding. He began to feel a
tuggirg at his ankles. Looking dCwn, he
saw that he vas sinking through the
sand.
Na6ding seized Peggy's hand, and
rnulnbling again his magic words.
wink! Blink Shrink!' he rubbed and
rubbed until che was as small as Billy.
Then, with Noddng still clinglng to hcr
hand. she felt herself being drawn
down into tho sand
Down. down, sank Billy and Peggy
until the sand closed over their heads
But they were not alarmed; they could
breath as freely as ever; and they felt
no fear, for they knew this was Sleepy
Sand and not like regular sand. which
would have crushed and smotherea
them
Down. down. the invisible power
dragged them. until suddenly they came
out into a bright light and with an
amazing sight before them.
What this amazing sight was will be
told in tomorrow's chapter.