THE SELLER OF DREAMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 276, 11 February 1928, Page 27

THE SELLER OF DREAMS

(Written tor Sunbeams by PUCK) Once, in Happy Town, a new Sunbeam came down Tiptoe Street. Her name was Sparkle, and she was very vain, so vain that she asked the Doorkeeper for two of his shiny buttons to put on her shoes! Sparkle adored colours and when offered the sunshine dress of the other Sunbeams she refused it, saying that she would make her own frock. This she did and the result was most surprising. She wove into her material some of the blue of the sky, the yellow gleam of a falling star and the green of the grass. Over this she placed the opalescent light of a silver moon. The other Sunbeams were horrified and hastened to say so, bfit Sparkle was supremely indifferent to their remarks and even said that they were jealous. The Dawn Lady decided that something must be done —and done quickly. She called on the Little Thought and together they formed a plan to cure Sparkle of her curiosity. The next day, before the Joy Shop, a little man appeared. He was dressed in the quaintest fashion, for his clothes were made of filmy veils of all colours. He gaily rang a little bell and cried, “Dreams for sale! Who’ll buy my dreams ? Dreams to suit everyone. Who'll buy?” In a minute he was surrounded by Sunbeams. “Please, I want one,” said Sparkle, ’who did not know what dreams were, though she felt attracted by their wonderful appearance. For a moment the Seller of Dreams gazed at her, then, *Tt*s a nightmare you’ll be wanting,” he said, and taking a veil of yellow, blue and green with a white radiance over it, he handed it to Sparkle. While the rest of the Sunbeams crowded round to look at it, the Seller of Dreams with one gay wave of the hand disappeared. Sparkle placed the veil round her shoulders and immediately she fell asleep. . . . She was in a green sea with a blue sky above. The yellow light of a tropical sun beat down. Over all hung a weird, white radiance. “Oh,” cried Sparkle, as she hid her eyes,” what blinding colours! I can’t bear to look!” Then suddenly she realised that just such were the colours of her dress. “Oh, if ever I see Happy Town again I shall always wear a Sunshine dress,” she said. Immediately she was back in Happy Town and dressed in a Sunshine frock. A little later the Dawn Lady saw a flushed and happy Sparkle playing leapfrog in front of the Joy Shop. “Thank you. Seller of Dreams,” she said, “you have done your work well.” And the wind carried the message.