THE RAINBOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 457, 12 September 1928, Page 6

THE RAINBOW

PRIZE-WINNING STORY In those far distant days when the gods had their abode on earth, there was an enchanted island in the sky, where Leidre lived. She was the weaver of all earth’s loveliest songs. On her magic isle she made windsong and the surge of the tide, birdsong and the rustle of leaves. Hers was the music of the rain and the lullaby of the sea. The sad songs of the water-reeds were hers and the glad whisper of flowers in the spring. There was but one sorrow in her life, and that because her isle was silver like the moon. She would look down upon the silent earth and sigh for the riot of colour she saw there, while the gods on earth, looking up into the sky, heard the distant echoes of her music and grieved because their earth was silent. So, after many days in council, they sent the swiftest of the company, the flying Wind God, to speak to Leidre with his toneless voice and beg her to give them her songs. Leidre laughed joyously. “Give me thy colour,” she cried, “give me thy blazing colour, and I will give thee music.” And so, when the sun was risen at dawn the next day, the great, silent company mounted into the sky, bearing with them their dazzling gift of colour. Foremost was the Goddess of Flowers, laden with sweet blue violets and purple hyacinths. “These are the dearest of my flowers,” she said simply. Leidre looked on her loveliness and answered, “I will give thee the sweetest song I know for thy Violets. It is a song for the gods alone, and mortals will hear, but a whispering echo of thy music.” The God of the Sea spoke next, offering his gift of Indigo. “This is the rarest of my colours,” said he. “It is the most beautiful of them 9 all.” “There is a song for thee that has no end, great Sea God,” said Leidre. “It is an ever-changing song, as are thy colours ; for, indeed, I have seen this depth of shading in thy sea at twilight only and before a young spring dawn.” To the Sky God, following with his gift of Blue, she gave her wondrous birdsong; whispering, rustling, music she gave to the God of Trees for his sparkling Green, and fierce, dry laugh ter to the Fire God for his scorching Orange flames. The Wind God, for the fiery autumn Red of his stolen leaves, was given the vagrant, laughing song that echoes thl-ough dark stormy nights and sets the stars affright. The last to come was the God of the Sun. His gift to her was dancing Yellow sunshine. “Alas,” . said_ she, “I have but one song left; 'tis is a sad song, I fear, for such a joyous god.” “Why, then,” said lie, merrily, “I shall take thy smile and give thy song to my brother, the Rain, for he has no Colour to bring thee for a song." That is why, when Rain and Sunshine come together into the sky, one with his sad song and one with’ his smile, Leidre, the Rainbow Maiden, shows herself between the two • and gives her greatest gift of gladness to the world. —Little Swift Canoe (Fitzie Morris aged 15).