A Visit to Cloud-Land

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 590, 16 February 1929, Page 29

A Visit to Cloud-Land

Snow-White Slippers and Silver Pails

I wonder if any of you have ever; watched the great fleecy thunder clouds that gather in the sky before a storm ? Sheila Murray had often watched them; she lived on a farm and knew how those big white clouds meant rain, and that after the rain there would be no more horrid dust, and grass would grow again for the hungry iheep. One day, as she sat watching the clouds banking up in the blue sky. she became especially interested in one huge white cloud all on its own. “I wonder if anyone lives on you, you beautiful island?” she said. "How I should love to jump into you, you look so soft and white.” And then, to her astonishment, she saw a little piece of the cloud break aw”* and comb floating toward her. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. "Oh, dear, whoever are you?” she exclaimed, for there by her side stood a snow-white fairy. "I’m one of the rain-cloud fairies, and my name is Fleecyball. Queen Shimmerwhite sent me to fetch you. Come along. Sheila.” Sheila seized the fairy’s hand and then, for a moment, her breath was taken away. They seemed to be mounting higher and higher at such

a speed. “Here we are,” said Fleecyball. i “Please sit down and put on these shoes, else you will not be able to walk | without sinking through the cloud.” Sheila gazed around her in amazement as she put on the little white slippers Fleecyball gave her. “Now come and see our queen.” said the fairy, leading her to the entrance of what seemed to be a wonderful cave. They passed down a long tunnel, all lighted with beautiful silver stars. Presently they came to a magnificent hall, with a dome-shaped roof from which myriads of different coloured stars were suspended. On a snowwhite throne made of soft cloud sat the most beautiful fairy you could ever wish to see. “Welcome to Cloud-land, Sheila!” said Queen Shimmerwhite, l know you have often admired my kingdom from the earth, now I should like you to see what we cloud-fairies do for you mortals.” At this she clapped her hands together. and a little white sledge, pushed by two white-clad elves, appeared before her Majesty. “Good-bye, little Sheila; Fleecyball will show you round my domain.” They were soon out of the tunnel and speeding silently over the soft cloud They passed many little people hurrying here and there, ana. now and again, a little white sledge similar to their own skimmed swiftly past.

“Here \v» are.” said Fleecy ball. “Oh!” gasped Sheila. * how lovely!” They wore standing cm the edge of a beautiful lake, and the little girl thought she had never seen such won i derful water; it was as clear as crystal. I and so smooth it seemed more like a i giant looking-glass than a lake j “Yes.” said the fairy. "every rail; ’cloud has a lake like this in th** middle: it is kept filled by the cloudfairies and used to water the earth ! with. Como this way. and I will i show you how we collect the rain.” j She led Sheila down a long tunn* 1 j and into a brightly-lighted cave. I Hound the cave were hundreds of silver taps. White-clad elves wenbusy polishing these and making them sparkle till they twinkled like stars, j “These are rain taps,” said Fleecyball, “and in here we keep the rainpails.” She took Slieila into another cave, where scores of dainty fairies wen cleaning and polishing thousands of tiny silver pails. “Before it rains,” said Fleeeyba.il. j “the clouds gather together so that th** I earth may receive all the rain she I needs. And we cloud-fairies are kept I very busy, as the lake you saw outside must always be filled with water.” They went down another long tunnel and through many more caves, and

• everywhere tiny elves and fairies were j busy cleaning and polishing the pre--1 Clous silver taps and pails. “Now,” said Fleecyball, “it is time you returned to your Barth. You won’t forget the cloud fairies. will you, Sheila?” j Sheila promised she wouldn't, anti they sped swiftly down i long pas- ; sago that led them out on to the edge of the lake again. 1 “Please take off your shoes.” said . tlu* fairy* Sheila did as sh 6 was told and, as she handed them to Fleecyl ball, she felt herself sinking, sinking I into something just too wonderfully soft for words. The next minute ghe found herself • sitting on her cushion under the oak tree, just as if she had never moved from the place. r “\yell I never!” she exclaimed, as L she gazed up at the big white cloud. [ “Wasn’t that, wonderful, but r wish • Fleecyball had let me say thank-you to Queen Shimmerw bite.” “Sheila, Sheila, where have you been?” cried her mother. “£ have ! been looking for you everywhere: come along and have your supper.’ I That night as Sheila lay in l ed she heard the big rain drops pitter patter . on the roof, and she smiled to her- > self as she thought of the beautiful j rain water the cloud-fairies were send- , ipr her. . „ ? “Good-night. Queen Shimmerwhite. she murmured, drowsily. as she wriggled under the bed-clothes.