THE ISLAND OF DREAMS
"I wonder if my papa knows Kimbo, the Giant?" exclaimed the little one
who was seated at the Vagabond's side. "He knows everybody. He knows
Santa Claus, and Rip Van Winkle; and I heard him say that he once ate
dinner with Jack the Giant Killer."
She paused and with a sweet smile looked up into the Vagabond's face.
"Your father must be quite a traveller himself!" he exclaimed in reply;
to which the little girl quickly responded:
"He is."
Then she pushed herself over and without invitation climbed on to the
Vagabond's knee, which he carefully brushed with his old hat to receive
her.
The merry group gathered closer and closer, and the circle gradually
became smaller and smaller until now it was an all around squeeze; when
one of the little girls somewhat relieved the crowded condition by
pushing herself out from the rest and taking the place at the Vagabond's
side that had just been vacated by the little maiden for the preferable
seat on his knee. Half a dozen of the boys arose, took up the old oaken
bucket and hurried away to the well.
All the children were in great haste for the story to continue, and it
did not take long for the boys to return with the water. The sun was
shining down red hot, although it was quite comfortable under the tree;
and after the water had been passed around the circle and the faithful
water carriers were seated in their respective places, the Vagabond went
on with his story.
"In much less time than it has taken to refresh ourselves here under the
tree, the two children beheld a beautiful barque bearing rapidly down
upon them from far across the foam; and, as it approached, they noticed
it was drawn by a pair of blue dolphins, guided by two mermaids who far
exceeded in beauty any that accompanied the craft of the dolls.
"The Queen summoned Kimbo, and by the time he had lifted them down from
the top of the tall rock, and they had dismounted from his hand upon the
shore, the boat was ready to receive them.
"The Queen assisted the children on board, and they proceeded to examine
the boat. Arthur said he had never beheld a real mermaid before, while
little Maud declared that the closest she had ever been to one was in a
picture-book. They kept their eyes turning from one mermaid to the other
as the Queen said, by way of explanation:
"'You will notice that one of the mermaids has beautiful, long, golden
hair that you might liken to sunlight, while that of the other is as
black and glossy as the wing of a raven. Now, you see, it is no trouble
to tell them apart, although it is a matter of mere taste as to which is
the more beautiful. This one,' she continued, 'we call Day, and that one
Night.'
"Day and Night gathered up their long golden reins as if ready to start,
and the dolphins rolled impatiently in the tide.
"A word of command came from the lips of each mermaid, then a wild,
spasmodic splash of the dolphins' tails, followed by a quick, forward
motion of the boat, and they were away on their journey.
"They sped rapidly along, and the children could not help marvelling, as
they sank into the soft-cushioned seats of the boat. Seeming to notice
their appreciation of its beauty, the Queen said:
"'This barque, my darlings, though not nearly so large as the one on
which the dolls from the village embarked, is much more swift, and is
never used by anyone except myself and Santa Claus.'
"While she was speaking, the Island of Dreams came into full view. The
ride was simply delightful. The dolphins lunged forward at such a rapid
pace that a cool, soft breeze sprang up and fanned them. As they
journeyed rapidly toward the island, they glanced up occasionally to
admire its charming outlines.
"The entire shore of the island seemed lined with tall, weeping willow
trees, the long arms of which, with longer tendrils, hung everywhere far
down to the ground, as if they, too, had partaken of the drowsy
influence of the place and were half asleep. Not a breath of air stirred
across the broad island to disturb their slumbering repose.
"As they drew near the shore, the children noticed that the surface of
the lake was covered with broad leaves of water-lilies, that grew upward
from deep down in the tide and held their yellow and white blossoms
aloft to be admired. These water-lilies were so plentiful, that the
dolphins had some difficulty in working the boat through them to the
shore.
"Arthur and his sister sat very still. They were watching the graceful
motions of the two laboring dolphins, when suddenly the very Heavens
seemed to open far above them, and a bright light overspread the entire
surface of the lake. Instantly the dolphins ceased from their labor. The
sound of rushing wings seemed to come from high in the air; and, looking
upward, they were amazed to behold the open sky filled with sweet-voiced
angels, who, as they came down from Heaven on fluttering pinions, sang
to the delighted children the following song of welcome.
Illustration: _"Looking upward they were amazed to behold the open sky
filled with sweet-voiced angels."_
THE ISLAND OF DREAMS.
"'In the midst of a lake that is crimson and gold,
Lies the magical Island of Dreams,
Where the flowers of fancy forever unfold,
And the sunlight of happiness gleams.
And no poor little girl, or no poor little boy
Need dread least some sorrow befall,
For the angels are near, when you're visiting here
And God fashioned this island for all.
The Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams,
God fashioned this island for all.
"'On the isle in the lake that is crimson and gold,
You forget every sorrow and care,
And wander about amid beauties untold,
As free as a breath of the air;
And no lord of estate puts a lock on the gate,
To deny you its fanciful scenes,
For the angels of God guard the ever-green sod
Of the beautiful Island of Dreams.
The Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams,
Guard the ever-green Island of Dreams.
"'When you visit the lake that is crimson and gold,
Bring poverty's tatters along.
Little care if your garments are ragged and old,
For your soul shall be clothed in a song.
Though a hovel alone, you may claim as a home,
Where the sunshine of life never gleams,
You may bask in its smile, as you journey awhile
In the beautiful Island of Dreams.
The Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams,
As you stroll through the Island of Dreams.'
"As the beautiful song of welcome ceased, the angels disappeared in the
sky, and the boat swang gracefully toward the shore.
"The Queen assisted the children to the beach, and they started up a
dark, cool and shady path toward the centre of the island.
"As they journeyed slowly along, Arthur noticed that the air was heavily
laden with the dreamy perfume of flowers; and he suggested to the Queen
that perhaps this was what made everything so drowsy about the place,
for he declared that the odor made him sleepy.
"There were only a few of these flowers the children had ever seen
before.
"Arthur recognized the tall, blooming magnolia trees from the
description of them he had once read in a book; while the tuberose, the
calla lily and the lilies of the valley, both the children knew well for
they had often seen them in the gardens at home. All the rest were
strangers to them, and for a long time they lingered to admire their
wondrous beauty.
"It was not long before they chanced to look up, and seeing a group of
dilapidated, half-fallen houses in the hazy distance, moss-covered and
almost hidden from view by the long branches of low-bending trees, the
children turned to the Queen and asked the name of the curious-looking
place.
"She informed them that the village was the home of the Sand Man, and
that the name of it was 'Drowsy Town,' so named because everything about
the place was half asleep.
"Often indeed had the children heard of the Sand Man, but they never
expected to visit his home; so they hastened their steps and soon
entered the curious village.
"The place contained but few houses, all of which were badly neglected
and sadly out of repair; for who could stop to fix up houses in such a
sleepy place? Beside, what do people care about the outside of a house
when they are sleeping within all the time?
"The fences were mostly fallen, save here and there where a moss-covered
stretch of old-fashioned wooden pickets leaned half-heartedly against
their warped railings, while now and then a gate hung over on one hinge
as if, like everything else, it was anxious to lie down in the dust and
sleep.
"Long gray moss trailed from the eaves of the old buildings right down
to the very ground and spread over the window casements like gray-green
curtains to keep out the light, which it most certainly did.
"As the children passed the home of the Sand Man, by far the most
neglected in the village, and to which the Queen pointed with evident
pride, they lingered on the corner for a moment to look about the place.
"A cat came slowly out onto the old porch, yawned, stretched and went
in. A dog half arose, as the sound of their noisy feet on the worn-out
pavement disturbed his slumber, and raising his ears, glanced drowsily
about, growled and then sank down to sleep under a green vine that
sheltered one end of the porch.
"They moved slowly on, then stopped on the opposite corner and looked
far down the silent and deserted street, where they saw a queer-looking
individual, staggering and stumbling toward them.
"Now he would lunge forward head first into the trunk of an old tree;
then, rousing himself, he would stagger onward only to fall over the
curb stone, or run pell mell into a post. He finally tripped over a
broken slab in the neglected walk and fell flat upon his face, from
which position he seemed to arise with much difficulty.
"'Who is that staggering person' exclaimed Arthur, 'reeling toward us
like some drunken man?'
"The Queen looked down the street as the boy spoke, and turning to the
children with a smile upon her face, she excitedly exclaimed:
"'Why, children, here comes Mr. Sleepy Head to greet us! The Sand Man
has sent him, for you know the Sand Man cannot leave his labors just
now.'
"They stood waiting for him to draw near and could not help but laugh
outright, as he again bumped squarely into a big tree.
"'Who is Mr. Sleepy Head?' inquired Arthur.
"'I never heard of him!' exclaimed little Maud.
"'Oh yes, you have,' said the Queen, 'for many a book has been printed
about him and his wonderful achievements. Some years ago,' she
continued, 'he was quite a popular personage among the children of the
world, but many of them seem to have forgotten him of late. His most
popular mention perhaps was in a jingle that began something like this:
"'To bed, to bed,' said Sleepy Head,
'Let's wait a while,' said Slow.
"Little Maud declared she had often heard her grandfather speak of him.
"'Yes,' said the Queen, 'he is always half asleep. It is his duty to
sing to the children while the Sand Man sprinkles his sand in their
eyes. He is a most beautiful singer, but the poor, industrious Sand Man
has a very hard task in keeping him awake.'
"As the Queen finished her explanation, Mr. Sleepy Head fell headlong
into the gutter. He arose, brushed the dust from his garments, and with
another sleepy, lazy lunge, stood bowing and smiling before them.
"He was a curious-looking little man, with dull, dreamy eyes, and
carried before him a small harp, securely bound to his person by a broad
strap that encircled his neck. The harp was a woeful sight and was
covered with dents and scars and cracks where he had fallen with it
against various objects during his sleepy journeys.
"The Queen said it was a wonder that music could be produced from it at
all, so little was the care he gave it, and then turned to him with a
request for a song.
"Mr. Sleepy Head looked up with a lazy smile as he shook himself and
then leaned with his back against the decayed trunk of a tree, while he
yawned with outstretched arms. After stamping the drowsiness from his
lazy limbs, he gave the old harp a nimble sweep with his dexterous
fingers that filled the air with enchanting music; and, smiling again at
the children, he proceeded to sing the song of
THE SAND MAN
"'Always at evening and every day,
As the shades of the night come down;
The Sand Man calls good little children away
To the Village of Drowsy Town.
And no sorrow nor care ever entereth there,
But toiling with tireless hand,
He breathes o'er the slumbering children a prayer,
While sowing his sleepy sand.
Chorus.
"'When the shades of night come down
Over the Village of Drowsy Town,
Children gay drop their play,
And shake a day-day to their mammas:
Off through the meadow with little Bo-Peep,
Helping her gather her wayward sheep,
And praying the Lord their souls to keep,
While visiting Drowsy Town.'
Illustration: _"He gave the old harp a nimble sweep with his dexterous
fingers that filled the air with enchanting music."_
"When the singer had finished the chorus, he was suddenly overtaken by a
fit of sleepiness; and, as his body slipped to one side, he reeled from
the tree and fell backward into the gutter with such force that the
children instantly sprang to his assistance, for they were sure he was
badly hurt. But he managed to stagger again to his feet, and excusing
himself for the great impoliteness of falling asleep in company, he
again leaned his back to the tree, ran his hand with a magical sweep
over the strings of his harp and thus continued his song:
"'The rich and the poor have an equal share,
In the Village of Drowsy Town;
And the poor little orphan receiveth his care
As he maketh his nightly round.
With a sweep of his hand he goes sprinkling sand
As he wanders about through the street,
With a kiss and a smile for each dear little child,
As it falls fast asleep at his feet.
Chorus.
"'When the shades of night come down,
Over the Village of Drowsy Town,
Children gay, drop their play,
And shake a day-day to their mammas:
Off through the meadow with little Bo-Peep,
Helping her gather her wayward sheep,
And praying the Lord their souls to keep
While visiting Drowsy Town.'
"As the last sound of the singer's voice died on the air, his hands fell
limply from the strings of the harp and his eyelids closed with a last,
long, weary look. His head fell heavily forward upon his breast, and as
his knees gave way beneath him, he slipped slowly to the ground with a
loud snore and rolled over on one side, where, with harp in the gutter,
Mr. Sleepy Head lay fast asleep.
"'Well!' exclaimed Arthur, 'I've often heard of such a thing but I never
saw anyone really fall asleep before.'
"The good Queen smiled at the bright remark.
"'Come,' she said. 'Don't disturb him.'
"They tip-toed away from the slumberer and continued on down the street.
"They had not gone very far before they saw a little old man approaching
in the distance. He was stooped and bent from the weight of a bag that
hung about his neck. Every now and again he would thrust his hand
inside, then withdraw it and swing it around as if scattering something
over the ground.
"'There,' exclaimed the Queen, 'is the Sand Man scattering his sand!'
"The children watched the bent form of the Sand Man busily engaged at
his toil in the distance; while the entire army of dolls were lying
about on the ground, fast asleep at his feet.
"Both Arthur and Maud wanted to walk over and shake hands with him, but
the Queen, knowing how dreadfully sleepy it would make them, turned with
a sweet smile as she said:
"'Do both my darlings want to fall asleep right here in Drowsy Town when
we have so many things to see?'
"Without a word of protest they started back toward the landing, upon a
different street, as the Queen informed them, than the one on which the
home of the Sand Man was located.
"'Let us walk slowly and talk,' she said, as she slackened her pace to
an easy, ambling gait, 'for we want to see the dolls get safely aboard
their boat and start for home.'
"And now while the Queen and the children are walking slowly through the
Village of Drowsy Town, in no great hurry to reach the landing, we will
be in no great hurry to continue with the story, but will wait while we
refresh ourselves with some more water from the well, and at the same
time, hear what some of you think of the magical Island of Dreams."
With that the story-teller breathed a deep sigh and sank into total
silence.
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