THE SODA WATER FOUNTAIN
"That was a beautiful song the angels sang!" exclaimed one of the little
girls as four small boys struggled with three larger ones for possession
of the old oaken bucket, and the mossy accumulation on its sides
suffered somewhat from the effects of the scramble.
"I like the song of Mr. Sleepy Head best!" exclaimed several at once;
and while they were giving their various opinions about different parts
of the story, the boys hastened back from the well and joined in the
merry chatter.
As they hastily passed the water from one to another, one little fellow
exclaimed:
"Mercy! I can't get over the Valley of Ice Cream and that Mountain of
Cake. I just wish we had some of it here!"
"How about the Rock Candy Falls?" asked another.
"They were just grand! just grand!" exclaimed several, almost in one
voice. The children now gathered closer than ever about the Vagabond.
The little girl on his knee sat holding his hat as thus the "Knight of
the Highway" continued:
"As the Queen and the children were walking along on a back street of
the village, they met Mr. Sleepy Head again. His harp was hanging far
over to one side, and his head was resting heavily upon his breast;
while the sound of his loud snoring told them he was fast asleep. Once
in a while he would snore so loudly that he wakened himself, when he
would again lunge on.
"He had not gone very far when he stumbled head first into a tree with a
bang that must have hurt him badly; for as he came to with a sudden
start, they noticed he rubbed his head with his hands and looked dazedly
about as if he had lost his way. Starting forward again, he changed his
course and journeyed on toward his master.
"As they passed out of the village, the children were surprised to see a
great stream of water, shooting hundreds of feet into the air and
tossing its snowy spray about in a wickedly wasteful manner, while the
stream seemed to be coming straight up out of the ground.
"As they stopped to look at it, Arthur said he had often seen a
waterfall falling down, but had never seen one fall up before. The
children were more than delighted with this strange wonder of nature.
"The Queen smiled at Arthur's remark, and turning to the children, said:
"'You know, children, somewhere, way down in the ground, there is a
chemical laboratory, the great chemist in charge of which is Mr. Nature.
There are not many places where he displays his wonderful ability in
such an unusual fashion, but here he seems to have outdone all his other
attempts. This is Soda Water Fountain, where day after day, and year
after year, he sends forth his exquisite drink to quench the thirst of
all weary travellers who visit the Island of Dreams.'
"'Soda Water Fountain!' exclaimed little Maud.
"And before they could half realize either the immensity of its height
or its volume, the Queen led them to where they could drink to their
hearts' content.
"As they stood drinking and watching the tall stream shoot high into the
air, they could not help but ask questions; and, turning to the Queen,
little Maud wanted to know what sent it up so high.
"'I believe the people of the world call such a display a geyser,' said
the Queen. 'Several of them are to be found in various parts of the
earth. When you have had all you wish to drink, and while we walk slowly
back to the landing, I want you to tell me, if you can, where they are
located.'
"They started slowly away on their journey, the children wrapt in deep
thought.
"Little Arthur said he had never been to school much since his mother
died, for his old grandfather didn't believe in schools, and perhaps
that was why he did not know more about such wonderful things.
"The Queen cast a look of pity upon him as she softly said:
"'Schools are great things, and every little boy and girl ought to learn
the lessons well; for the world is full of wonderful things, quite as
strange and curious, if you understand them, as any you have seen since
leaving Harpers Ferry. Every year,' she continued, 'Santa Claus visits a
great geyser in Wyoming, located in a place called Yellowstone Park;
while in Iceland and New Zealand there are very beautiful geysers
indeed, the waters of which are hot enough to cook an egg.'
"While the conversation continued, and the Queen was instructing the
children and showing them why it was wise to learn their lessons well,
they came in sight of the spot where they first landed upon the island.
"There was a loud commotion down on the shore of the lake, and they were
surprised to see all the dolls climbing into their boat. Scarcely had
they stopped to view the wonderful and interesting sight than the barque
which had borne them to the Island of Dreams appeared from a near-by bay
and was soon at the landing, awaiting the commands of the Queen.
"The mermaids in charge of the doll-boat had driven their dolphins a
short distance from the shore where they lay as if waiting for a race
with the Queen's barque. It was not long before the two boats were
resting on the lake side by side.
"Arthur expected every moment to see the waiting dolphins leap forward
in a wild effort to surpass each other; but, as there seemed to be no
effort made to start them, he soon changed his mind and sat looking upon
the plump, round backs of the dolphins as they lay motionless in the
lake before them.
"There was a sound of rushing wings high in the air. Again the sky
separated as before, and the angels who first welcomed them to the
Island of Dreams came falling from the sky.
"In the barque of the dolls all was now quiet.
"There was a sudden outburst of celestial music from a chime of
rich-toned bells in the heavens above, and as the angels hovered over
the boats, it was thus they sang a parting song:
"'Come again to the lake that is crimson and gold,
For the barques ever wait your command;
The mermaids are true and the dolphins are bold,
To pilot you safe to its strand.
Tell the children of earth that the Island of Mirth,
The one place where the sun ever gleams,
Like a story that's told that will never grow old,
Is the beautiful Island of Dreams.
The Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams,
Ever gay is the Island of Dreams.
"'Come again to the lake that is crimson and gold,
Come again to our heavenly clime;
Though the ways of the world may be cruel and cold,
It is warm over here all the time.
When despairing and sad, with no heart to be glad,
And engulfed by the tears that you weep,
Bring your troubles a while to our magical isle,
And the Sand Man will rock them to sleep.
In the Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams,
The Sand Man will rock them to sleep.'
"No sooner had the angels ceased their beautiful song than they
disappeared as quickly as they had come, and there was nothing to be
seen but the unbroken arch of the deep blue sky.
"The dolphins shot forward across the lake and bore the dolls away on
their homeward journey. As the barque containing the Queen and the
children passed leisurely along the shore, they could plainly see the
Sand Man, going home after his daily toil with Mr. Sleepy Head stumbling
and staggering behind him.
"With a wave of their hands and a blessing upon the wonderful Island of
Dreams, the boat turned out into the lake and moved rapidly toward the
high rock on the distant shore.
"Kimbo the Giant did not bother them to alight, but placing the palm of
his big hand down by the side of the boat, he bade them stand upon it;
then, in a trice, he lifted all three to the top of the high rock for a
last, long look on the lake.
"The dolphins rolled playfully in the tide below. The mermaids waved a
bashful adieu; and then, with a burst of speed, the barque swept like a
whirlwind across the lake and was soon lost to sight.
"The ride on top of the Giant's head back to the throne of the Queen was
just as delightful as their former trip through the land of Santa Claus,
for Kimbo tried in every possible manner to offer them amusement.
"Now he would shout 'Hold tight!' as he jumped over a tall hill. Then he
would give them some other warning, as he suddenly leaped from the top
of one hill to another, and sailed through the air over the great valley
below.
"It was thus he amused the Queen and the children until, with one last
mighty leap, he cleared the tall factories of Santa Claus and Taffy
River at a single bound and landed them safely upon the golden throne.
"By this time the children had become well acquainted with the Giant, so
much so that for some time they stood talking with him. Little Arthur
thanked him for the kindness he had shown to both himself and his
sister, and as the Giant's mouth opened for a merry laugh, they noticed
that his white snowy teeth resembled, in shape as well as in size, the
grave-stones that stood in the village churchyard on the hill at Harpers
Ferry. Nor could they suppress their surprise as he raised his enormous
hand to bid them good-bye.
"It was so huge that little Maud could barely clasp her two hands around
its little finger. She made a frantic effort to shake the hand up and
down, but there wasn't much shake about it. With a merry smile, Kimbo
backed away from the throne, bowed low before his Queen, and, with one
mighty hop-skip-and-a-jump, he leaped high over a tall mountain and was
gone.
"'Come,' said the Queen, as she turned about and placed her finger
against a button on the side of her golden chair, 'we will now have some
refreshments and then visit the Village of Hide and Seek.'
"So now, while the Queen and the children are waiting to refresh
themselves, let us once again send to the well, that we, likewise, may
be refreshed before we go with them into the beautiful village."
With that the Vagabond drew a long breath, for he had been talking
rapidly; and, as he sank into silence, the happy children gazed upon him
with a feeling of pride that had slowly grown from dread to friendship
and almost to love.
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