WATCHING FOR THE REAPPEARANCE OF THE SUN.--THE UPPER RIM FIRST
VISIBLE.--THE WHOLE ORB SEEN FROM A HILL.--DAYS OF SUNSHINE AHEAD.
I watched the horizon every day towards noon, hoping to see the sun, for
the light was getting brighter and brighter. The glow of the hidden sun
was so great at noon that it looked as if sunrise were going to take
place. How disappointed I felt when the glow became less and less, as
the unseen sun sank lower without showing itself. Then came to my mind
the coast of New Jersey, where in the early morning I had often watched
for the appearance of the sun above the horizon, in the long glow that
preceded sunrise.
One day I saw a golden thread above the snowy horizon. It was the upper
rim of the sun. I watched, hoping to see the whole sun. But it was at
its meridian, and in a very short time the golden thread had disappeared
and the sun was on its downward course. I shouted, "Dear Sun, how much I
should like to see you. I am so tired of beholding only the stars and
the moon. I am longing for sunshine."
Near by was a hill. A sudden thought came into my mind. I said to
myself, "If I ascend this hill I shall see the whole sun, as the
greater height will make up for the curvature of the earth."
I ran, and soon was ascending the hill. After a while I stopped, turned
round, and looked where I had seen the golden thread. I saw about half
the sun. I climbed higher as fast as I could, and when I reached the top
of the hill I saw the whole sun. I shouted, "Dear Sun, I love you. I
love sunshine. Come and reign once more on this part of the earth. Come
and cheer me, and drive away the 'Long Night.'"
I watched the sun until it disappeared. Oh! I wished the hill had been
higher so that I could have ascended it and kept seeing the sun.
When I came to the bottom of the hill I said, "I do not wonder that in
ancient times there were people who worshipped the sun, for without the
sun we could not exist on the earth, for nothing would grow."
I felt like a new being, for I had seen the sun and its sight had filled
me with joy. Days of sunshine were coming, and I gave three cheers with
a tiger for the sun.
I had had enough of the "Long Night." I wanted to see a sky without
stars and also the pale moon during the day.
The following day the glow above the horizon became more brilliant, and
towards noon the sun rose slowly above the snow; but only about half of
its body made its appearance. It was of a fiery red. Then it gradually
sank. The third day the whole of the sun appeared above the horizon,
then in a short time sank below. As it disappeared I imagined the sun
saying to me: "Day after day I will rise higher and higher in the sky
and shine a longer time. I bring with me joy and happiness. I will
gradually transform 'The Land of the Long Night' into a land of sunshine
and brightness. I will bring the spring; with me flowers will appear,
the trees will be adorned with leaves, grass will grow, the land will be
green; I will make gentle winds to blow, the rivers will be free and
roll their crystal waters, the birds will come and sing. Man will be
happy and gather the harvest that grows under my rays and husband it for
the days of winter."