CALOWELL Univ. of California Withdrawn GIFT OF RAINBOW STORIES Other Books by the same Author: LEGENDS of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LEGENDS of SAN FRANCISCO ORIENTAL RAMBLES THE WIZZYWAB Cit-t/h RAINBOW STORIES By GEORGE W. CALDWELL, M. D. Illustrated by JANE JEFFERSON FLIPPEN Published by Phillips & Van Orden Co. 509-521 Howard Street. San Francisco Copyright 1919 by GEORGE W. CALDWELL, M. D. Printed by Phillips & Van Orden Co. San Francisco, California In the preface, it jjbn't matter If I write a bit of chatter, Incidentally to mention That my really, true intention When I wrote each little fable Was that Mother might be able To avoid a lot of bother Turning questions o'er to Father. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The stories, Tom, The Prince Courageous, and The Little Blackman of Winkieland were suggested by tales related by Miss Katherine Rosetta Hawthorn, a seven-year- old story-teller of remarkable genius. The writer thanks Miss Katherine for the privilege of making use of some of her many original ideas, and predicts for her a brilliant literary career. Dr. George W. Caldwell. The Flight to Fairyland 17 The Fairies in the Flowers 31 Sleepy Eyes 33 How the Stars Came in the Sky 37 Boomaroar, and the Rainbow 41 Boomaroar, and the Sea Shells 43 The Music in the Sea Shells 45 The Fairy Blackbird 51 How the Rabbit Lost His Tail 55 The Discontented Elephant 59 Tom, The Prince Courageous 63 The Little Blackman of Winkieland 73 The road to Fairyland, it seems, Winds through the magic Land of Dreams; The children love to wander there, To build their castles in the air. Imagination How it grows When we are young, and where it goes When we grow up nobody knows. THE FLIGHT TO FAIRYLAND JOHNNIE BOB put aside his book of Fairy Tales, and stretched out on the grass. "I wonder if there really are Fairies," he mused sleepily as he studied the changing forms of the fleecy clouds. He could imagine in them armadas of ships sailing across the sky, or columns of cavalry, or Roman chariot races, or distant seas with islands and moun tainous shores, but nowhere could he make out anything that looked at all like a Fairy. "Perhaps they only appear when one is asleep. If I close my eyes and keep very still, one may come and talk to me." He was silent for a long time, but all he could hear was the sighing of the breeze in the branches overhead. "I wonder if I could understand the Fairy language." "I am afraid not," chirped a Cricket who was sawing down a grass stem nearby. "Babies use some Fairy words, but they forget them when they grow up. To learn it well one must go to the Fairy school." "Do Fairies have to go to school too? I thought they were always happy." "They like it. They don't need to study. The teacher tells them stories." [17] 18 : " J&a.i.nbGW Stories "Oh! I would like that. May I go to the Fairy school?" "Perhaps it can be arranged. Climb on my back, and I will take you to Fairyland to see the teacher." "Be careful, Johnnie Bob." A Rabbit interrupted in a warning voice. "No doubt he means well, but you are much too large to ride on a cricket. For one carrot I will take you there in a night and the fur of my back will keep your feet warm." "In that case we had better be going," Johnnie Bob replied, "for the night will be very dark." "Very dark. Very dark," echoed a mysterious voice from the tree overhead. Johnnie Bob looked up. A grey Owl perched on a branch was regarding him solemnly. "Beware. Beware," continued the Owl, lift ing one foot in appropriate gestures, "Rabbits fall into holes, and are hunted by Men. Who sees best at night? The Owl, of course. I will take you to Fairyland. I know the way. Did you ever wonder where the Owls go to in the daytime ?" He closed one eye and whispered confidentially, "Fairyland. And furthermore, I work a little magic here and there, now and then. How would you like a nice, new pair of feather wings, so that you could fly all by yourself ? You would ? Then stand up and wiggle your nose while I do the magic." The Flight to Fairyland 19 The Owl braced his legs well apart, and, puffing out his chest with a deep breath, hooted : "Hoo-o, hoo ! Hoohoo, hoo-oo ! Hoo-o, hoo ! Hoohoo, hoo-oo !" There was a sharp rustle of feathers as a pair of wings spread out from the sides of Johnnie Bob's arms. After flapping them a few times to be sure they were on securely, he arose in the air with the Owl, and to gether they flew away towards the far, far East where, as everyone knows, is to be found the best kind of magic. A wise old bird is the Owl, my dears, His tongue is remarkably short, my dears, But he has a pair of pointed ears, And his eyes are big and blinking! The less he talks, the more he hears ; The more he looks, the more appears; So he is wise beyond his years, For he does a lot of thinking. As they soared higher and higher, the earth seemed to unroll below them like a great map. They could see meadows laid off in squares, rivers meandering through the plains, highways tracing a network over the country. The cities, villages and towns seemed to pass beneath them as they winged their way along. 20 Rainbow Stories "You soon will fly as well as I If you will keep on trying," The Owl remarked, "and I deny There's better fun than flying. How slow the autos seem to us How still the ocean shipping. I wouldn't ride a motor bus ; I like the fun of dipping. It is a rather reckless thing, But there's no greater pleasure Than sliding down on slanting wing, To right myself at leisure. We watch the people stop and stare With envy in their faces, But few, I think, will ever dare To try to take our places." The Flight to Fairyland 21 "I have never been afraid of falling," Johnnie Bob replied, "for In my wonderful dreams I can fly If I try. When dangers assail me I spring in the air As light as a feather With never a care; And flapping my wings To get used to the things, I fly over rivers And over the seas Above the green medows And forests with ease, And when I would rest At the close of the day I float like a bubble. It's really no trouble Escaping from Injuns, Or tigers, or men, Who swiftly pursue Me in anger, and then They can't beat me, nor eat me, Nor cheat me, and when They see me escape In that curious way, 22 Rainbow Stories They stop and they stare Right up in the air And, my, how they glare With their bad, cruel eyes Opened wide in surprise. But that doesn't fret me, They never can get me For I know they can't fly. They don't even try, And that may be why, No matter who chases, I laugh in their faces In my wonderful dreams I can fly. I never knew I could fly Till one night I dreamed that a Tiger pursued, And in fright I ran through the forest As fast as I could. The Tiger got nearer So on through the wood I lengthened my stride To steps a mile wide; The Flight to Fairyland 23 But faster and faster That Tiger Cat came. He really was hungry And I was his game ; So, faster and faster I ran till I found I could jump over houses And light on the ground With only the tiniest Jar from the leap It's strange how much lighter One is when asleep. Then I came to a cliff At the top of a hill, But I never stopped, I jumped with a thrill Of delight to escape From that terrible Cat, Who thereafter sat On the top of the hill, And yodeled and spat. Then I found I could fly By just flapping my arms, And sail like an Eagle Away from alarms. [24] The Flight to Fairyland 25 And later that night When I woke up in bed I hid in the blankets And covered my head. In the morning I said To my Mother, 'I know Why Birds are so happy And sing as they go. I know so much more Of the dear little things Than I did, and I know They're so proud of their wings That the melodies burst In a flood from their throats, And fill all the heaven With musical notes. I'll tell you a secret There's joy in the sky Dear Mother, I know, For in dreams I can fly.' The hours passed in pleasant conversation, and in the proper time, which is in the rose colored dawn, they came to the Land of Dreams. 26 Rainbow Stories There's a beautiful, wonderful Land of Dreams Of Childhood Ideals Where everything seems So vivid and perfect, We feel very sure The Castles of Hope That we build will endure- Where friendships are lasting, Unselfish and strong, And not bought for money, Nor sold for a song; Where Love doesn't die Isn't killed by a word That is spoken in anger; Where lies are not heard Where Love is not balanced By jewels and gold; Where all things are given For Love and not sold ; Where only the welfare Of others is sought, And we joy in the giving, And cherish the thought That Love is perfection And all else is naught In that beautiful, wonderful Land of Dreams. The Flight to Fairyland 27 They flew under a rainbow, and perched in a Curlicue tree in the Fairies' Garden of True Love. It was a peaceful spot. No weeds with thorns or prickles were allowed to grow. Only the flowers of Good Thoughts and Kind Wishes were planted there, and they were cultivated with patience and forbearance, watered with the tears of sympathy, and often warmed by the sunny smiles of forgiveness. In that enchanted land above That Land of Smiles and Friendly Love The soul destroying acid, Hate, Turns honey sweet ; and there the gate To friendship's garden stands ajar, And in it thornless roses are. No vain regrets, nor dull despair, Nor torturing grief can enter there ; For no one wants what is another's, Nor helps himself by hurting others. When Johnnie Bob looked around the magic garden he was speechless with wonder. The first thing he saw was a Fairy school teacher standing on a sunflower ringing a blubell to call the Fairies to school. Just beyond was the beginning of a rainbow up which the Fairies were running because the school room was at the top. Johnnie Bob jumped down from the curlicue tree and tried to join them, but the 28 Rainbow Stories rainbow kept moving away. "Hoot, hoot!" called the Owl. "Come back at once. You cannot climb the rain bow unless you wear the magic sandals." Johnnie Bob hurried back and was introduced to the Fairy school teacher. The Owl explained that he was a good boy, that he never took things that did not belong to him or told an untruth, and that he was willing to be punished when he did wrong, and was generous to his playmates. The teacher replied : "If you are as good as your playmates say You may join the school for a single day; So put on these magic sandals and Run up the rainbow as fast as you can." "Now," said the Owl, "you are safe in Fairyland, and I will fly back to my pine tree before it gets too light. If you don't mind, I will trouble you for the magic wings." The wings suddenly vanished. After saying good bye the accommodating Owl flew away. Johnnie Bob buckled on the magic sandals as the teacher directed, and joined the throng of Fairies who were running up the rainbow. When they reached the very top they all sat down on the edge and let their feet hang over. The Flight to Fairyland 29 School began as usual with a song: When the evening shades are falling And the twinkling stars unveil, Children hear the Fairies calling Calling them to Fairydale; Fairydale, that place in Dreamland Where the Mother fondly leads them When she reads a Fairy tale. "Now I will answer your questions," said the teacher, "by telling a story. When I am telling a story please do not interrupt because that spoils everything. No one expects things to be reasonable in Fairyland. What are the questions for the day?" [30] THE FAIRIES IN THE FLOWERS Said Johnnie Bob, "I'd like to know Why it is that flowers grow Red or yellow, blue or white, And why their petals close at night." "T will answer that," the Fairy replied, "by telling JL the story of how the flowers came." Once upon a time long before time the Fairies lived in a coral cave in the sea. They were not very happy be cause the water was too cold, so, one day they climbed out on the shore to warm themselves in the sun. They spent the day playing among the grasses, and swinging in the cobwebs, and enjoyed it so much that they asked the Queen of the Fairies if she would build them a house, and let them stay on the land always. The Queen replied that she would be pleased to do so, and that she would build them many houses of such beauty that Mortals would never be able to equal them. Then she waved her magic wand over the plants, and flower buds began to grow out of them, and as they opened she painted them in marvelous colors red, blue, [31] 32 Rainbow Stories yellow, in all the tints and mixtures, but some she allowed to remain pure white. Each Fairy selected the flower and color she preferred, and went in, and made herself at home. Every morning they opened their shutters to let the warm sunlight in. At night those who lived in the roses, and pansies, and many other kinds left their shutters open, because they delighted in going out to dance in the moonlight. But the Fairies who lived in the poppies closed their shutters up tight, right after supper, because they were very, very sleepy little Fairies. SLEEPY EYES "Teacher dear, can you devise A way to close a baby's eyes In gentle slumber when they weep So much that Father cannot sleep?" "TV/T OTHERS and children everywhere agree that IV J. there is nothing better for that purpose than a lullaby song," said the Fairy. "I will tell you the story of Sleepy Eyes." Once upon a time there was a little girl called Sleepy Eyes. After an unusually exciting day, when bed time came, strange to say, she was not sleepy at all. Her mind was wide awake and her eyes would not stay closed. Everything that had happened to her during the day recurred to her thoughts time and time again. Try as she would she could not sleep. So the Mother took her little girl in her arms and made herself comfortable in the big rocking chair. She pressed her lips to the child's forehead for a few mo ments in silent prayer, and then began softly : [33] 34 Rainbow Stories Dear little baby mine close your sweet eyes, Angels are watching from up in the skies. Mother is guarding you, sleep baby dear, No harm shall come to you, Mother is near. Lullaby, lullaby, sleep, baby sleep. Sleep, little baby mine, snuggle and rest. Mother will sing you to sleep in your nest. Safe in her loving arms, nothing to fear, Sleep, little baby mine, Mother is here. Lullaby, lullaby, sleep, baby sleep. Sleep, little baby mine, rest your dear head Close to your Mother's heart making your bed. Fairies will give you a smile for a tear, Sleep, little baby mine, Mother is near. Lullaby, lullaby, sleep, baby sleep, Lullaby, lullaby, sleep, baby sleep Sleep, baby sleep. Sleepy Eyes 35 Sleepy Eyes snuggled her cheek against her Mother's breast. She was such a tired baby. Her eyelids were too heavy to be lifted her hands and feet too comfortable to be moved. Her rose-bud lips parted in a faint smile. Her Mother's voice, so sweetly soothing, sounded further and further away. Her eyelids grew heavier, and heavier. Her feet grew heavier and heavier. Her arms relaxed and fell away from her Mother's neck. It was so sweet to rest. She was so drowsy and sleepy. She was sink ing sinking sinking in a downy cushion. She was so drowsy and sleepy so sleepy so sleepy sleepy asleep. Her Mother laid little Sleepy Eyes tenderly in her bed, and went out on tiptoes. [36] HOW THE STARS CAME IN THE SKY "Please, Fairy teacher, tell me why At night the stars come in the sky, And is it true the Fairies keep The babies smiling in their sleep?" "'T* O answer that," the Fairy replied, "I must tell you A certain facts about babies that are extra special Fairy secrets, not to be mentioned to anyone." Once upon a time long before time the Fairies lived in the roses and poppies, and other flowers, and ate honey all day long. Some of them ate so much honey that they grew bigger and bigger, and sweeter and sweeter until they came into the world of mortals as little babies. The Fairies who did not grow up took delight in playing with their brothers and sisters who had become babies. They would dance on their necks, and wiggle their toes to make them laugh so that the Gigglums could not get them. Did you ever hear about the Gigglums? No? Well, they were distant cousins of the Fairies, and lived next [37] 38 Rainbow Stories door to Fairyland. They were jolly little Gnomes round as jelly rolls and always laughing. In fact, they laughed so much that their eyelids grew together. They had big wiggly ears, and wore pillows on their feet so the children would not hear them coming. Nothing amused a Gigglum as much as a crying baby. Whenever a child began to cry the Gigglums would ap pear one by one. Where they came from no one knows, but they would stand in a line and wiggle their ears and listen. If the child cried again they would wiggle their ears, and trot nearer on their pillow feet, and listen. If the child cried again they would wiggle their ears, and trot nearer, and listen. Every time the child cried they would wiggle their ears and trot nearer, guided only by the sound, because their eyelids were grown together. If they could find the crying baby they would giggle until they jiggled like jelly, and then they would toss that cry baby up and down up and down up and down until it laughed with them. Well, after a time, the babies who had been called back up into heaven wanted the Fairies to go up and play with them; so, the Queen of the Fairies told Mothers and Fathers, and Aunts and Uncles, and Nurses how to take care of the babies, and especially, how to tickle their necks and wiggle their toes and to make them laugh so the Gigglums wouldn't get them; and then all the Fairies flew up into heaven. But the Fairies do not forget the children who are How the Stars Came in the Sky 39 on the earth. Every evening, about an hour after sun set, they go up to the other side of the blue curtain that is spread over the sky to keep the glories of heaven from shining through, and try to look down to the earth. But the curtain is so thick that they can't see very well, so, they tear little holes in the curtain, and then by putting their eyes up close they can see you, and watch over you all night while those who love you and care for you in the day time are sleeping. Grown people call them stars, but children know they are the twinkling eyes of Fairies peeping at them through the blue curtain of heaven. 140] A BOOMAROAR AND THE RAINBOW Said Johnnie Bob, "I'd like to know The meaning of the bright rainbow. And do the rain-clouds dry their tears For happiness when it appears?" ND the Fairy answered : Once upon a time long, long before time there was a Giant called Boomaroar. He was King of the Storms. When he was angry he would go roaring across the skies, flashing lightning from his eyes, and blowing great rain clouds before him. One day he filled his buckets and went booming over the land in a terrible thunder storm. He dashed the water in great floods upon the flowers, and tossed them about with the wind of his breath until the Fairies who lived in the flowers were nearly drowned. They called to the Queen of the Fairies to protect them; so, she spread a great arch over the land to keep the rain from falling through, and then she painted it red, and yellow and blue. When Boomaroar saw it he said, "It is a Rainbow," [41] 42 Rainbow Stories and hurried away as fast as he could, because he knew the sun would soon come out. BOOMAROAR, AND THE SEA SHELLS "I walk with Mother on the shore And ask her questions by the score, But though I ask, she never tells Me why there are so many shells." ">T^ HAT is a difficult question even for a Mother to A answer," the Fairy replied, because it is a special and particular secret which only the Fairies know. I will tell you some of the story, but I cannot tell it all because it is such a very special secret." Once upon a time- long time before time Booma- roar, King of the Storms, lived far out in the ocean where he splashed around playing with the whales. He was a gruff and rude sort of a giant. He did not like the Queen of the Fairies very well, because she made the rainbow. One spring day, while she was sleeping in a meadow, he tried to cover her up with water. He slapped the ocean with his big hands, spattering the water into the sky, so that it fell in showers for days and days. Then he bounced up and down in the ocean to [43] 44 Rainbow Stories make the waves roll over the land, but the Queen of the Fairies heard the floods coming, and flying into the mountains, stood on her tiptoes on the highest peak. The rains fell harder and harder, and the waves dashed higher and higher. Boomaroar was so amused that the sound of his rumbling rolls of thundering laughter was heard for miles and miles. The Queen had to do something to protect herself and the little Fairies from such a bad giant, so she picked an enormous basketful of shells out of the rocks, and poured them over the head of Boomaroar until he was almost covered up in the ocean. He was so surprised that he hurried back to his home, and never annoyed the Fairies again. Then the Queen spread sand along the seashore to keep the salt water in the ocean, and lying down, finished her nap, but she never would tell in what kind of rock sea shells are found. That is for children to find out. THE MUSIC IN THE SEA SHELLS "I held a sea shell to my ear, And heard the music, sweet and dear. Why is there music in a shell? I'd like to know, if you will tell." "