Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1877 — And the Sun Smiled. [ARTICLE]

And the Sun Smiled.

“Go away, for a little while,” said the rain to the sun. “ Don’t you see I am preparing to visit the earth ?* And, as you ought to know, the sun shouldn't be shining when the rain-drops are falling.” “ It’s such a lovely—such a very lovely day,” said the sun, “ and the earth is so beautiful and pleasant to see, that I don’t want to ‘ go away.’ ” “ I sha’n’t stay long—not more than five or ten minutes,” said the rain. “ I’ll only make a shower-call.” “ But I’m not content to lose sight of all this joy and loveliness even for ‘ five or ten minutes,’” said the sun. “Ever so many nbw buds and flowers came out to greet me this morning, and ever so many baby-birds sang to me their first twittering, tremulous songs, and the brooks dimpled and laughed as my rays kissed them, and the daisies looked straight up at me with frank, fearless faces, saying, ‘ Welcome, dear sud!’ —and the* buttercups proudly showed me their pretty blossoms, that I might see it was my color they wore; and they are all, at this moment, a 9 happy as happy can be. Why can’t you leave them alone? According to my way of thinking, they have no need of you in the day-time, when / am here to make life bright and warm. Wait until night lifts her curtain from the other half of the world to throw it over this. Then I shall be shining on far-distant lands, and the moon and stars will be in the sky in my place, and I dare say they won’t object to your clouds veiling their faces for an hour or two, for their light and power are nothing compared to mine, and the earth will be too sleepy to miss them anyhow.” “ My dear sun,” said the rain, “I grant that you make life ‘warm,’ but, begging your pardon for speaking so frankly, sometimes you make it too warm. Even while we are talking, it is getting warmer and warmer, as it does every midsummer day, from noon until two or three hours before night fall; and soon the flowers you love so well will begin to droop and fade, and the grass to bend weai ilv toward the ground, and the birds to cease singing, and the brooks to stop dancing, un less I send my merry, sparkling little ones to cheer and refresh them. Hide behind a cloud for a few moments, and when you come forth again'you will find the earth free from thirst, dust and stain, and a thousand times greener and more beautiful than now, before my pure drops have fallen upon it.” But the sun was obstinate that July day, and refused to be hidden by the friendly cloud, and so kept on shining when the shower began to fall. And, looking down on the earth as the glittering drops reached it, he saw the sweet hods opening their dainty leaves, the flowers raising their languid heads, every blade of grass standing erect and firm, the little streams dancing gayly to a cooing song of their own, and everything, everywhere, wearing a look of radiant happiness. And he said to the rain, “ You were right,” and, smiling upon her. his smile arched the heavens, ana, bright with every lovely hue that ever glowecf in gem or flower, shone there until the shower ceased, and children, beholding it, cried out, joyfully, “ A rainbow! a beautiful, beautiful rainbow!”— Margaret Eytinge, St. Nicholas for July.