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diff --git a/old/19809.txt b/old/19809.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 96a4293..0000000 --- a/old/19809.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1379 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of a Dewdrop, by J. R. Macduff - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Story of a Dewdrop - -Author: J. R. Macduff - -Release Date: November 14, 2006 [EBook #19809] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A DEWDROP *** - - - - -Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -The Story of -A DEWDROP. - - -[Illustration] - - -THE -STORY -OF A -DEWDROP - -J. R. MACDUFF D D - -WITH -FOUR COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS - - -LONDON MARCUS WARD & CO BELFAST - -1881 - - - - -FOREWORDS. - - To Charlie. - - - A Dewdrop is a small affair; and the world would not be the least - interested, nor a bit the wiser, by knowing how I come - affectionately to dedicate the story I have written about it to - _you_. I may tell you it was one line of eleven words, read one - night from a musty old volume of last century, which suggested it. - - Everybody must have their play-hours and moments of recreation. I - think I have gone back to other and more serious work all the better - after writing a page or two of what follows. I am happy thus to have - had my little holiday along with you in this ideal region of quaint - conceits. - - Shall we hope that others may share our pleasure? - - Let us try. - - - - -_List of_ -ILLUSTRATIONS. - - -_The Procession of the Queen of the Morning_ (p. 41), _Frontispiece._ - -_The Bird-talk and its surroundings,_ 14 - -_The Nightingale and the Dewdrop,_ 19 - -_The Ascent of the Million Army,_ 53 - - - - -_The Story of_ -A DEWDROP. - - - - -CHAPTER THE FIRST. - - -Three birds of very favourable -repute in these regions -met together one evening--a -Thrush, a Lark, and a Nightingale. -And all for what purpose, think you? -It was a queer one--to hold a solemn -conference about a DEWDROP! - -Yes, it must be allowed it was an -original thought which brought these -three feathered friends thus into council; -and a pretty talk to be sure they had -about it. - -They selected, as an appropriate time -for preliminaries, the close of a bright -day in early summer; just when things -in outer nature were looking their best. -The snowdrop and crocus had long ago -hid their faces to make way for more -ambitious rivals. That always pleasant -season was a great way past, when you -see the drowsy plants (after being -tucked up--it may have been for weeks--in -a white snowy coverlet), first -roused from their sound winter sleep, -yawning and stretching themselves, and -rubbing their little eyes, and looking; -wonderingly about them, saying--"What! -is it now time to wake up -and dress?" The tree foliage was -approaching, if it had not already -reached, perfection; all the mosses, -too, looked so green and fresh; and -how prettily the various ferns were -uncoiling themselves among the rocks -and shady nooks by the stream; -while on this particular occasion -the very Sun seemed to have coaxed -his setting beams into the production -of most gorgeous colouring. Belts of -golden cloud were streaking the western -sky; such long trails of them, that it -was impossible to say whether the great -ball of fire, which gave them their -glory, had actually gone down behind -the horizon, or was just about to do so. -At all events, it was unmistakably -_sundown_: though the scene was far -removed from northern latitudes, it -might be designated by the familiar -Scotch "gloamin'." The groves, and -dells, and hedgerows, which had kept -up a goodly concert the livelong day, -were now silent. Their winged tenants -had, one after another, slunk to their -nests, with very tired throats. They -had left, apparently, all, or nearly all -the music to the aforesaid brook in the -dell. A stone's-throw higher up the -valley, this latter, fed by recent rains, -rattled in gleeful style over a bed of -white and grey pebbles--the tiny -limpid waves chasing one another as -if they were playing at hide-and-seek -amid the sedges, king-cups, and rushes. -But it had now reached a quieter spot -where, however, it still kept up a gentle, -soothing evensong, a lullaby peculiar -to itself, as if it wanted to hush the -little birds asleep in their varied leafy -cradles. The very cattle, that had -been seen lying lazily out of the heat -under the beech-trees, had ceased their -lowings. In fact, Nature had rung -her curfew bell, and the sentry stars -were coming out, one by one, to keep -their night-watch. - - * * * * * - -Let me first, however, say a word -about this Dewdrop, which had awakened -so much curiosity as to gather -three representative members of the -bird-world together. - -It was a great puzzle, this Dewdrop -was. It was a puzzle where it came -from; what it had come about; and a -still greater puzzle, what it was made -of. It was evidently a visitor from -some unknown land. Very quietly, -too, it had travelled to its adopted -country. These birds, in succession -(with the curiosity birds generally have), -had endeavoured by stealth to track its -dainty fairy footsteps, and learn its -past history. But it was to no -purpose. However, there it was; not -perhaps making its appearance every -night, but almost every night. And, -then, it invariably managed to perch -itself so daintily on the tip of a rose-leaf. -All three birds agreed that it had -substantiated its claim in this, to be -decidedly a lover of the beautiful. -The leaf, moreover, which it made its -resting-place, was not only pretty in -itself, of a subdued delicate green, but -it hung right over a full-blown rose, -with a mass of pink leaves. The -Dewdrop quite seemed as if it had said -to its own little personality regarding -this round coral ball (or cup, if you -prefer to call it so)--"Well, I shall -have a good look at you at all events, -from my cozy couch, the last thing -at night, and the first thing in the -morning." - -[Illustration] - -I somehow really believe the rose -must have heard this complimentary -speech, or at all events, by some -instinctive way, have correctly surmised -what the Dewdrop was thinking about; -for, in the last fading, glimmering -light, it covered up its face so coyly -with both hands, and blushed a deeper -and deeper crimson. - - * * * * * - -But to return to the birds. It was -just outside a copsy retreat that these -three winged acquaintances met. The -Thrush, with his brown plumage and -yellow spotted neck, being the biggest, -and, if anything, the more talkative of -the three, began the conversation. - -The consultation was a long and -animated one, too long indeed to -report in full, besides there being a -considerable amount of superfluous talk, -what in bird-language is called chattering; -but I can give the close of it. - -"Well," said the Thrush, summing -up the discussion, "I must now be off -to bed--at all events after providing -something suitable in the way of -supper for my wife and family, and -seeing them made tolerably comfortable -for the night. And so too must you," -he added, with a quizzical look to the -Lark, whose left eye was beginning to -droop, as he stood, with one leg up, in -the significant fashion our woodland -friends indulge in when they indicate -that they are tired. "We shall leave -to you, Bird of the night"--were his last -words, as he addressed the Nightingale--"we -shall leave to you the first -interview with this little sparkling -thing from fairyland, or whatever other -land it has quitted. We shall defer -_our_ visit till to-morrow." - -So away the two brown-winged companions -sped, I know not exactly where. -But, though both in a great hurry to get -home, they judiciously deemed, as I -have just observed, that they might -do a trifle of purveying business on -the way, by picking up a few seeds; or -if a manageable slug or grub presented -itself, so much the better. I had not -the curiosity to follow them; but I -believe they each contrived to carry -home a dainty supper; the one to the -hole of a big ash-tree, the other to its -nest in the furrow beside some tufts of -golden gorse. It may be interesting, -however, to know, by way of completing -their domestic history, that both had -promising young households--the one -of three, and the other of four--to -support; and the wee downy children -had arrived too at a very ravenous age, -with any capacity for food, which -indeed amounted, at times, on the part -alike of father and mother, to a trial of -temper. - -The Nightingale, now left all alone -for the discharge of a somewhat novel -duty, seemed at first to feel his -responsibility: perhaps a feeling allied -to nervousness in the human being. -But he was a knowing little fellow too; -and resolved to proceed in the most -alluring as well as discreet way to his -task. Being fully acquainted with the -position of the rose-leaf, he took wing, -and settled himself on the branch of a -birch close by. Without any possible -warning, he forthwith began (it was the -best way of getting over these nervous -sensations) to pipe one of his very best -and most enchanting songs. He had -somewhat unwarrantably indulged the -expectation that he would get an -immediate response from the Dewdrop. -He had however, in this, to exercise -the virtue of patience. - -[Illustration] - -"Answer me, pretty Dewdrop," he -said in his most bewitching trill. - -But the Dewdrop was silent. It -appeared to pay not the slightest -attention. - -Another chirrup and mellifluous -note, and then, coming to a lower and -still nearer spray of the birch-tree, -quite within whispering distance: - -"Pretty little noiseless thing," continued -the Nightingale, "what are -you? Where were you born? Have -you any father or mother? or are you -an orphan? My two brother birds -spoke of your brightness and lustre. -My eyes are tolerably good; but I -confess I can see none of these things -about you; you seem rather somehow -to appear sad, though I trust I am -wrong." - -"I have reason to be sad," at last -replied the Dewdrop, in the quietest, -mildest, silveriest voice imaginable, -and trembling with an emotion real or -pretended. "You call me a Dewdrop, -but in truth I am not, I am a teardrop; -a teardrop which fell from the sky." - -"A teardrop from the sky!" said -the Nightingale, in undisguised astonishment. -"I cannot comprehend you. -Pray tell me what you mean?" - -"It is true, despite of your surprise," -said the other. "The Sky always -weeps at the loss of the Sun; and no -wonder. I tell you again, believe it -or not as you please, I am one of the -tears it shed to-night. You need not, -however, grieve for me. I shall be all -right" (the tiny voice rising to a -falsetto) "when the Sun appears again. -Indeed, I venture to say, you will -hardly know me then. _That_ I am -sure of." - -"Ay!" said the Nightingale, with -a sceptical, incredulous chirp. - -"Yes! I always get bright, that I -do, when the Sun shows himself. Look -up to those stars, glittering in the sky. -Do you know how they twinkle so? -I am myself neither scholar nor -philosopher, and have no pretensions -either way. But a confidential friend -once told me, and I quite believe him, -that it is because they are either suns -themselves, or else get light from that -beautiful Sun you saw some time ago -tingeing the sky with red and gold. -_My Sun_," continued the dwarf thing of -mystery, raising its tones, with a sort -of conscious pride. (If it had been -aught else but a beaded drop, I would -have described it standing on tip-toe -as it said this.) It had, however, fairly -exhausted itself with a very unwonted -effort in the shape of a speech, and, -without saying another word, turned -on its side on the leafy bed, shut -both eyes, and went to sleep. The -Nightingale was of course too polite, -civil, and considerate to prolong. So -he simply said, "Good night to you, -little Teardrop, or Dewdrop, whatever -you prefer calling yourself. It is time, -and more than time, for me to be on -the wing. I have one or two domestic -anxieties which, in the first place, I -must see to; and, after that, I have an -engagement among these old hawthorns -to serenade till morning." - -"Good night, kind bird," replied the -Dewdrop, turning in politeness half -round on its pillow; "thank you for -thinking of me in my loneliness." -And away the songster flew, first to his -home, and then, after some outstanding -duties and civilities, over to his thicket -among the May blossoms. The extreme -beauty of the night seemed to -dispel all care, and to have a decidedly -inspiring effect on his nerves. I cannot -tell whether he had really any such -ambitious thought, but it almost -seemed, from the gush of song, an -attempt was made that every star in -the heavens might at all events hear, if -they could not appreciate his melodies. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER THE SECOND. - - -It was now morning. The -mist still slept drowsily in the -valley; in some places so -dense, that the smoke of the early fires -in the hamlet could scarcely pierce it. -Already our friend the Thrush had completed -both toilet and breakfast, and had -issued forth on his round of daily work -and pleasure; as active and busy as -the thrush family always are. When -he first rose from bed, he was not -exactly in the very best of humours; -for he had, what was always a cross to -him when it occurred (though that was -rarely), a disturbed night. Shall I tell -you how his rest came thus to be -invaded? Why, the Nightingale, on -his way from the rose-leaf, had, perhaps -somewhat inconsiderately, tapped at -his door, to inform him that all he -could get out of the Dewdrop was -(a very incomprehensible sentiment to -a sleepy bird), that he was a tear wept -by the Sky when it lost the Sun; and -he was bound in all sincerity to add, -that it seemed rather a dull and uninteresting -tear to boot. - -"I know better," growled the Thrush. -(I have used the word "growl," because -I can find no better to describe the -reality.) Growling, I am well aware, is a -very uncommon demonstration of feeling -in the case of a warbler. At all -events, if it was not a growl, it was the -nearest approach his beak could make -to one, as he turned on the pillow -which had been thus rudely disturbed. -After, however, dozing for a few more -hours, breakfast over, and his family -seen to, off he sped with all his former -cheerfulness and activity, till he found -himself perched on a branch of the -very tallest elm-tree he could pick out, -and one, too, right above where the -rose and the dewdrop were. Dear -me! how he piped, and chirruped, and -throstled! I thought the Nightingale -had done wonders in that way; but it -was nothing to the Thrush. He doubtless -was under the impression that the -Dewdrop was sound asleep, and needed -no ordinary efforts in the way of -rousing. I am sure if one could have -dived under the yellow feathers, the -little throat must have been purple. - -After these musical preliminaries, -our new friend (Songster No. 2) ventured -by-and-by to come nearer. But, -in doing so, he could hardly believe -his eyes, specially after what the -Nightingale had told him. - -"A teardrop" indeed! There was -not a bit of the tear about it. Where -had been the Nightingale's eyes? It -was something at all events very -like a bright, unmistakable, beautiful -diamond on which the Thrush looked. -How it glistened and sparkled; and -that too with all the prismatic colours! -The spectator could only (what was an -effort to any member of the Thrush -family) gaze in mute wonder. - -"What in all the world can you be, -you lovely, silent sleeper on the rose-leaf, -with your round crystal cheeks? -Dewdrop we thought you were; teardrop -you say you are: I cannot think -you are either. If you are not a -diamond set in rubies--stolen, for -anything I know, from yesterday's -rainbow--you look the thing uncommonly -well." - -"I am indeed a diamond," answered -the Dewdrop. "Look at me," said the -little gleaming dot, with the air of an -aristocrat; "do you not say I am fit for -a monarch's crown? And it _is_ a -monarch's crown I am presently to be -set in. Every day I meet the Queen -of the Morning.--Stay," it suddenly exclaimed, -"I see her even now advancing -with her rosy feet, 'sowing the earth -with pearls.' See, for yourself, how the -few stars which still linger in the sky, -and which with their glittering torches -lighted her out of the Eastern Gate, -are paling every minute behind her! -She says, of all the jewels in her tiara -there is not one she is fonder of, or -prouder of, than me. Away, away, -little bird," stammered out the Dewdrop, -with some nervous twitchings -presently to be accounted for; "I must -prepare to meet this Queen Aurora. -But," it added in a kind of afterthought, -"the procession will soon be -over; come back shortly and see me, if -you please." The keen diamond eye -twinkled with a humorous, comical -expression when these last words were -uttered; as much as to say, "I shall -manage to cheat you, old fellow, -wont I?" - -The Thrush had some small quantum -of poetry in his nature; but he had a -great deal of shrewd common sense -too, and an immense idea of propriety. -Accordingly, he at once took the hint -as to departure; but with guileless -simplicity cherished the resolution of -renewing the intercourse, in an hour or -two at latest, after the royal cavalcade -had swept by. - -This interlude was no peculiar hardship -to our erratic friend, who knew he -could spend the time merrily and -profitably among his numerous kinsfolk -in the groves. To tell the truth, he was -not sorry to get away from the court -pageantry, as all such ceremonial and -pomp of circumstance was an abomination -to him, and had always been -so. It was, therefore, with pleasant -anticipations of an early return that, -by a few fleet bounces, he was lost -from sight in the nearest thicket. - -Barely, however, had the specified -period elapsed, when he was back again -upon his twig on the tall elm. He -had certainly not exhausted his strength -or conversational music-powers in that -round of morning visits, for he renewed, -then and there, his merriest -notes, quite in the old style; and after -this prelude, by way of making sure -that the course was clear, he flew with -more than wonted alacrity in the -direction of the rose-leaf. - -But, can you imagine? To his -wonder, sorrow, and chagrin, lo! when -he looked for it, the leaf was empty! -Its small householder was gone! Not -a trace of either Dewdrop or Diamond -left! There was no need of asking -any questions; he comprehended in a -moment what the roguish twinkle of the -eye meant an hour before. He had, -in a word, been "sold." It was more -than a mere innocent trick played on -him. His feelings and bird-dignity -had, he felt, been a little compromised -by what, had it occurred at night, would -have been called "a moonlight flitting." -It was more like what the big -creatures in the world around him -were in the habit of describing as an -April errand. It was only too evident -that the Queen of the Morning, in -passing by, had picked up the dew -diamond, and had inserted it in her -crown; and that the little thing had -made no demur to the appropriation. - -Well, it must be owned that, anyhow -for once, the Thrush was crestfallen. -He almost never knew any ditties but -joyous ones; but on the present occasion, -with no attempt at concealment, he -went away wailing to the thicket, and -outpoured his wounded vanity in something -very like a dirge. He then -buried his beak in rather sulky fashion -under his wing, and went to sleep. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER THE THIRD. - - -But what is this? It is a -change of scene. Away up in -the morning sky, oh, how blue -it is! and the light fleecy clouds, how they -float in folds of white ether! The Sun -has climbed higher. It is now above -the tallest of the poplars; and the long -shadows cast by trunks and stems and -branches are visibly shortened. And -see! the cattle are again lowing in the -fat meadows, and by degrees beating -a safe retreat from the coming heat -under the forest trees. - -High in that bright dome of azure, -there is a delightful frolicsome twitter -heard. It is not the Nightingale; no, -not so clear and mellow as that. Not -the Thrush; no, not so loud or gushing -as that. It is our little friend the -Lark. Oh! how merry he is! more so -than either of the other two. And -what is he about? He seems to be -floating and soaring, sauntering and -curtseying, skimming and dipping, rollicking -and frolicking--now up, now -down--now describing gyrations, now -imitating a pendulum--now trying to be -so steady with his fluttering wings, that -he looks like a star twinkling in the day-time--in -short, playing all sorts of droll -antics, indulging in every imaginable -pirouette and somersault, in all the -world (in his case _above_ the world) like a -school-boy beginning his holidays; certainly -appearing to put himself to a great -deal of unnecessary trouble and exertion. -But he is unmistakably, with his -winning ways, about _something_, and -something to the purpose. But what -that is, no mortal could guess. As the -thing however must be guessed, or -otherwise found out, Gentle Reader, -I shall take you into confidence, and -unriddle the secret. - -The Queen of the Morning, as you -already know, or at all events know -now, had come with all her court, and -troupe of gay courtiers. The Young -Hours had unbarred for her the Gates -of Day, and she at once sallied forth. -Beautiful little pages in the shape of -pink clouds, quite like tiny angels -with wings, were holding up her train. -Some of those fairy cherubs seemed, too, -to have censers in their hands, at least -if one could judge from the delicate -wreaths of mist which rose like incense -from them. Others appeared to be -discharging tiny golden arrows from -silver bows; others to paint, with -invisible pencils, in delicate and varying -hues of amber and purple, the fringes -of clouds; while the Queen herself at -times laid her own finger upon the -larger of these, and braided them with -snow and crimson. And then, how -loyal everything seemed to be on the -earth beneath! How each flower that -had been asleep all night instantly -rose on awaking, and, in the most -duteous manner uncovering its head, -prepared to take its place in the royal -procession. The more gorgeous ones -of the garden led the way, with their -velvet tassels, and silken brocades, and -pendants of opal and turquoise; some -apparently carrying chalices filled with -nectar. Then the fields and hedgerows, -in their rough, rustic, plebeian fashion, -with their fustian jackets and smock-frocks, -said--"We shall not be behind -our betters;" so their buttercups and -wood-anemones, speedwell and scarlet -pimpernel, the meadow violet with its -modest blue, the cowslip with its burnished -cells, the daisy with its "golden -eye and white silver eyelashes," all did -fealty to their adored Queen. Some -went down on their knees; others doffed -their caps; others smiled bewitchingly; -others could do nothing but waft sweet -perfumes. There were even bands of -very varied music and musicians, all -assisting with their efforts in swelling -the Queen's Anthem. The brook, -though it had sung all night, and had -need of a little respite, seemed to say--"No, -I shall go warbling on; she shall -have my very best treble of a ripple." -And then there were minor performers -in this nature-choir. The Blackbird -and Redbreast, Goldfinch and Linnet, -and Chaffinch, each took part with -striking effect. Even the Swallow -in his own quiet way twittered, and the -Tomtit chattered, and the Beetle -droned, and the Bee hummed, and the -big Dragon-fly, in armour of brightest -cobalt, whirred; and the Grasshopper, -poor fellow! did his very uttermost,--he -chirruped, he could do no more. -The Butterfly, who could not raise -a single note, came out in his best -plush court-dress of gold, vermilion, -and blue, dainty little silent outrider -that he is, waking up any exceptional -sleepers. He carried, truth to -say, his zeal sometimes too far; as -when I saw him unjustly reproaching -the Foxglove for having bells and not -ringing them, a thing they were never -meant to do. Even the Spider hung -his silver-tissued web from spray to -spray; as if he had weaved a gossamer -mantle, in case his Queen might like to -use it in the chill of early dawn. (_See -Frontispiece_.) - -Well, the latter--I mean the Queen--at -last came to a pause, and, with most -radiant grace in her countenance, she -put her hand up to her crown, and took -out the diamond. There was a little -pet of a crimson cloud that happened -to be floating past at the moment. -She laid the lustrous gem on this -roseate pillow; and then, slowly and -gradually, she and all her retainers, -in ghostly shape, vanished clean from -sight. - - * * * * * - -But what, you will say, has all this -to do with our friend the Lark? His -quick little eye had discerned what your -dull sight and mine could not. He had -watched everything I have now described. -How indeed could he miss -seeing that flashing speck of light lying -so daintily on its cushion of state? No -wonder he circles and zigzags, and does -bird-homage to the brightest gem of -the Regalia. Up, down--hither, thither--just -as I have already told, doing -obeisance in every possible and conceivable -way; till at last, poising -himself immediately above, fluttering -with all his might, and settling himself -in the fixed attitude in which the lark -family are such adepts, he mustered up -courage and said-- - -"Pretty sparkling thing! I know what -you are. You are a rare diamond just -taken from the crown of the Queen of -the Morning. But, I confess, you look, -too, very like the Dewdrop I spied at a -distance, a few hours ago, on the tip of -a rose-leaf." - -"What a capital guesser you are, -tiny minstrel," was the reply; "but you -had better leave me with my diamond -name, at all events for the present. I -shall not say whether some scientific -bird-winged philosophers are right or -wrong when they aver that, though the -Queen of the Morning borrowed me, I -am really and truly a jewel from the -crown of the Sun; that when he took -off his royal robes last evening, to lay -his head on his nightly pillow, I -dropped out of his crown, and tumbled -down to the earth. I may tell you, however, -confidentially (just in a whisper, -you know)," added the brilliant speaker, -"that though they call me Diamond, I -like quite as well the name with which -God's beautiful mist baptized me, that -of _Dewdrop_. But I have brief time -(indeed no time) to converse further -with you now. You have seen, a -short while ago, how the Queen of -the Morning vanished. Will you be -astonished when I tell you that I am -about to do the very same myself? I -am going," it continued, "to my Palace -yonder" (an extra gleam, in the absence -of a finger, was its own special way of -pointing upwards). "I have said my -_Palace_--I should rather perhaps say, -my _Home_. We may meet," it added, -"pretty soaring warbler, on the way to -it. But please leave me now." - -What I have said of the Thrush was -true also of the Lark. He was a -peculiarly biddable and discreet bird, -and when he got a hint he always took -it. Moreover, the Dewdrop had spoken -so courteously (he thought condescendingly) -to him, he would not for the -world intrude his company longer than -desired. The other evidently wished -to be all alone, to pack up and prepare -for this great and distant journey. - -So the Lark plunged down to the -stream among the alders to bathe his -wings and refresh himself. After the -lustrations were duly completed, up -again he rose like an arrow into the -bright, blue sky. Says he to himself, -"I shall certainly be on the sharp out-look -for that ascent of the Dewdrop. -I can at all events be a silent spectator, -if my services cannot otherwise be of -use." And, to be sure, he did not -require to watch long; for, with that -keenness of perception that belonged -to all his ancestors, he found that he -had soared right into the very midst of -a golden mist. Some people say and -believe (though I am not wise enough -in bird-lore to know the truth of it), -that the lark family have eyes almost -like a microscope; things invisible to -us are said to be quite visible, and -indeed conspicuous, to them. At all -events, this was true in the case of the -present representative of that discriminating -race. So that what, if we had -been there, would only have seemed an -aggregation of glistening atoms, were -to him nothing less than a vast army in -visible shape--chariots and charioteers, -knights mounted on steeds with white -trappings and gold and silver bridles; -other horsemen carrying glittering -spears, polished shields, and flashing -swords; others bearing standards of -cloth of gold. I am only telling you -what the Lark saw, or thought he saw; -and a most wonderful army on march -you can very well believe it was. - -[Illustration] - -Oh, just see how he twitters and -carols, as I have more than once -pictured, and cannot do so too often--shaking -first his little wings, and then -his little throat; the old zigzagging -to and fro--here, there, everywhere--whisking -in this direction, and bouncing -in that direction, restless gymnastic -that he is, in a very whirl and vortex -of excitement! - -"You told me, a little while ago," -said he, mustering up courage, with an -effort, to speak to this wondrous mass -of knight-errantry; "at all events the -Diamond-drop, of which I know you are -the fragments, told me you were going -to some Palace in the sky. Where is -that?" - -"It is our _Home_, soaring warbler," -said the million million little voices, -their spears and helmets flashing brightly -in the radiance, their horses prancing -and pawing the path of light--"It -is Home, Home, Home!" said the -myriads, the very air tremulous with -the shout. - -"Yes, but where is that?" repeated -the Lark, determined to come to the -point, and not to be numerically extinguished, -as he darted like lightning -round and round the brilliant host. - -"The Sun! the Sun!" one after -another made answer. The Dewdrop -was a tear that fell from the sky because -the Sun was gone. But, as you -have just told us, we are all parts of it--everyone -of us are; and we are on our -way again to the golden entrance to his -Palace. - -The army of misty globules rose -and rose, higher and yet higher. They -seemed, too, to get brighter and brighter -in the ascent, the Lark rising with them, -indeed till his little wings were tired. -Then when he felt that he could act as -convoy no farther, down he came at -one long unpausing dart to the furrow -adjoining the wooded dell below, which -was now all streaked with fleckered -light. He thought (and we shall not -quarrel with the fancy) that these -patches of light were nothing else than -the golden arrows he had seen shot from -the bow of the Cherubs--the little -Angels of the Dawn--and that they -were now lying thick in the green -arcade. He just took breath, after the -exhaustion and excitement, alike of -both body and mind, which his aerial -adventure had entailed; and then -hastened straight to the home of the -Nightingale and Thrush, to tell of the -glorious ascent (what the old and learned -creatures of the earth would have called -the apotheosis) of the Dewdrop on -the rose-leaf; its severance into a -million fragments; and how these, -in the shape of a great army, had -marched right within - -THE SUN'S GOLDEN GATES! - -[Illustration] - - - - -_AFTERWORDS._ - -_An Angel's Whisper._ - - -The Soul--the Spirit of Man--apart -from the Great Sun, -becomes a teardrop. All is -dark to it, when that All-glorious Source -of Light and Love is away. Earth's -sweetest songs cannot cheer it. But -when the morning comes, and the -Sun returns, the teardrop becomes a -Dewdrop--gleaming like a diamond in -that peerless radiance. And at death, -when it _seems_ to be dissolved, and -has apparently vanished from sight, -it is exhaled--not annihilated. It -passes upward to the Golden Gates, -to be lost in the splendour of THE -EVERLASTING LIGHT! - -[Illustration] - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of a Dewdrop, by J. R. 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