“I will help you; I will!” said the Cloud.  And she began to sink softly down toward the earth.

But suddenly, as she floated down, she remembered something which had been told her when she was a tiny Cloud-child, in the lap of Mother Ocean:  it had been whispered that if the Clouds go too near the earth they die.  When she remembered this she held herself from sinking, and swayed here and there on the breeze, thinking,—­thinking.  But at last she stood quite still, and spoke boldly and proudly.  She said, “Men of earth, I will help you, come what may!”

The thought made her suddenly marvelously big and strong and powerful.  Never had she dreamed that she could be so big.  Like a mighty angel of blessing she stood above the earth, and lifted her head and spread her wings far over the fields and woods.  She was so great, so majestic, that men and animals were awe-struck at the sight; the trees and the grasses bowed before her; yet all the earth-creatures felt that she meant them well.

“Yes, I will help you,” cried the Cloud once more.  “Take me to yourselves; I will give my life for you!”

As she said the words a wonderful light glowed from her heart, the sound of thunder rolled through the sky, and a love greater than words can tell filled the Cloud; down, down, close to the earth she swept, and gave up her life in a blessed, healing shower of rain.

That rain was the Cloud’s great deed; it was her death, too; but it was also her glory.  Over the whole country-side, as far as the rain fell, a lovely rainbow sprang its arch, and all the brightest rays of heaven made its colors; it was the last greeting of a love so great that it sacrificed itself.

Soon that, too, was gone, but long, long afterward the men and animals who were saved by the Cloud kept her blessing in their hearts.

THE LITTLE RED HEN

The little Red Hen was in the farmyard with her chickens, when she found a grain of wheat.

“Who will plant this wheat?” she said.

“Not I,” said the Goose.

“Not I,” said the Duck.

“I will, then,” said the little Red Hen, and she planted the grain of wheat.

When the wheat was ripe she said, “Who will take this wheat to the mill?”

“Not I,” said the Goose.

“Not I,” said the Duck.

“I will, then,” said the little Red Hen, and she took the wheat to the mill.

When she brought the flour home she said, “Who will make some bread with this flour?”

“Not I,” said the Goose.

“Not I,” said the Duck.

“I will, then,” said the little Red Hen.

When the bread was baked, she said,
“Who will eat this bread?”

“I will,” said the Goose

“I will,” said the Duck

“No, you won’t,” said the little Red Hen.  “I shall eat it myself.  Cluck! cluck!” And she called her chickens to help her.