Part 7 (1/2)
I saw the different things you did, But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call, I could not see yourself at all-- O wind, a-blowing all day long!
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
O you that are so strong and cold, O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree, Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind, a-blowing all day long!
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
THE BAG OF WINDS
The great caves of an island, far away in the midst of the sea, were the home of the Winds.
Eolus was ruler of the Winds. He kept them imprisoned in the caves.
Sometimes he allowed them to go free for a time, to have a frolic or take exercise.
Although the Winds were often unruly and were fond of mischief, they always obeyed the voice of Eolus.
North Wind was the roughest of all. He would go from his cave on the wildest errands.
Sometimes he would pile the waves mountains high and would lash them into a tempest. He would tear the sails and break the masts of the vessels. He would uproot the forest trees and tear the roofs from the houses.
But at the command of Eolus, North Wind would cease his roaring and would go sullenly back to his cave.
”South Wind!” Eolus would call. ”Send a gentle, playful breeze among the flowers. Bring gay suns.h.i.+ne and soft showers. Sing a song of spring.
”West Wind! Blow steadily against the sails of the s.h.i.+ps and speed them on their journey.
”East Wind! Go forth in a jolly, merry mood. Whirl the leaves over the ground and scatter the seeds far and wide.
”North Wind! Cover the earth with a blanket of snow. Freeze the waters of the lakes and rivers.”
Thus Eolus would command the Winds, and they would do his bidding.
One day a s.h.i.+p stopped near the island of the Winds, and anch.o.r.ed. The captain of the s.h.i.+p and the sailors went ash.o.r.e.
Eolus treated the visitors very kindly.
When the sailors discovered that they had come to the home of the Winds, they cried, ”O Eolus! Tell West Wind to blow and help us reach home quickly:”
Then Eolus took a leather bag and put into it all the unruly Winds. He tied the end of the bag with a silver string. Giving the bag to the captain, he said, ”Fasten the bag to the mast of your s.h.i.+p. Do not open it, or trouble will follow.”