Litle White Cloud was the Ocean’s daughter. The Ocean loved her, and wished always to keep her near him. One day, when her father was asleep, White Cloud went out to walk alone.
Excerpt from the publication: Nature myths and stories for little children – by Cooke, Flora J. (Flora Juliette), 1864-1953 / Publication date [c1895] / Publisher: A. Flanagan – Chicago
The Sun saw her and said,
“Come, White Cloud, I am your king, I will give you a ride upon my bright rays.”
White Cloud had often longed for this very thing, so she went gladly and soon found herself among the fleecy clouds in the sky.
When the Ocean awoke he called his little daughter. She did not answer. He called again and again, louder and still louder until the people said,
” Listen, it is thundering! “
But the Ocean only heard the echo of his own voice from the shore. He rushed high up on the beach and moaned aloud.
He ran into all the caves but White Cloud could not be found.
Everyone had loved White Cloud, so by this time all the water was white with the crests of the weeping sea nymphs.
A great giant was sitting upon the shore near the sea. His name was Sisyphus. He felt sorry for the Ocean and said,
” Listen, friend Ocean, I often watch you carrying the great ships and wish that I, too, had a great work to do.
” You see how dry it is on this side of the mountain. Few people come this way. You are not even now as lonely as I, yet I want to help you.
Promise me that you will put a spring upon this mountainside, where all the tired and thirsty people may drink, and I’ll tell you where White Cloud is.”
The Ocean said,
” I cannot put a spring upon the mountain, but if you will follow my son, River, he will take you to a spring where he was born.”
The giant told the Ocean how the Sun ran away with White Cloud. The Sun heard him and was angry. He placed Sisyphus in the sea saying,
“You are far too strong to sit idly hereupon the shore. You say you want a great work to do; you shall have it. You shall forever use your strength to push these stones upon the shore, and they shall forever rollback upon you.”
The giant began his work at once and has worked faithfully every day since that time.
Many people do not yet know what his work is.
Do you ?
Do you know what Sisyphus is making?
There were singing birds and flower gardens, and little children everywhere.
Even to this day, the great king often sits in his palace in the West when his day’s work is done.
He loves to see the people glide about upon the silver sea, in their ships without rudders or sails.
‘The fierce, dark people still go to war.
They seldom let the gentle king see them fighting.
Yet often after a brave battle, Alkinoos comes out of his palace and smiles brightly upon them. The dark people blush and seem to smile at the king.
You must find out how much good these dark people do and how the King of the Phaiakians helps them in their work, if you wish to understand their friendship.
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