BACK TO THE LAND OF DAY
Reading edition
You remember how Louis sailed away over the Sea of Dark.
Shall I tell you how he returned?
In the morning when Nurse went into his room, there he was in bed.
“Good-morning, my sailor-laddie.
Have you come back to your friends on shore?”
“Good-morning, Nursie.
I have just returned from sailing all night long.”
“To what land did you sail, my child?”
“Away to the land of Nod.”
“And is it far, far away?”
“Yes, it is miles and miles from here.
I have to sail all night to go and return.”
“Who goes with you, in your boat, little sailor-boy?”
“No one. I go all alone.”
“But how can you find your way in the dark?”
“Oh, I go every night. So I know the way.”
“Tell me some of the things you see and do in the land of Nod.”
“There are many streams to be seen.
Sometimes I sail on them.
Sometimes I walk beside them.
Then there are high mountains.
They are the mountains of dreams.
I often climb these mountains.
All kinds of good things are in the land of Nod.
There are strange things to eat and strange things to see.
And, Nursie, there are some things that frighten me.
I cannot tell you about these frightening things.
But I do wish I could tell you about the music I hear there.
It is the most curious music.
It is so beautiful and so sad.
I hear it plainly in the land of Nod.
But I cannot remember it when I come back to you.
The land of Nod is a strange land.
It is the land where dreams live.”
“Why do you never go to this strange land by day?”
“Nursie, I often try to go by day.
But I never can find my way.
Only at night when I am asleep, can I sail to the strange land of Nod.
Only in my dreams can I see the little streams and high mountains.
All day from morning till night I must stay here.
But every night I get into my boat and sail away to the land of Nod.”
When Louis became a man, he still had many strange dreams.
He remembered these dreams and made them into stories.
When you are older you will read them.
Some tell about the strange things and strange people.
Some tell all about beautiful things.
Some tell about the “frightening things” he saw.
I know you will like them all.
