The Coming of the Unicorn Read Free Page A

said,‘The king has come, the king has come!” and they went down on their knees.
    The little cobblestone maker was so happy. He said, “Now I am the king people will look up at me. I am the most important person in the whole world, I am the king!”
    Now, it had been a very dull, dull week in the village. The sun had never shone in the village for many days, and as the king walked into the village the sun arose and shone in the village.
    And the people of the village said, “The sun has come back. We have never seen the sun for many days,” and they turned their back on the king and worshipped the heat of the sun.
    The little cobblestone maker said, “A king is not very important; people are turning their backs on me. The sun is more important than me! Oh, I wish I was the sun!” And then there was a big flash… and the little cobblestone maker was high in the sky in the sun. And he looked down at all the peoplebelow him as they worshipped the heat of the sun. Now, thought the little cobblestone maker, I am the most important person in the whole world – I am the sun . And then, just at that moment a big black cloud came along and blackened out the sun. And the people ran for shelter.
    They said, “It’s going to be rain. There’s going to be a storm, the sun is gone.”
    And the little cobblestone maker thought to himself, the sun is not important; a big black rain cloud is more important than the sun. Look how the people run for shelter. Oh, I wish I was a rain cloud! And then there was another flash… the little cobblestone maker was a great black rain cloud floating across the valley as he watched the people run for shelter. And then, there was a big cloudburst! All the rain fell into the valley and flooded the rivers and carried away the trees and animals, buildings and houses.
    And the little cobblestone maker said, “A rain cloud is not important, a rushing torrent is more important than a rain cloud. Oh, I wish I was a rushing torrent!”
    And then there was another flash… the little cobblestone maker was a raging river running down the valley. He saw the people running to hide and rush for shelter as he carried off trees and buildings. Now, thought the little cobblestone maker, I am the most important thing in the whole world – I am a great rushing river. No one can stop me now! And as he ran down the valley at the foot of the valley there was a great stone cliff. And when the raging river hit the cliff it could not move the cliff, so the river split. One side of the river went to one side and one went to the other side.
    And of course the little cobblestone maker who was the raging river said, “A raging torrent is not important. A mighty cliff is more important than a raging torrent. I wish I was a mighty cliff.”
    And then there was a big flash… the little cobblestone makerwas a great, mighty cliff sitting at the foot of the valley. Now, thought the little cobblestone maker, everyone will worship me. No one can move me now! I am the most important thing of all. And he stood there, and he stood there. The people admired the great cliff at the foot of the valley. Till one morning.
    He felt a little tickling on his back. Tickle, tickle, tickle on his back of the great mountain. And he looked round his back – what do you think he saw? A little cobblestone maker chipping away with his little hammer on his back!
    And the great granite cliff said, “A great mountain is not important, a granite cliff is not important; the most important thing of all is a little cobblestone maker. If he keeps chipping away on my back some day I will disappear and be gone. Oh, I wish I was a cobblestone maker!”
    And then there was another flash, and the little cobblestone maker was himself again. Then, he looked back – he saw another little cobblestone maker with his hammer and his little chisel.
    And he said, “I won’t be lonely any more. I won’t wish for anything now – I have a little friend to keep me