Once upon a time, after a gentle rain, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the blue sky. Its amazing bright colors stretched from one end of the land to the other. Cleo the Cat looked outside from her warm and cozy house, and she became very curious. “I wonder why rainbows are made?” she mused. “I must find out.”
Even as she thought this, she noticed her friend, Olli the Owl, flying by. Cleo quickly called to him and asked, “Why does the sky wear a rainbow after it rains?”
“Oh! it is a great treasure,” Olli answered. “Would you like to look for it?”
“O yes,” Cleo said joyfully. “I once found a rainbow stream, but I lost it when I came to the end of it. I must try again! Will you come with me?”
“I will,” replied Olli, “but beware, I fear you will want to keep it all to yourself when you find it.”
“Me? Why, no,” laughed Cleo. “Give me your wing, my friend. I feel sure the treasure is somewhere outside my garden gate.”
So the two friends went out together, over the hedge and through the woods. Now and then they stopped to look up and down the road, looking for the end of the rainbow.
At last, just as the sun was setting, they came into a beautiful meadow, all yellow and gold from the last rays of the sun. There they found the real treasure of the rainbow. It was an old wooden chest, and it was overflowing with yellow coins and jewels of every color. Just as Cleo found it, some little folk, who knew its hidden place, began to sing:
“Little folks, come see the treasure!
Here it is beyond all measure,
Plenty here for all who wander,
Friendship’s love and sharing ponder.”
Tears, not of sorrow, filled Cleo’s bright eyes as she heard the song. “Oh, the treasuer is true friendship,” she cried. “Olli, you were right! It is no use for one, but it is enough for all, and always enough when shared.” So Cleo filled her kitty purse, and the little folk filled their pockets, and many diamond drops fell here and there from their open hands as they went gladly on their way.
“Here is a jewel for you,” said Cleo to Olli. “It will be worth much to us both, for all that is good when shared becomes much more.”
But mother earth came out with her most beautiful golden broom, waded the cobweb staircase up to the sky, and swept all the bright splendor of the treasure back into the clouds and under the sward again.
Then the stars began to twinkle, but Olli and Cleo returned, and during that night they talked over their golden thoughts. They saw with shining eyes that they would not exchange their joy for all the treasures of the world.