Once upon a time, the...
Illustration
Once upon a time, the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed to be the best,
the most important.
Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope, the color of grass, trees, and leaves. Without my life, there would be no plants or creatures."
Blue interrupted: "You only think of the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is water that is the basis of life, and the sky gives peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, and every time a sunflower rises up, the whole world starts to smile. Without me, there would be no joy."
Orange jumped in next: "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious, for fruits and vegetables of my color carry the most important vitamins. When I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives a thought to any other color."
Red could stand it no longer, and shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood -- life's blood! I am the color of danger and bravery, passion and love!"
Purple rose up, then, and proclaimed with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings and bishops have always chosen me for their own, for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
And so the colors went on boasting, convinced of their own superiority. Suddenly, there was a startling flash of brilliant lightning. Thunder rolled and boomed. In the midst of the clamor, Rain began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Do you not know that you were made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
The Rain continued: "From now on, whenever it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color, as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow!"
Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope, the color of grass, trees, and leaves. Without my life, there would be no plants or creatures."
Blue interrupted: "You only think of the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is water that is the basis of life, and the sky gives peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, and every time a sunflower rises up, the whole world starts to smile. Without me, there would be no joy."
Orange jumped in next: "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious, for fruits and vegetables of my color carry the most important vitamins. When I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives a thought to any other color."
Red could stand it no longer, and shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood -- life's blood! I am the color of danger and bravery, passion and love!"
Purple rose up, then, and proclaimed with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings and bishops have always chosen me for their own, for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
And so the colors went on boasting, convinced of their own superiority. Suddenly, there was a startling flash of brilliant lightning. Thunder rolled and boomed. In the midst of the clamor, Rain began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Do you not know that you were made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
The Rain continued: "From now on, whenever it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color, as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow!"
