In the poem, lading means loading or filling the boats. The fairies of sleep are said to lade the boats with baskets of dreams. It symbolizes how the boats, though small, carry valuable, dream-like emotions and thoughts.
Class 7 English Poorvi Chapter 2 Paper Boats solutions
Class 7 English Poorvi Unit III Dreams and Discoveries Chapter 2 Paper Boats Question Answer
In the final stanza, lading refers to the act of loading the paper boats. The fairies of sleep are imagined to lade the boats with their dream-filled baskets. This enriches the symbolic meaning of the boats—they are not just toys, but dream-carriers filled with magical contents. The word lading emphasizes the idea that even simple things, like paper boats, can carry deep emotions, hopes or imaginative visions through the silent, mysterious journey of night.
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