Part 5

"If you are not tired, sister," said Harry.

"You will get tired first, for I enjoy telling you these stories, if they amuse you, dear. Well, here is one that I came across some years ago among a collection of Indian legends.

"Once upon a time a party of Indians went out hunting in a strange country and lost their way. They wandered about for many moons."

"What does that mean?" asked Harry.

"I suppose they did not know anything about our months, so they counted from full moon to full moon. This shows how much they observe the sky. But, as I was saying, they wandered about for many moons, and at last the chiefs decided to hold a council and pray to the gods to show them the way home. During the dance that preceded the council, while the flames of burnt offerings were ascending to the gods, a little child appeared suddenly in their midst and said she had been sent as their guide.

"She said she was the Spirit of the Pole Star, and that if they followed where it led them they would reach their home in the far North. The hunters thanked the child, and following her advice they soon reached home. Here they held another council, and decided to call the Pole Star, 'the star which never moves,' by which name it is known among these Indians to this day.

"When the hunters died it is said they were taken up to the sky, and we can see them still following the Pole Star. The hunters are supposed to be the stars that form the Little Dipper."

"They are smaller than the stars of the Great Dipper," said Harry, "and the dipper is smaller, but I can see it quite well. And what are the stars between the two Dippers?"

STORY OF THE DRAGON.

"They curve in and out like a great dragon," said Mary; "and two bright stars mark its eyes."

"Yes, it does look something like a dragon," said Harry. "What is its name?"

"It is called the Dragon, as that was the name given to it by the Grecians long ago. This was supposed to be the dragon that Juno placed as guardian of a tree covered with golden apples. No one dared to touch the tree while the dread monster was there. But a brave man named Hercules was not afraid, and killed the dragon. To reward it for guarding the tree Juno placed it among the stars.

"See the two bright stars that mark the eyes of the Dragon, and quite close to it is Hercules, represented in the olden maps as crushing the head of the dragon under his foot. Bootes, who drives the Great Bear around the Pole Star, is very near Hercules. There you can see him, with his hunting dogs."

"Where, sister? I cannot see him," said Harry.

"Look right overhead, and to the west you will see Bootes with a very bright star; and to the east is Hercules, or the Kneeler, as he is sometimes called. Now, in between there is a pretty little half-circle of stars like a crown. This is called the Northern Crown."

STORIES OF THE NORTHERN CROWN.

"I can see that very well," replied Harry, "for it is exactly overhead, and I cannot help seeing Hercules and the Bear-driver. They are large enough," he continued, laughing. "Why are the little stars called the Northern Crown?"

"This was supposed to be a beautiful crown of seven stars given by Bacchus to Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, second king of Crete.

"'Her crown among the stars he placed, And with an eternal constellation grac'd, The golden circlet mounts, and as it flies Its diamonds twinkle in the distant skies.'

"There is a pretty legend told about it by the Shawnee Indians. They call this group of stars the 'Celestial Sisters,' on account of the story, which is as follows:

"White Hawk was a great hunter, handsome, tall, and strong. One day, while wandering through the forest in search of game, he suddenly found himself on the borders of a prairie. It was covered with grass, and flowers, and a ring was worn through the grass, without any path leading to or from it. White Hawk was surprised at this, so he hid behind some bushes and watched.

"'Soon he heard, high in the heavens, Issuing from the feathery clouds, Sounds of music, quick descending, As if angels came in crowds.'

"Looking up he saw a small speck in the sky which gradually became larger and larger. It was a silver basket containing twelve beautiful maidens, who leaped out as it touched the ground. They danced around in the ring, beating time on a silver ball. White Hawk gazed at the fairies in wonder, and, rushing out from his hiding place, tried to capture the youngest and prettiest. But the sisters were too nimble for him, and, jumping into the basket, they were soon far away in the sky.

"White Hawk was vexed, but he came again next day. This time he disguised himself as a rabbit, but one of the little sisters saw him creeping toward them. She gave the alarm just in time for them to escape.

"Next day White Hawk disguised himself as a mouse, and hid in the stump of a tree that he had moved close to the fairy ring. The sharp-eyed little fairy noticed that the stump was not in the same place, and warned her sisters, but they only laughed at her. They even ran around it striking it in fun. Out ran White Hawk, caught the youngest and prettiest, and took her home as his bride.

"For a while they were happy, but the 'Celestial Sister' became homesick, and longed for her sisters in the sky. One day when White Hawk was out hunting she made a silver basket and, taking it to the fairy ring, she stepped into it, while she sang a magic chant. White Hawk was returning home across the fields just as the basket rose above the tops of the trees, and, hearing the music, he knew what had happened.

"But his wife did not forget him, and her father sent for him and invited him to come to the sky, where he is now one of the bright stars shining near the Northern Crown."

"That must be the brightest star in Bootes," said Harry. "What is it called?"

"Arcturus," replied his sister. "Near Bootes is Virgo, the Virgin who lived on Earth during the Golden Age when people were very good. Near her are the scales in which she weighed the good and evil deeds of men."

STORY OF THE LION.

"Just above the Virgin, in the west, you can see some stars that look like a sickle," said Mary.

Harry looked in the direction pointed out by his sister, and there he saw the sickle plainly outlined by a few bright stars.

"Is there a story about it, sister?" he asked.

"Yes," replied his sister; "or rather there is a story not about the sickle, but about the group of stars to which it belongs, known as the constellation of the Lion.

"You remember how jealous Juno was, and she was even displeased with a brave man named Hercules, because he was afraid of nothing. She told her cousin to command Hercules to bring him the skin of a fierce lion that roamed at large through the forests. Hercules was not afraid, and attacked the lion. Finding he could not kill it with his club and arrows, he strangled the animal with his hands. He returned home carrying the dead lion on his shoulders, but Juno's cousin was so frightened at the sight of it and at this proof of the great strength of the hero that he ordered him to tell the story of his brave deeds in future at a safe distance outside the town."

"What a coward Juno's cousin must have been!" said Harry disdainfully. "I suppose Hercules laughed at him."

"Of course he did," said Mary. "But he was not the only brave man Juno disliked. Orion, the mighty hunter, also aroused her anger because he boasted that nothing could harm him. She sent a scorpion out of the earth, and it stung him, causing his death. See the heart of the scorpion, marked by a bright red star named Antares. Above it is the serpent and the serpent-holder."

THE MILKY WAY.

"Now look at the band of silvery light reaching from the north to the south. That is the Milky Way, and it is made up of millions of bright stars. There are large stars and little stars, and Professor Barnard thinks that there may be some very small stars forming out of the star-mist. These little stars glitter in vast beds of glowing gas. As scientists believe, this gas is the matter from which worlds and suns are made. The stars at these points in space seem to be actually growing out of the star-mist now surrounding them. I shall show you to-morrow some fine photographs Professor Barnard has taken of the Milky Way where you can see this star-mist in the background of the stars.

"According to a French legend, the stars in the Milky Way are lights held by angel-spirits to show us the way to heaven. The Grecians called the Milky Way the road to the palace of heaven. On the road stand the palaces of the illustrious gods, while the common people of the skies live on either side of them.

"Even the Algonquin Indians had something to say about it, for they believed that it was the 'Path of Souls' leading to the villages in the sun. As the spirits travel along the pathway, their blazing camp-fires may be seen as bright stars. Longfellow refers to this in his poem 'Hiawatha,' in describing the journey of Chibiabos to the land of the hereafter.

"While hunting deer he crossed the Big Sea Water and was dragged beneath the treacherous ice by evil spirits. By magic he was summoned thence, and, hearing the music and singing, he,--

"'Came obedient to the summons, To the doorway of the wigwam, But to enter they forbade him. Through a chink a coal they gave him, Through the door a burning fire-brand. Ruler in the Land of Spirits, Ruler o'er the dead they made him, Telling him a fire to kindle For all those who died hereafter, Camp-fires for their night encampments, On their solitary journey To the kingdom of Ponemah, To the land of the hereafter.'"

A SWEDISH LEGEND.

"According to a Swedish legend, there once lived on earth two mortals who loved each other. When they died they were doomed to dwell on different stars, far, far apart. But, 'as they sat and listened to the music of the spheres,' they thought of building a bridge of light that should reach from star to star, till it spanned the distance separating them from each other.

"'They toiled and built a thousand years in love's all-powerful might, And so the Milky Way was made a bridge of starry light.'

"Now, Harry, look at the Milky Way in the northern part of the sky, and what do you see?" asked Mary.

"Some stars that look like a W," replied Harry; "and just below it is another but larger W."

"The small W is Cassiopeia," said Mary, "and the large one is Cepheus; but I shall tell you their story another time, as it is getting late now. Under the large W, you will see some stars that look like a large cross. This is sometimes called the Northern Cross, but it is better known as the Swan."

LEGEND OF THE SWAN.

"The 'Swan' is supposed to represent a wonderful musician named Orpheus. Apollo gave him a magic harp, which he played with such sweetness that the wild beasts of the forest were tamed by its sounds, rapid rivers ceased to flow, and mountains and trees listened to the music.

"One day Orpheus met a beautiful maiden named Eurydice, and won her for his bride. But their happiness did not last long, as a serpent lurking in the grass stung her foot, and she died of the wound.

"Orpheus mourned her sadly, until at last he died and his spirit met hers in the kingdom of Pluto. Afterward Orpheus and Eurydice were placed among the stars. You can see the harp beside Orpheus, and it is adorned with a sparkling blue star named Vega.

"And now one more story," said Mary, as she heard the church clock chime nine, "and then we must say 'good-by' to the stars for to-night."

"It has been lovely," said Harry. "I could listen to these stories all night long. How I shall enjoy the stars since you have told me so much about them! What are you going to tell me now?"

"Just under the Swan can you see a bright star, and a little star on each side of it?" asked Mary.

Harry looked, and after a few moments he found them. When his sister had made sure that he could see the stars she meant, she began her story as follows:

MEETING OF THE STAR-LOVERS.

"The Japanese call the Milky Way the Silver River of Heaven, and they believe that on the seventh day of the seventh month (7th of July), the Shepherd-boy star and the Spinning-maiden star cross the Milky Way to meet each other. Vega, the bright star in the harp, is supposed to be the spinning-maiden, and on the other side of the Milky Way, crossing over where you see the bright star and the little star on each side, you will find the shepherd boy, otherwise known as the Goat. These stars are known among the Japanese as the 'boy with an ox' and 'the girl with a shuttle,' about whom the following story is told:

"There once lived on the banks of the Silver River of Heaven a beautiful maiden who was the daughter of the Sun. Night and morning she was always weaving, blending the roseate hues of morning with the silvery tints of evening. That is why she was called the Spinning maiden. The Sun-king chose a husband for her. He was a Shepherd boy who guarded his flocks on the banks of the celestial stream.

"After meeting him the Spinning maiden ceased to work, and the bright hues of morning were left to take care of themselves, while the silvery tints of evening hung like ragged fringe on the dark mantle of night. The Sun-king, believing that the Shepherd boy was to blame, banished him to the other side of the Silver River, telling him that only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, could the Spinning maiden come to see him.

"The king called together myriads of doves and commanded them to make a bridge over the river of stars. Supported on their wings, the Shepherd boy crossed over to the other side. No sooner had he set foot on the opposite shore than the doves flew away, filling the heavens with their billing and cooing. The weeping wife and loving husband stood awhile gazing at each other from afar, and then they separated, one in search of another flock of sheep, the other to ply her shuttle during the long hours of daylight.

"Thus the days passed away, and the Sun-king rejoiced that his daughter was busy again. But when night comes, and all the lamps of heaven are lighted, the lovers stand beside the banks of the starry river and gaze lovingly at each other, eagerly awaiting the seventh day of the seventh month. As the time draws near the Japanese are filled with anxiety. What if it should rain, for the River of Heaven is filled to the brim, and a single raindrop would make it overflow! This would cause a flood, and the bridge of doves would be swept away.

"But if the night is clear, then the Spinning maiden crosses over in safety, and meets her Shepherd boy. This she does every year except when it rains. That is why the Japanese hope for clear weather on the 7th of July, when the 'meeting of the star-lovers' is made a gala day all over the country."

"Sister, I can see the Spinning-maiden star, and the Shepherd boy, but where is the bridge of doves?" asked Harry.

"Across the Milky Way," said Mary.

"See the bright star, which is called Altair, and one little star on each side. We call that the Eagle, so if you change the story a little you can say the Eagle takes the Spinning maiden across the Silver River of Heaven."

THE STARS AND THE VIOLETS.

When the sky was first made and suspended From the far and invisible bars, It enveloped the world, and God fashioned Small windows, and these are the stars.

And the bits of the sky, through the evening, Fluttered down to the sod and the dew, And behold! in the morn they had blossomed, And these are the violets blue.

THE NIGHTS.

Oh, the Summer night Has a smile of light And she sits on a sapphire throne; Whilst the sweet winds load her With garlands of odor, From the bud to the rose o'erblown!

But the Autumn night Has a piercing sight, And a step both strong and free; And a voice for wonder, Like the wrath of the thunder, When he shouts to the stormy sea!

And the Winter night Is all cold and white, And she singeth a song of pain; Till the wild bee hummeth, And the warm spring cometh, When she dies in a dream of rain!

--Adelaide Proctor.

THE CALLING OF THE STARS.

God's presence through the twilight stillness glides, To spirits vocal--silent to the ear; He calls by name each fair star where it hides, And each star brightens, as it answers 'Here!'

Though we too call the stars, they answer not, They do not softly come like children shy At a fond parent's calling, for, I wot, We do not know what names God calls them by.

STORIES OF THE WINTER STARS.

I heard the trailing garments of the night Sweep through her marble halls, I saw her sable skirts all fringed with light From the celestial walls.

--Longfellow.

Winter had come with its cold north winds and frosty air. The stars glittered like gems against the dark velvet sky, and seemed reflected in the mantle of pure white snow that covered the earth. Mary had asked Harry's nurse to move his couch into her room so that he might see the stars from the windows, one looking south, the other east. Impatiently Harry now awaited his sister, who had promised to take him on another trip to starland. The room was in total darkness, and nurse had raised the curtains. Looking right into one window was the mighty giant Orion, while the Twins peeped into another.

STORY OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.

"It is as good as a play," said Harry, as his sister started to tell him about them.

"First of all," she said, "I am going to tell you the story of the Royal Family, although we cannot see them from this window. You can get a glimpse of Cepheus from your own room, but the rest of the Royal Family are overhead. You would have to make a hole through the roof if you wanted to watch them while I told their story."

"If we could go out-of-doors, as we did last summer, could we see them overhead?" asked Harry.

"Yes," replied his sister; "but it is too cold now to look at them except from a warm, cozy room. To-morrow I shall show you a map of these stars, and when the days grow warm again we can look for them in the sky."

"Can you see them during the summer-time as well as the winter?" asked Harry.

"Yes, we can see them all the year round, just as we can always see the Pole Star and the Great Dipper. The Royal Family consists of King Cepheus, Queen Cassiopeia, and her daughter Andromeda, sometimes called the 'Chained Lady.' Perseus, the rescuer, is at the feet of Andromeda, while her head rests upon the shoulder of the winged horse Pegasus.

"The Grecians told a wonderful story about this family. It appears that Cassiopeia boasted of her beauty, and said she was more attractive than Juno, the wife of Jupiter. As for her daughter Andromeda, not a nymph in the sea could compare with her in good looks. You may imagine how Juno and the sea-nymphs felt when they heard this vain boast!

"They determined to have revenge, and Juno asked Jupiter to punish Cassiopeia. So she was sent away from the earth and placed among the stars with her husband Cepheus.

"As for Andromeda, the sea-nymphs asked Neptune to send a sea-monster to devour her. She was chained to a rock so that she might not escape this terrible fate; but just as the monster was approaching a brave hero named Perseus came to her rescue.

"Perseus was returning through the air on his winged horse Pegasus from a terrible encounter with the Gorgons. These were three sisters who frightened everyone that saw them. Serpents were wreathed around their heads instead of hair, their hands were of brass, their bodies were covered with scales, and their eyes had the power of turning all they looked at to stone. Perseus had cut off the heads of one of these terrible beings, and when he saw the monster approaching Andromeda, he turned the head which he still held in his hand toward it, and in a moment it turned to stone.

"As a reward for his bravery, he was placed after his death among the stars, and near the fair Andromeda. He still holds the head in his hand, and a star named Algol, or the Demon, as the Arabs call it, marks the evil eye. Sometimes it is bright, but in a few hours it will grow dim, as though winking at the people on earth. For this reason it is called a variable or changing star."

"What is that, sister?" asked Harry.

"A star that is brighter one time than another. Supposing someone kept turning the wick of the lamp up and down so that at one moment the room would be very bright and the next moment quite dim. You would call that a changing light. So it is with these stars, only in the case of Algol it is a planet that goes around it and at times cuts off part of its light. For two days and a half it is very bright, then during three or four hours it begins to get dim, and remains so for twenty minutes and then it gets bright again.

"Supposing you were trying to read by lamplight, and I should now and then hold a book between the lamp and you. Each time I did so the light on your book would grow dim. There is another variable or changing star named Mira, in the group of stars called Cetus, which is no other than the sea-monster which was sent to devour Andromeda. You can see it if you look out of the window facing south, and you will notice that it is at a safe distance from Andromeda, who is almost exactly overhead just now."

STORY OF THE FISHES.

"Not far from the sea-monster are the Fishes, and the story about them is as follows:

"One day when Venus and her little son Cupid were walking beside the banks of a river they were frightened at seeing a terrible giant named Typhon. Flames flashed from his eyes, and as he glared at Venus and Cupid they were overcome with fear and called on Jupiter to help them. He changed them into fishes, and afterward placed them among the stars.

"Between Cetus and Orion you can see some stars winding in and out, and they are part of the River Eridanus. A daring youth named Phaeton tried to drive the chariot of the sun through the sky one day. Jupiter struck him with a thunderbolt, and hurled him from heaven into the river below.

"'At once from life and from the chariot driven, Th' ambitious boy fell thunderstruck from heaven.

* * * * *

The breathless Phaeton, with flaming hair, Shot from the chariot like a falling star That in a summer's evening from the top Of heaven drops down, or seems at least to drop.'

"His sisters mourned his unhappy end, and were changed by Jupiter into poplars, which are still to be seen on the banks of the River Eridanus.

"'All the night long their mournful watch they keep, And all the day stand round the tomb and weep.'"

"Poor Phaeton," said Harry, as Mary finished the story. "And is that Phaeton with those three bright stars near the river?"