_by Maud G. Pride_.
_Illustration by R. S. Ament._
A very long time ago, when the Heavens were quite new and the Earth
was still in the Golden Age, a strange event occurred—quite unheard
of even in those early times.
The Sun, vigorous and lusty, had rubbed his blinking eyes and
hurried away to the west. The boy-child, Twilight, his chubby
hands still clutching after the last red rays left behind by the
Sun, winked his sleepy eyes, as, protestingly, he was pushed along
in his crimson cart by Old Sandman. Close behind came his three
sisters, the Evening Shadows, in their long, trailing, gray robes.
A hush fell upon the Heavens. From far below came the hum of the
Crickets and the low murmur of the Katydids, having their final
good-night gossip, but in the Sky all was still until the Moonlady
came softly creeping along, her silver mantle enfolding her slight
form, her long silken hair caught by the Evening Breeze, who
followed close in her wake. At her appearance there arose from the
Earth songs of gladness and hymns of praise. Lovers looked up at
her enraptured, poets sang of her, and even the brute creation sent
Heavenward their low murmur of joy at her being. Silently she
smiled down upon them all as she passed on her way.
[Illustration: “_The Moonlady stole softly across the sky._”]
Then a strange thing happened. Black clouds skurried here and there
across the Heavens, and low mutterings were heard. The Stars had
revolted!
Venus, her cold beauty marred by a frown of discontent, was the
center of a murmuring group, to whom she spoke in words of passion:
“Let us take a firm stand. Why should we go on shining, shining
through countless ages? We are not appreciated. We never receive
any praise. There are so many of us and our light is so feeble, who
cares whether we shine or not? The Moon comes along and takes away
our glory; let her do all the work then. Why should we waste our
light trying to outshine the Moon and the Sun? Unless we can be as
brilliant as they and receive as much praise, let us not shine at
all.”
Each Star blinked a sullen assent, and gradually each little light
flickered and went out. The Dog Star barked and the Great Bears
growled—the low mutterings became a loud rumble, and the Heavens
for once were dark, save for a faint light that still gleamed away
off in the north. Seeing the feeble light still shining, all the
Stars rushed to it, surrounding the feeble Star that persisted in
shining, and jeered at her folly.
“Put out your light, you foolish one. Do you hope to vie with the
Sun or the Moon with that feeble flame of yours? What use can you
be in this great space of darkness?”
“I do not know,” replied the Star, faintly, “but I can go on
shining and do my best, though my light is small and goes but a
little way. I do not envy the Moonlady her glory. Is it not a great
thing that she can shine so radiantly upon the Earth and make so
many happy? And if there were no Sun, what would the poor little
Flowers do, and the Birds and the Beasts? My little light cannot
do much good, but I can do my best to keep it bright, and if it
reaches to Earth but faintly I shall be grateful. I had rather
light one soul onward and upward than to have a choir of Angels
sing my praises; I had rather one person should be glad he had
seen my rays, than to be crowned with a crown of brilliant jewels
and never have made anyone glad; I had rather one tearful soul
should look to me and find comfort in my steady light than to have
a million people bow down to me in worship of my beauty; I had
rather one soul should be truly sorry when my light goes out than
that a thousand should praise me for my brilliancy and not know
when I ceased to shine; I had rather a baby’s face looked up at me
and smiled and called my name than to be praised in a poet’s song
and know he was paid so much a line for it; I had rather send
one faint ray of hope into some troubled heart than to light the
World’s Great White Way; I had rather shine on for ages unnoticed
than to shine with borrowed light and be afraid of being blown out;
I had rather――” But the little Star found herself all alone, and as
she looked about her she saw that each Star was in its accustomed
place, and that each light was more brilliant than it had ever
been before. Even the dark clouds had vanished, and a little child
looked up at the Sky from her bedroom window and said, “O, mother
dear, see how beautiful are the stars to-night! They are God’s
jewels, set in His Crown of Glory, aren’t they? If we are very good
shall we be beautiful stars some day and shine for Him?”
And the Stars looked down and smiled Good-night. And the brightest
of all the Stars were the Pleiades.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: _Drawn by Hy. S. Watson._
_Eavesdropping._]