"The Sun, the Moon, and the Wind had been invited to dinner one day by
their uncle and aunt, Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the
most distant stars you see far up in the sky) waited patiently at home
for the return of her children. Sad to relate, the Sun and Wind were
both greedy and selfish, and, while enjoying the good feast, forgot all
about their poor hungry mother at home.
"But the gentle Moon did not forget, and whenever a dainty dish was
placed before her she would put part of it aside for the Star who waited
so patiently at home. When the Sun, Moon, and Wind returned home, the
Star, who had kept her bright little eye open all night long, said:
"'Dear children, have you brought anything home for me?'
"Then the Sun, who was the oldest, said: 'I have brought nothing home
for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends, not to get a dinner
for my mother.'
"And the Wind said: 'Neither have I brought home anything for you, mother.
You could scarcely expect me to think of you when I merely went out for
my own pleasure.'
"But the gentle Moon said: 'Mother, see all the good things I saved for
you,' and she placed a choice dinner before her mother.
"Then the Star turned to the Sun, and said: 'Because you went out to
amuse yourself with your friends, without any thought of your poor,
lonely mother at home, you shall be cursed. Henceforth your rays shall
be ever hot and scorching. They shall burn all they touch, and men shall
hate you and cover their heads when you appear.' That is why the sun is
so hot to this day.
"Then she turned to the Wind and said: 'You also, who forgot your mother
while you were enjoying yourself, shall be punished. You shall always
blow during the hot, dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living
things. Men shall detest and avoid you from this time till the end of the
world.' That is why the wind is so disagreeable during the hot weather.
"But to the gentle Moon she said: 'Daughter, because you remembered your
hungry mother at home, you shall be cool, calm, and bright. No dazzling
glare will accompany your pure rays, and men will call you "blessed."'
That is why the moon's light is so soothing and beautiful."
"Is that all?" asked Harry, as his sister finished the story.
"That is all," said Mary; "but here is a little good-night lullaby by
Eugene Field, and then you must go to sleep:
"'In through the window a moonbeam comes,
Little gold moonbeam with misty wings,
All silently creeping, he asks, "Are you sleeping,
Sleeping and dreaming, while the pretty stars sing?"'"