"What are meteors?" asked Harry.
"Meteors are great masses of stone or iron which sometimes weigh several
tons. Lieutenant Peary found one not long ago in the Arctic regions,
and it weighed about eighty tons. It is lucky for us that many meteors
do not fall on the earth, or we should have to walk about with iron
umbrellas over our heads as a protection. When they do fall on earth,
they are much prized and placed in our museums as curiosities.
"A story is told about a meteor that fell on a farm some time ago. The
landlord said it belonged to him, for when he rented the farm to the
tenant he claimed all minerals and metals found in the ground.
"'But it was not on the farm when the lease was made out,' said the tenant.
"'Then I claim it as flying game,' replied the landlord angrily.
"'But it has neither wings nor feathers, so I lay claim to it as ground
game,' said the tenant in reply.
"While the dispute was going on the custom-house officers seized the
meteorite, because, as they said, it had come into the country without
paying duty."
[Illustration: A METEOR.]
"That is not a true story, is it?" asked Harry, laughing.
"Scarcely," replied Mary; "but it was a good joke on the landlord. And
now we come to the very smallest members of the family of Giant Sun. I
mean the shooting stars."
"Those bright little flying stars we can see at night?" asked Harry.