"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."
[Illustration: THE NORTHERN CROWN, AND BOOTES, THE BEAR-DRIVER.]
"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."