"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."
[Illustration: THE EAGLE.]
"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."