Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-11-14
ASTRONOMY FOR LITTLE FOLKS.
THE SEVEN STARS.
.rC mAE.c. ANDERSON. 1~s

1
"Cousin Jess, won't you tell us tonight
about the seven stars? / always thought
the seven stars In the Dipper were the
real seven stars, but Charley Rodwick
says not, and we have oil come to ask
you,' said Maggie Baton, hinging her hat
down on the grass and seating herself just
where she could look up into Jessie's face.
Charley Is quite right. The seven
stars or the Pleiades, as they are called
scientifically, are cluster of stars situated
on the shoulder OF the constellation Tau
rus, or, The Bull. But six OF these stars
are visible to the naked eye
"Then why do they call them the seven
stars asked Maggie, little contempt
uously.
1T is said that the seventh was seen
before the burning OF Troy, but was al
ways very dim. Fable has It the seven
stars were the daughters of Atlas and the
and Merope, Electra, Steope, Celeno, Maia
aud Tayeta. All of these beautiful girls,
together with the Hyades, their sisters,
were turned into stars because OF their
virtues"
"what are the Hyades:" asked Charley
Rodwick. az never heard Of them be-
fore"
"They are n cluster of five stars in
shape of the letter V, and situated near
the Pleiades in the face OF The Bull. The
ones that shine the brightest are said to
have been the best Of the girls, while poor
little Merope, In the Pleiades, hardly
shines at all, because she dared to love
such fallen creature as man.
"what a ridiculous story" laughed
Maggie.
Yes; the most reasonable theory is
that as Atlas was the first astronomer who
discovered the Pleiades, he named them
after his daughters. The Pleiades are
sometimes called the Virgins Of spring"
because the sun enters this cluster in the
season OF blossoms.
"when, Atlas born, the Pleiade stars arise
Before the sun above the dawning skies,
'Tis time TO reap, and when they sink below
The morn illumin'd west It's time 10 SOW"
God himself speaks of these stars to
his servant job, says: "Cans't thou bind
the sweet influences OF Pleiades?"
Wont you please tell US some more
about The Bull?" asked little Ellie Martin,
timidly, as she nestled her bright curly
head down upon her cousins shoulder.
"Yes, darling, Taurus or The Bull, Is
great big constellation of III visible stars
including the Peiades and Hyades. He has
his head lowered and Is in an attitude OF
rage as II he would hook the great giant
Orion right out OF the heavens. You can
only see the head and shoulders OF this
animal, but so plainly that cannot mistake
them. Taurus is now the second sign and
third constellation OF the zodiac, but q
great many years ago, before the days OF
Abraham, the year commenced when the
sun was In Taurus. The Bull was the
leader OF the celestial host. The head OF
Taurus sets with the sun about the last of
May or first of June.
According to Grecian mythology, this
constellation has beautiful history.
very handsome lady named Europa,
daughter Of Agenor and princess of Pho
enica, with her attendants went to the
meadow to gather flowers. Jupiter was
stricken with her loveliness and become
SO much enamored that he took upon him
self the shape of a white bull and mingled
with the cattle that belonged to the mai
denis father. Europa saw the animal and ca
ressed him with her little white hands.
At last she gathered courage to sit on his
back, and this was so sweet pleasure to
the stricken Jupietr that he would fain
have kept her there forever, so with pre-
cipitate steps he retired to the shore, and
crossed the sea TO Crete with her upon his
back. The strange country took from her
its name, and is called Europe to this day,
so the story goes. But more another
INN