The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-27

New York Independent.
The faces of the stars shone so brightly, one
night, that the earth children thought the Mamma
Moon was tellinga pretty story, and so she was,
and this is the story:
''rhe great dipper, which you, my dear chill
dren, so love to form, has deep meaning, which
you are not to forget as long as the stars shine.
tell you the story often as you ask it, and
your asking makes me quite as happy as my tell
ing can make you
See the dear baby stars running to make
small dipper like their older ssters!" said the
Lady Moon softly to the great Mars, who leaned
over her chair while she spoke.
In another world than ours" continued the
Lady Moon, there was great trouble. No; it
was not in the earth-word, my dear" she said
to tiny star, who always asked questions 1T
was not in the heaven-world either. but in an
other far away world. where many children lived.
For some good reason, which only the Father
knows, the people and children, the animals, and
every living thing, suffering great thirst; no
water, nor dew, nor drop Of moisture could they
fnd'anywhere.
1T very horrible, and the people were
very near to death.
"a little child of that world went out alone in
the dry, dark night, carrying little tin dipner,
and prayed very earnestly for just that little
cup of water; and when she lifted the cup, 1t
was trimming with clear, cold water, which
would not spill, though she ran rapidly, her
hand trembling with her faintness; Tor she did
not taste the water having prayed for anothers
was very weak, and when feeling about, trying
to rise, she touched a little dog that seemed to
be dying of its thirst, and the good child poured
few drops of the precious water in the palm OF
her hand, and let the dog lap it. He seemed as
much refreshed as if he had drank from a river.
The child could not see in the dark what hap
pened to her cup; but we saw and sang for JOY;
the cup turned to silver and grew larger the
water not having become less but moro, by her
giving
"She hurried to give the water to one who was
quite unable to come and meet her--none other
than her own dear mamma, who took the water
eagerly, as one in deadly fever of thirst, but,
without putting 1T to her lips, for she heard just
then weak moan, which came from her faithful
servant who tried to raise her mistress head,
but found she had not the strength Tho mother
pressed the dipper into tho hands of the maid
and made her drink, feeling her own life so
wasted that one little cup of water could not re-
new it. And neither the maid-servant or mother
noticed that the dipper changed from silver to
gold and grew larger than before. The good
servant was about to give each member Of the
family one spoonful of the precious water when
q stranger entered dressed in costume IN
known in that country, speaking in strange
tongue, but showing the same signs of thirst and
distress as themselves. The mald-ser7ant SAID:
Sacred are the needs of a stranger in a strange
land, and she pressed the dipper to the parched
lips of the fainting man.
Then the great wonder was wrought, and the
golden dipper flashed forth encrusted with
tain of gushing water which supplied the thirst
ing nation as freely and surely as it quenched
the thirst of the little dog. Then the stranger
said: Blessed is he that givetha cup of water
in my name
And the possession of dipper blazing with
diamonds is in that country sure badge OF roy
atty; for no one can buy or receive one as gift,
nor can fathers bequeath them to children.
''Some of the foolish people have not yet
learned its secret, and they 60 about seeking to
exchange their tin for silver by doing kind
things. Sometimes they accuse the Father of
All very bitterly, because they grow old posses
ing only the tin dipper; for the secret of the ex
change can no more be told than the beautiful,
flashing, sparkling diamonds can be purchased.
Sometimes there are great surprises when
people give up the hope of such possession and
forget themselves, for then they often find the
cast-away tin bearing evidence in silver, gold,
or even diamonds, that somehow they have be-
come royal; but by that time they have no van
ity because of their fortune. Only modest,
thankful, brave, happy feelings possess the
owners of the diamond dippers.'
The Lady Moon now lifted a white finger
toward the east which was geowing rosy, and
the baby stars all knelt a moment, looking like
white-robed nuns at prayers. Then the morn
ing wind swept aside the great blue silken cur
tain of the sky, and the Mamma Moon followed
her children into heaven, to do or play what
ever the Father had planned for them while
they were out shining for His earth-children