The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03
THE YOUNG FOLKS COLUMN.
THE MOON BIGGER THAN A MlLK-PAN.
Boys Discuss Astronomy-One Night in the
School Room-Old Mussentouchit-A
Careless DOIl-whnt the Children
say-Knotty Problems.

On fine summer evening. says Harper's
Weekly, two boys were walking along a
country road. One of them, Walter, was
the son of the clergyman OF the village.
Frederiok's father was a wealthy farmer.
They were particular friends and wero
often found in each others company. 1t
was bright moonlight and the shadows of
the trees were sharply distinct on the
ground.
GLOW bright the moon is ~ said Freder-
lex, standing still to look at it. "And how
round 1t looks like ball."
YES" assented Walter. GLOW largo
do you think the moon is, Fred ?" Walter
was little inclined to be priggish.
I-don't-know," replied Frederick.
He had never thought about it. Il should
think it must be about as large as good
sized milk-pan."
"Ha! ha ha" laughed Walter. "a
milk-pan. indeed Why, Fred, it's as big
as the whole United States"
Nonsense! don't believe it," declared
Frederick. stoutly. at couldn't be. Who
told you so?'
Father told me. That is, he saidso in
a lecture he gave the other day. A milk
pan %
81 don't believe it," repeated Frederick.
Il didn't know you were so ignorant,
Frederick," returned Walter.
"How dare you"
Frederick was just on the point of fly
ing into a rage, when, looking down the
road, he happened to see Harold walking
toward them.
Harold was no older than either of the
other boys. He had not been at school
any longer. His father had little time to
give him lectures on astronomy, but he
had taught Harold to observe and remem-
Der what he saw.
Harold" called Frederick, walter is
trying to make me believe one OF his won
derful yarns"
What's the trouble?" asked Harold.
why" SAID Frederick, who by this
time had got within talking distance, "he
says that the moon is as big as the whole
United States. Did you ever hear such
ridiculous fish story2"
Harold looked at the moon a minute
before he answered. How big do you
say it is, Fred ?"
why, | should think il was as big az a
old smile-"perhaps a little bigger. But
the whole United States. Ridiculousw
He looked contemptuously at Walter, who
only laughed.
well" began Harold, slowly, II don't
know just how big the moon really is, but
it must be great deal bigger than you
think, Frederick. The spire of our church
is forty feet high; that is the width of my
fathers house; and see how small it
looks, just because it is so far up in the
air. Now, the moon is very long way
off, Fred. so it must be at any rate a great
deal larger than this town-perhaps twice
as big it must be at least that"
Harold spoke timidly. He did not posi-
lively know anything about the moon,
and only compared it with other things,
rs he was in the habit of doing.
Both the other boys laughed and jeered
at him. Walter was amused because
Harold thought it so small, and Frederick
shouted because Harold thought it so big;
and they were both so much entertained
with Harold's Stiffness that they made up
their quarrel and went home together.
. As tor Harold, he hastily resolved
to find out just how large the moon really
was before he was day older. But
which OF the boys showed the most intel
ligence?