Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-10-05

But Wnen IL came 10 sitting In the 0D-
servatory with Lily, for the purpose of
carefully investigating the moon, John
was present on every occasion. Bessie
and Frank, who preferred comets and
longed for regular procession of seven
tailed ''fliers," were allowed to see stars
as often as their good behavior earned
them that privilege.
Tho observatory hours were distributed
something after this manner: Every
fine day and few evenings the captain
had possession, but shared his evenings
with Mrs. Banks, assisting her to com
prehend the nebular hypothesis of Kant
and Herschel and Laplace, as we'll as the
moro modern holdings, and he explained
to Frank and Bess that though there
were only about 700 comets in running
order, and n-.lny of them camo in thou
sand years behind schedule time, there
were over 100000 shooting stars flying
around every day and night which wero
worth watching for.
After the captain had retired to his
''study," and the children had gone to
bed, Rob and Lily, assisted by John
Clark and his sister Lou, monopolized
the telescope until after midnight.
Bridget and Mike were permitted to
gaze quite often, and also to hear from
the garden path during their evening
strolls the readings from 1.-The Heavens
Above, in which the Banks family fair
ly reveled. When Mrs. Banks well
modulated voice was heard reading
something like this, "The nubecula
then combine, each within its area,
characteristics of the galactic and nebu-
lar system" Bridget would grasp
Mikes arm and say: "Wud ye listen to
that, Moikei 1t takes the misthress to
wiring out them big words" And Mike.
holding her hand protectingly, would
reply: "Sure, an its fearful things them
neblers is, an it's mercy they don't fall
down! But if they did, Biddy, I'm here
to perteck yez." Thus reassured Bridget
would speak learnedly of wet and dry
moons, and which offered the greatest
advantage for washing and gardening.
When not absorbed in writing out
notes the captain would favor the family
with readings concerning penumbral
filaments, facul@, magnetic storms and
disturbances of the photosphere and
chromosphere, and he delighted to ex-
plain the illustrations, printed in lurid
red, of cruptive prominences and other
mysterious ailments of the Gun. Asmay
be inferred, one copy of ''The Heavens
Above" was not enough for the family,
and Bob bought copy for Lily and
himself, and John bought one for Lou
and himself, but when they met in the
summer house to read it was found that
the print Of Johns copy suited Lily's
eyes best, and Lou confessed that Rob's
had something prettier about the bind
ing. so the young men obligingly shared
their books with each others sister in
stead of their own sisters, as had been
intended.
This made study very simple and i'm
proving, and after few months of con-
slant observation any of the young peo-
pie could have told you (after referring
to the book) the exact situation of Mare
Serenitatis, Oceanus Procellarum, Plato
and Kepler, and even without the book
they would have been ready to declare
the moon to be the most admirable of
heavenly bodies.
The summer was very dry, eminently
favorable for astronomic study and OBJ
servation, but in September wet spell
came, and it was during this painful
period that Judge Bixby met Captain
Banks in town and exclaimed: Hello.
cap! Where you been all summer"
The captain explained about his astro
nomical studies, which ho modcstly
claimed might yet be of service to the
world.
"Star gazing, eh? Well, that's ali
very pretty for a rich old fellow like
you. By the way, hear your daughter
is engaged to young Clark-smart fell
low, but lazy. You'll have to dover
your girl.
The captain explained again, this time
with certain heat, that his daughter
was not engaged to John Clark, nor
would be, and then he came home.
The rain had ceased, and as he came
through the garden he heard voices in
the summer house.
''Tll see about this" said the captain,
and without meaning to be dishonor-
able, but simply to assist accurate OBJ
servation, he stepped on the soft grass
instead of the gravel walk. Making an
oyepiece of some vines against the lat
ticed summer house, he proceeded to
find the altitude of his daughter.
The fact that 1.-The Heavens Above"
was lying face downward on o damp
and sandy floor would at any time have
aroused the captains indignation, but
this was overshadowed by the sight of
John Clark's arm around Lily's waist
and Lily's head resting upon Johns
shoulder.
The captain stepped to the door and
faced them, but as the abashed pair
sprang to their feet rush of long buried
river language fairly choked him, and
not daring to release this torrent upon
his daughters refined ears, the captain
faced about and hurried into his study.
But before Lily had replaced a single
hairpin Frank came running to the sum-
mer house.
'He wants you in his study immediate
y-yOu T0 gong TO CaCCu lC0Ou, you We
been monKeying WITH "rne Heavens
have you? Is it his copy2-that's what's
made him go mad," said Frank, picking
up tie abused volume.
Lily did not wait to explain, neither
did John; they both hastened to the
house. I'm with you, darling; heshall
take it out Of me-" said John, with more
Iovo tbo,, o1arapca
The interview in the study was too
stormy for observation. but the result
was that John was forbidden the house
and Lily forbidden to think of good
for nothing who could not earn q thou
sand year.
This cruptive prominence on the part
of the domestic sun naturally produced
unusual disturbances among his satel-
lites. Tho next day Lily, looking most
subdued, asked permission to visit Aunt
Clara In Ohio in company with Rob,
who also looked subdued, and said lit
tie change might be good for Lii. The
captain approved and wrote letter to
sister Clara containing his opinions and
advice, which letter Rob promised to
deliver, and then the two departed,
leaving the captain congratulating HIM
I'll