Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-25
4 STORY OF AN EVENING STAR.

..Every night, mother, see beauti-
full star in the, sky so different from
the others. It comes first and shines
so bright that it seems as If 1t were
the loveliest star in the whole Sky.
Won't you watch for it tonight with
me?"
The mother smiled, for she thought
she knew which one of the stars Ma
mic would point out. Sure enough,
that night as they both sat in the ham
mock watching the sunset, out came
the very star she expected. In mo-
ment Mamie saw it and nearly fell out
If the hammock as she screamed and
clapped her hands.
"There it is, mamma! There 1t is.
know it because it looks straight at
me. It knows me, I believe, for it ne0-
err trembles a bit like the other stars:
did YOU ever see such a lovely one?
Her mother smiled an odd little
SMILE
What makes you laugh at me, moth
err? know you are laughing by the
corners of your mouth; they go up so
uueerly.f Tell me-"
"Why Mamie, that is Venus you are
watching. ] have watched her every
"Venus? Who is Venus, mother!
And what makes you call star hef!
didn't know a star could have ii
name. Who named her? Did you MOTH
err? What made you call her venus!
Seems to me you ask great MANY
questions. little girl. Which one snail
l answer flrst?" 80,
"Did you name my star yourself?,
s'No, Mamie, it was named nun
dreds Of years ago when many stars
had names given them. You kno"
people have watched and studied the
stars almost since the world began.
"And- was Venus little girl or a
woman? know she must have been
lovely or they would never have given
her name to my star"
"Your star, as you call it, Mamie. IS
at present the evening star. | will tell
YOU where it got it's name. -.
Venus was lovely woman, but she
never was a little girl. The DID, Old
story books say that one day as some
people were walking by the sea they
raw rose-tinted she'll rise on the
crest of wave. This great shell open
ed. and beautiful Venus, clothed in
raiment like sea foam when the sun
shines on it, stepped out upon the
waters. The people watching were not
surprised when they saw sunset
cloud sail down and take her to the
edge of the western sky, where the
ruby gates opened and she passed
through to the world Of the gods. That
was her home. Whenever she wished
to return to earth she came In sill
yer chariot drawn by snow-white
swans. Her head was always wrea,Hed
with roses and myrtles. White doves
carried her messages. Her dress is of
the finest silk, the color of the pink
eea-shell." ...
'Why, mamma, you say is? Do you
mean Venus is still alive?"
"No, dear, she was never alive. 1t
is only one of the many beautiful
myths that people used to believe two
thousand years ago. But artists love
to paint pictures as beautiful as We
nus was thought to be, and there are
many lovely statues Of her. Some
times It almost seems as If she must
have been alive. When we go to tne
art gallery, see If you can find We
nus.
But say good night to your star
FOR It is late. Sometime you may miss
her and find another in her place. Tell
nae. dear, when the new star comes.
ooh. am going to watch every
night. Will the new one have name?
eyes. but I'm not going to tell you
It's name or its story until it comes.