h Star; "that is why I shake."

"We are dancing," said the Seven Sisters; "and, watch as closely as
you please, you can never get a fair peep at our golden sandals, our
feet twinkle so."

"I am sleepy," grumbled the Great Bear; "I am trying to keep my eyes
open. Perhaps that is the reason I wink so much."

Thus, with one accord, they made excuses to the pale Moon, who is
their guardian,--all but the sweet Vesper Star: she was silent; and
when a white cloud floated by, she was glad of an excuse to hide her
face.

"Let the North Star shiver, and the Seven Sisters dance, and all the
golden stars hold a revel," thought she; "as for me, I am sad."

For you must know that the Vesper Star has a task to perform, and is
not allowed to sleep. She keeps vigil over the Earth, by night; and
never ceases her watch till the world is up in the morning. For the
sick and sad, who cannot sleep, she feels an unutterable pity, so that
her heart is always throbbing with sorrow.

The Moon looked at the Vesper Star, and said, "Dream on, sweet sister;
for you, the noblest of all, have told me no falsehood."

This the Moon said because she knew that none of the stars had given
a true reason for twinkling so gayly that night. The truth was, they
were filled with envy, and were trying to be as brilliant as possible,
to compete with a flaming Comet which had just appeared in the sky.

It is not for man to know how long and how peacefully the gentle stars
had travelled together, doing the work which God has appointed,
without a murmur. But now that this distinguished stranger had
arrived, the whole firmament was in dismay. How proudly he strode the
heavens! how his blaze illumined the sky! The Stars whispered one to
another, and cast angry eyes on the shining wonder.

"Make way for me," he said, sweeping after him a glorious train of
light.

"Not I," muttered the fiery Mars.

"Not I," quoth the majestic Jupiter; "I do not move an inch."

The Comet flashed with a lofty disdain.

"Puny Stars," said he, "keep your places, give out all your
light,--nobody heeds you; the place of honor is always by the Vesper
Star; here I make my throne."

The Vesper Star smiled sadly, but without a twinge of envy.

"Welcome, shining one! Warm me with your fires; let us work together."

"Work!" cried the Comet, throwing out sparkles of scorn; "I was not
born to work, but to _shine_!"

"Indeed!" said the Vesper Star; "you have come into strange compan