he never yet had spoken word, he stretched his tiny form out on his bed, and died.

Again the child dreamed of the opened star, and of the company of angels, and the train of people, and the rows of angels with their beaming eyes all turned upon those people's faces.

Said his sister's angel to the leader: "Is my brother come?"

And he said, "Not that one, but another." As the child beheld his brother's angel in her arms, he cried, O sister, I am here! Take me!" And she turned and smiled upon him, and the star was shining.

He grew to be a young man, and was busy at his books when an old servant came to him and said:

"Thy mother is no more. I bring her blessing on her darling son!"

Again at night he saw the star, and all that former company.

angel to the leader :

"Is my brother come?"

Said his sister's

And he said, "Thy mother!"

A mighty cry of joy went forth through all the star, because the mother was re

united to her two children. And he stretched out his arms and cried, " O, mother, sister, and brother, I am here! Take me!" And they answered him, "Not yet," and the star was shining.

He grew to be a man, whose hair was turning gray, and he was sitting in his chair by the fireside, heavy with grief, and with his face bedewed with tears, when the star opened once again.

Said his sister's angel to the leader, "Is my brother come?”

And he said, "Nay, but his maiden daughter."

And the man who had been the child saw his daughter, newly lost to him, a celestial creature among those three, and he said, "My daughter's head is on my sister's bosom, and her arm is around my mother's neck, and at her feet there is the baby of old time, and I can bear the parting from her, God be praised!"

And the star was shining.

Thus the child came to be an old man, and his once smooth face was wrinkled, and his steps were slow and feeble, and his back

was bent.

And one night as he lay upon

his bed, his children standing round, he cried, as he had cried so long ago:

66

I see the star!"

They whispered one another, "He is dying."

And he said, "I am.

My age is falling from me like a garment, and I move towards the star as a child. And O my Father, now I thank thee that it has so often opened, to receive those dear ones who await me!"

And the star was shining; and it shines upon his grave.

CHARLES DICKENS.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

What does the author mean by the star? (a) Do all children wonder at many things? Do you? At what do you wonder most?

(b) To these children all nature seemed alive; does it to you? Did it to people in ancient times? Why do you think so? think so? Read this paragraph again

and try to see how beautiful it is.

(c) Have you any favorite star?

especially friendly?

Does it seem

(d) What does this sentence mean? Observe that after each time when the heavens were opened we have "And the star was shining." Why is that repeated?

Do you see the meaning of the story? It is called a prose poem. Is there anything in it that makes you think of poetry? Do you like the story?

Find out all you can about beliefs in the influence of stars upon our lives. Who were astrologers? Is this story based upon such beliefs, or is it merely a fancy sketch?

Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, the author of this story, is regarded as one of England's greatest novelists. You may have read his Pickwick Papers.

THE BUILDING OF THE SHIP

In the following poem Longfellow used the building of a ship to typify much of human life. Try to see each comparison as you read.

I

"Build me straight, O worthy Master! Stanch and strong, a goodly vessel,

That shall laugh at all disaster,

And with wave and whirlwind
wrestle ! "

5 The merchant's word

Delighted the Master heard ;

For his heart was in his work, and the heart

Giveth grace unto every Art.

A quiet smile played round his lips 10 As the eddies and dimples of the tide Play round the bows of ships,

That steadily at anchor ride.

And with a voice that was full of glee, He answered, "Erelong we will launch 15 A vessel as goodly, and strong, and stanch,

As ever weathered a wintry sea! And first with nicest skill and art, Perfect and finished in every part, A little model the Master wrought, 20 Which should be to the larger plan What the child is to the man, Its counterpart1 in miniature 2; That with a hand more swift and sure The greater labor might be brought 25 To answer to his inward thought. And as he labored, his mind ran o'er The various ships that were built of yore, 1 Counterpart, copy. 2 Miniature, very small size.