Classic Myths | Page 8

by the sea they saw a rose-tinted shell rise on
the crest of the wave. This great shell opened, 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 a 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 a silver chariot drawn by snow-white swans. Her head was always wreathed with roses
and myrtles. White doves carried her messages. Her dress is of the finest silk, the color of
the pink sea-shell."
"Why, mamma, you say is! Do you mean Venus is still alive?"
[Illustration: VENUS. From the statue in the Louvre, Paris]
"No, dear, she never was alive. It 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
Venus was thought to be, and there are many lovely statues of her. Sometimes it almost
seems as if she must have been alive. When we go to the art gallery, see if you can find a
Venus.
"But say good-night to your star, for it is late. Some time you will miss her and find
another in her place. Tell me, dear, when the new star comes."
"Oh, I am going to watch every night, mamma. Will the new one have a name?"
"Yes, but I'm not going to tell you its name or its story till it comes."

THE GIANT WITH A BELT OF STARS

Greek
It is an easy matter for any one to find the three great stars in the sky that are arranged in
a row, like three great diamonds sparkling on the front of a mammoth crown. They shine
out, clear and bright, whenever Diana takes her silver bow, which we call the moon, and
goes to hunt in her secret fields or forests. These three stars have been called Orion's Belt
for thousands of years, and for ages children and grown people have watched for their
coming after the sun has gone below the horizon.
The story told of Orion by the ancient Greeks has been repeated by some of our poets,
and Henry W. Longfellow has written in his own beautiful way of this same famous
Greek hunter who never knew fear. Perhaps you will be more interested in his poem after
you have read this short account of the mighty giant whose belt of stars is longer than
other giants were tall.
Orion was the son of Neptune, the god of the sea. His father gave him power to walk
upon the water or to wade in the deepest ocean without drowning. You know that if he
had the power of walking in such places, he did not need to swim, and his steps were so
long that he could walk much faster than his swiftest enemy could run.
[Illustration: ORION WITH HIS CLUB]
Orion was very fond of hunting, and wore, as his mantle or robe, the tawny skin of a huge
lion he had slain. His club and his sword were his only weapons, and he needed no others,
for his long arms helped him to strike before he himself could be hurt. Once he was made
blind, but as he wandered by the seashore the music of the singing waves which were his
father's home gave him comfort and led him to a friend who guided him to Apollo. One
bright sunbeam from Apollo's crown touched Orion's eyes and they saw more clearly
than ever before. Nearly everything was Orion's friend, for with his great strength he was
always ready to help those who could not help themselves. But he was so huge that many
who did not know him were afraid, and one day the Pleiads, daughters of Atlas, saw him
coming and they fled away so fast that they were changed into doves. You can find the
place where they alighted in the sky, just ahead of Orion. He still follows them, and his
dog Sirius, who carries the famous dog star, is close at his side; but the Pleiads never
allow Orion to overtake them in their long journey through the regions of the sky. The
Pleiads are so beautiful that you must learn to find them, and this cluster of six twinkling
stars, "a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid," will guide you in finding the belt of
the mighty hunter Orion, the giant of the heavens. Four other very brilliant stars mark his
shoulders and his knees.

THE GREAT BEAR IN