and then I will contrive an original figure, which shall include them But to proceed: at about the distance of 26 degrees from Betelgeux, which is the star in Orion's right shoulder, is Procyon, a star in Canis Minor. Between Betelgeux, and Procyon, and nearer to the horizon, is Sirius. These three stars form an equilateral triangle.

What stars will then make their appearance to the left of Auriga?

There you will see Castor and Pollux in Gemini. There will be four stars in a line between Betelgeux and Castor. These constitute the four feet of Gemini.

Where will Perseus be situated?

To the right hand of Auriga, and above the Pleiades. In a line with Castor, and Capella, is Algenib, a bright star in the breast of Perseus; and, further to the right, is Almaac in Andromeda. These two stars, with Algol in the Head of Medusa, form a triangle, of which Algol is the nearest to the Pleiades. Imagine a line to be drawn from the Pleiades, through Algol, and it will pass through Cassiopea.

Ah, I have heard, that it looks like the capital letter W.

To the right hand of the Pleiades, at a considerable distance, is a Arietis, a star not very brilliant; a line drawn from the Pleiades,

through this star, will pass through Markab in Pegasus.

Do not the principal stars in this constellation form a square?

A large square is formed by its three principal stars, and the star in the head of Andromeda.

It must now be very late. Let us return to the house.

O mamma, leave these ten thousand lamps, for one or two little tapers, all this mental improvement, for sleep and insensibility!

My child,

"th' hour

Of night, and all things now retir'd to rest,
Mind us of like repose; since God hath set
Labour and rest, as day and night, to man
Successive and the timely dew of sleep,
Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines
Our eyelids. Other creatures all day long
Rove idle unemploy'd, and less need rest.
Man hath his daily work, of body or mind
Appointed, which declares his dignity,
And the regard of Heav'n on all his ways;
While other animals unactive range,
And of their doings God takes no account.
To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east
With first approach of light, we must be risen."

Ah, mamma, I know who says all that; may I use the same author's words, and ask you an interesting question, that I may hear you repeat his reply?

Let me hear the question.

"Wherefore all night long shine these? for whom
This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?"

Since you wish it, I will give you Milton's

answer.

"These have their course to finish round the earth
By morrow evening; and from land to land,
In order, though to nations yet unborn,
Minist'ring light prepar'd, they set and rise;
Lest total darkness should by night regain
Her old possession, and extinguish life
In nature and all things: which these soft fires
Not only enlighten, but, with kindly heat
Of various influence, foment and warm,
Temper or nourish; or in part shed down
Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow
On earth, made hereby apter to receive
Perfection from the sun's more potent ray.
These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,
Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none,
That Heav'n would want spectators, God want praise:
Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep.
All these with ceaseless praise his works behold,
Both day and night. How often from the steep
Of echoing hill or thicket, have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,

Sole, or responsive to each other's note,

Singing their great Creator? Oft in bands,

While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk
With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds,
In full harmonic number join'd, their songs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to heav'n."

CHAPTER XIV.

THE ANTIQUITY OF THE CHALDEAN ASTRONOMY.

Mamma, you did a long time ago say, that you had much to communicate to me respecting the antiquity of the Chaldean astronomy. Will you tell me something now?

The request implies a willingness to attend. Give me the best effort of your mind, and I will begin.

All my communications I wish to be made in the most intelligible form: on the present occasion nothing could be more easy, than to bewilder the youthful mind, without arriving at any satisfactory conclusion; for all that human ingenuity can do to perplex in chronological calculations, has been done. You well know the calm determination of my mind, to take the Bible as my guide on all subjects, on which it professes to afford assistance.

But you told me once, not to look upon the Bible as a guide in astronomical investigations.

I once observed to you, that the astronomical phraseology in the Bible was employed in unison with the opinions of the people, among whom they were delivered, and that it would