Stella's adventures in Starland

Contents

Chapter Page

I. An Invitation from Mr. Comet ... i

II. A Trip to the Sky 21

Chapter I

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET

T his is not to be a tale about what took place once upon a time, which means long ago. Of what happened then, no one really can be sure. Perhaps there were elves and fairies who danced in the moonlight on the green sward ; gnomes who lived in dark caves far down under the ground ; giants with a great fondness for tender boys and girls as food ; witches who, astride a broomstick, on dark and stormy nights sailed through the air to play all kinds of wicked pranks on sleeping people ; and animals who wore clothes, and talked with one another just as you do with your playmates.

All this is not for me to say. Some people scolF at such things, but who truly knows ? Still if there ever were such times, there is no reason to believe that they have ended. The grass on the lawns and in the vales and dells is as soft and velvety as it ever was; the caverns are as dim and gloomy as they could have been in past centuries ; there are desert wastes wherein huge giants might roam for ages undiscovered and each day grow hungrier and hungrier ; the gales of summer and the blasts of winter still howl through the trees and roar around the eaves and down the chimneys, with din and clatter enough to arouse any witch from her slumbers ; and who has not owned a dog, horse, or cat whose eyes plainly showed that he could speak if he only dared, and who would not have surprised one much had he asked for the latest style of cap or coat?

So, while this story is to be of a strange

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET journey made by a little girl friend of mine, and has nothing at all to do with elves, fairies, gnomes, giants, witches or even with earthly animals, you must not understand me as doubting what others have written. And if the weird tales of bygone years, which you with wide-open eyes read before the winter fireside, in fact are true, there is all the more reason to believe that the trip which my chum says she made to starland the other night, and of which you are now to hear, is true also. She went alone, so all 1 can vouch for is that the events are given to you just as she told them to me.

Before hearing of what she did, you will want to know something about the girl herself. Her name is Stella. That means star, as those of you who study Latin are aware. But you must not think of her as one of those star-eyed damsels described in fairy stories, with hair like burnished gold, lips red as 3

STELLA’S ADVENTURES cherries, ears like pink sea-shells, cheeks blushing like the damask rose, and hands white and slender as the lily.

Far from it. To me she seems indeed very beautiful, but love beautifies every one and all things. As a matter of fact, Stella is an every-day little girl, like you, or your mate across the street. Her hair is between black and brown, her eyes between brown and black; her cheeks and hands are brown when the sun tans them in summer, and red when the wind kisses them in winter. She is neither tall nor short, neither fat nor slim ; just a hearty, healthy, hungry girl, eating, sleeping, studying, working, playing, in a very ordinary way.

In one point only is Stella somewhat peculiar : she has a passionate love for the stars. As a baby, she would cry at night unless her crib was placed close to the window. There, if the sky were clear, she would

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET lie for hours, flat on her back, gazing up at the heavens, cooing and crowing, and waving her chubby fists in the air. But if it were cloudy so no stars could be seen, she would be cross and would need constant care.

Each year this love grew stronger. Almost as soon as she could read, she learned the names and location of the different stars, planets and constellations. When alone after dark she would talk to them, ask them questions, and imagine their replies.

Once, when her big brother overheard her doing this, he cried out, “ Stop your nonsense,” but she only replied, I can’t help it. They seem alive to me and always have. Why, I would not be at all surprised if that big fellow over there near the top of the poplar tree, spoke to me right now. He looks as though he is laughing at us, any way.” Then he called her a silly child, and stalked away very grandly, as big brothers 5

STELLA’S ADVENTURES ofttimes do ; but Stella never has lost faith in her stars.

The house in which this little girl lives is large and airy. It stands on the edge of the town, where there are no other dwellings to hide the view. Around it are acres of well kept lawn with paths winding in and out among rose bushes and shrubbery. There are many trees, too, but all low and well-trimmed so that one always can look over or through them.

The windows are long and deep and wide. They open out on broad porches, which encircle the house on three sides and extend to the second story. There even are little galleries in front of the queer windows in the high mansard roof. At every turn are ideal places to sit and read, or simply to gaze and dream.

Way up on the third story, in an ell at the very northwest corner, is Stella’s room.

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET Here two huge dormer-windows almost join. From the yard they look like old women in sun bonnets, gossiping with each other. Sitting between them, Stella can see all of the sky and country far off to the west, or to the north. If she places herself exactly facing the corner, she can look in both ways at the same time. There is also a little opening towards the east.

Between the dormer-windows is her favorite nook. Often when twilight comes, here she will loll in her big, leather-covered arm-chair and greet her star friends as they appear one by one. Best of all, it seems to her, it is to curl up here at night, when all else have gone to bed. Then there is no one to disturb her thoughts, no sound to break the stillness. As she sits this way, all alone, staring dreamily at the sky, is it any wonder that the very quiet of the stars seems to steal into her soul, and that she sees strange sights and visions ?

We have now come to the point where she starts on the queerest tour ever taken by a little girl, or big girl either, for that matter. I shall try and give you all the facts in detail, precisely as she has told them over and over to me.

On a balmy spring evening Stella was sitting in her arm-chair between the windows in her room. As usual, she faced the corner so that without trouble she could look forth, now to the north and now to the west. It had been a difficult day at school and she was tired. Her head ached a little and she admits that at first she could not think very clearly. But soon her fancy wandered among the stars. To the north, the big dipper swung above the trees. ‘‘ I wonder,” she mused, who drinks out of it. Perhaps Santa Claus. He must live near the north star, which, like as not, is a big light on the end of the north pole. Or perhaps the man in the moon.”

Stella gazing at the Stars

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET.

Then Cassiopeia’s Chair invited attention, and somewhat in this wise she continued :

What a grand chair ! But I don’t really think it is any better than mine. Some way it looks kind of hard and stiff. Wish I could sit in it, though, just for a minute.”

Now she turned her head to the west and a cry of amazement escaped from her lips. No wonder ! There towards the south, low down in the heavens, slowly cutting his way through the dark blue vault, hung Sirius, the dog-star, a dazzling globe of glistening white. « Oh, is n’t he a beauty ! ” she exclaimed.

And why do people call him a dog-star ? Wonder if he honestly is a dog. Wouldn’t I like to pat him on the head, and have him in our backyard instead of that ugly bullpup Hector. Wish he would bark once so I could hear him.” In her excitement she had leaned far forward in her chair, but now she sank back again and for several moments, 9

STELLA’S ADVENTURES almost breathless, she gazed straight at the dog-star’s big white face.

The night was calm and still, and so, after a little while, she slowly closed her eyes.

But Stella did not go to sleep. Mind you, she did not forget herself for one single instant. Of that she is very positive. No doubt she would have slept, but just as she was on the border of dreamland, there came to her ears, gently at first, but ever louder and clearer, a mellow, silvery baying as though some bell-mouthed hound were calling to her from far away in the distance. At first the sound was so regular and rhythmical that it did not disturb her thoughts, but rather mingled with them. Gradually, however, the long-drawn notes became shorter and more emphatic, till at length her ears were bombarded by a series of yelps, sharp and impatient, but still musical.

This was too much for Stella’s peace of

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET

mind. In an instant she was all alert. First, she sat up in her chair and listened. Then, with a bound, she sprang out on the gallery, and leaning over the railing she peered around among the trees and bushes. Surely no dog or other animal was there. Then, as the noise continued, more and more furiously, and now seemed to come from above, she found herself searching the tree-tops, the eaves, and even the roof, but with no success.

Every moment she became more aroused and curious. There is something somewhere barking at me, and I ’m going to find it if it takes all night,” she remarked to herself. Then came another great surprise. From somewhere behind her, a shrill, quavering voice called out, What ’s the matter with the dog-star ? Did n’t I hear you, a short time ago, wishing you could hear him bark ? ”

Stella turned around with a start. I beg your pardon,” she said, for she is a very well brought-up child, “ I did not know any one was here.” Imagine her astonishment when she found herself addressing the empty air. The voice seemed to have come from nowhere, just as did the baying and the yelping.

Now she began to be frightened, and, though she denies it, I myself think that she would have run scampering through the hall and called her big brother, had not the odd appearance of the northern sky diverted her. Close to Cassiopeia’s Chair, there appeared a yellow blotch, as though some giant hand had thrown a big bunch of golden rod up against the blue vault.

Even as my little friend gazed, this mass began to assume shape and form. Two straggling fragments at the bottom developed into a pair of slender, though shapely legs. Two fluttering streamers at the top fell down

A Wonderful Man appears in the Sky r/ r

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AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET along the sides and became very presentable arms and hands. Then a round body easily could be descried, and perched on top of it, a chubby head that clearly must belong to a very jolly gentleman indeed. The eyes w^ere a bright, cherry red, like bits of iron the smith hammers on his anvil ; and the lips \vere full and puckering, as though naturally inclined to smiles.

Stella, though greatly startled, at once felt attracted by this wonderful man, but being well-bred, she waited for him to speak first. It was not long. Suddenly he raised his arms over his head, straightened up to his full height, and yelled down to her in that same quavering voice, ‘‘ What ’s the matter with the dog-star ? ” Then she, not to be outdone, stood up on tip-toe, threw her arms above her, and in her childish treble, answered, ^‘He’s all right!”

Quickly the man bent forward till his 13

STELLA’S ADVENTURES hands rested on his knees. He shook his head fiercely, and fairly roared, ‘‘ Who ’s all right ? ” while Stella, entering fully into the spirit of the game, shouted back at the top of her voice, ‘‘ The dog-star ! ”

At this the old gentleman seemed vastly tickled. His eyes rolled and tumbled and his whole frame quivered with laughter. As soon as he could control himself, which he seemed to do with difficulty, he made Stella a most courtly bow, and addressed her politely : And you are all right, too, I

reckon. You see, I Ve been watching you night after night and feel quite well acquainted with you. I was listening when you wished you could hear the dog-star bark, and then, when you didn’t know what all that yelping was, I thought I ’d give you a pointer. It’s that pesky dog-star, that’s what it is, and if I could reach a club, I ’d make him stop his racket mighty quick.”

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET By this time Stella’s fear and amazement all had vanished. It seemed the most natural thing in the world that she should be standing leaning over the gallery-railing and conversing with this funny blond gentleman up in the air.

As he seemed to be waiting for her to say something, she remarked very respectfully, I hope you do not mind my asking, but really I ’d like to have you tell me your name.”

Comet,” he replied; ^‘Mr. Comet. Those rude little Asteroid boys call me ^ Commy,’ but I don’t like it, and if they keep it up much longer I ’ll have them arrested. Don’t you know a comet when you see one?”

<<Why,” answered Stella, ‘‘I thought comets spent all their time scooting around in the sky, millions and millions of miles a minute. You ’re standing stock-still.”

‘‘To be sure I am,” said Mr. Comet. “ It’s 15

STELLA’S ADVENTURES a nice life we lead, all the time revolving in an orbit, with never a chance to rest. I ’m sick of it. How would you like it if some one should put you out on the fair grounds and make you run round and round the race track for ever and ever? ”

Stella had to confess that she would not enjoy it at all.

‘‘Exactly,” continued the Comet. “Now I have been abused long enough, and not another move do I make till I get my rights.” H ere he stamped his foot on the sky, closed his lips tight together, folded his arms, and looked very decided indeed.

“What are your rights?” asked Stella. “You talk as though you had lots of troubles.”

“Troubles?” shouted Mr. Comet, becoming somewhat stirred up, “ I should say I do have plenty of them. In the first place, I get very hot and thirsty, especially on sul-

i6

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET try summer nights, exercising all the time, and there is not a single thing fit to drink out of. Look at the Little Dipper, and the Big Dipper, too, will you? No bottom in them at all. I would not mind a hole in the bottom, because I could plug that up with my finger, or with the combings out of my tail; but when the bottom is all hole, then I draw the line. It’s a nuisance, that’s what it is. I’m getting a little stiff in the joints and when I try to bend over and lap out of the Milky Way, the stuff runs up my nose and into my eyes; it makes my beard all soggy and covers my waistcoat with grease spots. I’ll not stand it any longer. Do you know of a single dipper, cup, pot, kettle, pan, bottle, or even a tub, with a bottom in it, in the whole heavens?”

Stella was sorry, but she could not remember anything of the kind.

Well,” Mr. Comet went on, « I thought

2 17

STELLA’S ADVENTURES so. Then there is nothing fit for a man of my years to drink. I Ve been quenching my thirst from the Milky Way till I’m tired of it. Milk was all right when I was a baby, and I did n’t mind it much when I was a young man ; but for an old man, thousands and thousands of years old, I say it’s too weak a diet. Tea, now, might do, or coffee perhaps, just to brace me up when I’m tired. Say,” and here Mr. Comet leaned over and whispered very confidentially, ‘‘ you have n’t happened to learn, in school, about something good to drink anywhere up here, have you ? ” Stella regretted that she had not.

^‘That settles it,” replied Mr. Comet.

Here I stay, and I’ll not set foot in my orbit again for anybody until I’m given an eight-hour night, with the rest of the time for play, something invigorating to drink, and something with a bottom in it to drink out of. Now I see Cassiopeia has gone gadding

i8

AN INVITATION FROM MR. COMET around somewhere, and I think I ’ll take a nap in her chair. I ’m all tired out.” So saying, he sat down, crossed his legs, folded his arms, tipped back his head, closed his eyes, and in less time than it takes to tell it, seemed sound asleep.

Stella wondered what she should do next, but before she had made up her mind the Comet woke up long enough to say, ‘^I don’t intend to sleep more than an hour or so. Then, as it ’s my night off, I ’m going to run around and call on my friends. There ’s Lady Venus ; Mars, who ’s always looking for a scrap ; Neptune, who once lived in the ocean; old Mr. Moon, who’s in poor health and somewhat cross ; Mrs. Sun, his wife, who’s as jolly as can be; and a whole lot of them. No end of fun. Better come up and go with us. It ’s easy. Just walk right along the sky same as I do. Can’t slip if you try. Come ahead ! 19

STELLA’S ADVENTURES You ’ve read about Jupiter’s belt and Saturn’s rings. I ’ll show them to you.” And Mr. Comet was fast asleep again.

Stella hesitated. Was it right for her to stray so far from home, at least without asking her father and mother? and she knew they would say ‘‘No.” While she pondered, again she heard the silvery baying of the dog-star, but this time she detected a note of welcome and encouragement. That decided her. “ I ’ll do it! ” she cried. “No one ought to care, and I may never get such a chance again.”

Just as she was about to start there came to her ears from the north another sound, which at first she took for an empty farmer’s wagon rumbling over the high wooden bridge across the creek.

“ Now I shall always know what it is when folks say it thunders at night out of a clear sky,” she chuckled. “ It is Mr. Comet snoring.”

Chapter II A TRIP TO THE SKY

S TELLA at once made ready for her journey. Not much preparation was necessary. Already she was fully dressed, just as on her return from school. Her kid shoes, however, were changed for a stouter and thicker pair, with heavier soles, because, as she said to herself, while the sky looked perfectly dry and smooth, it might be damp, and perhaps in places rough and splintery. Over her shoulders she threw a light blue shawl, and with a final glance about the room to see that there was nothing else she wanted, she gently opened the door and softly stepped out.

Quietly she stole along the hall ; past the half open door of the nursery, where

STELLA’S ADVENTURES slept her little brother; past the rooms of Marie, the maid, and of Jack, who had laughed when he had heard her talking to the stars ; down the back stairs, and out through the door.

Hector tugged at his chain and gave a whine of welcome, but there was no time to linger. Around the house and across the yard she sped, and into the street, which led straight towards the north. Here for an instant she paused, to glance over head. There, in his chair, sat her new-found friend, still slumbering peacefully.

« He has n’t moved a bit,” said Stella, « but I must hurry and reach him before he wakes up.”

Along the dusty road she scurried, walking up hill, running down hill, looking neither to the right nor to the left, only intent on arriving, as soon as possible, at the place where the land really did seem to run

A TRIP TO THE SKY up into the sky. But soon her thumping heart and gasping breath warned her that she must go more slowly.

Now she began to look about her. The noisy city had been left behind. Could anything in heaven be fairer or sweeter than this peaceful country side ! The air was fragrant with the earthy odor of early spring. The brooks fairly foamed and bubbled in mirth at their escape, at last, from winter’s cruel grasp. Among the trees, the night wind kindly kissed the buds bursting on every branch, and along the hedges it whispered of violets abloom on moss-grown banks, or fields of fresh-blown clover soon to come. In the pastures, sleek cattle nipped the sprouting grass, or lying near the barn-yard, placidly chewed the cud, and gazed solemnly at this small wayfarer, trudging so swiftly by. A big gray horse galloped down to the fence and whinnied his welcome; while a tiny 23

STELLA’S ADVENTURES colt, frightened by her approach, galloped away as fast as his wobbling legs could carry him. Here and there a house dog barked ; and once, a stray rooster, thinking dawn was near, else such a dainty child would not be abroad alone, crowed lustily.

All these things and more Stella noted as she passed, but nothing delayed her. What if Mr. Comet should wake, and start out on his trip without her !

At length she reached the crest of a high bluff. In the valley, far below, wound in and out the ribbon of a river, now more than half obscured by circling wreaths of mist. The road dropped straight down this hill to the bank, where there could be dimly seen the entrance to the bridge which spanned the stream.

As she advanced, the fog grew heavier, but easily she kept the way, as though guided by some hidden power. So dense became 24

A TRIP TO THE SKY the enveloping clouds that even her hands and feet were concealed from view ; but by the hollow sound of the rough planks she knew when she began to cross the bridge.

So on and on she walked, when suddenly she realized that the echoing footfalls had ceased. Instead of boards, there seemed to be under her something soft and yielding, like the velvety carpets in the parlors at home. She appeared to be mounting slowly, too, as one flounders up and over a huge bank of half-packed snow.

At the same time, the whole drift by which she was surrounded clearly was moving, — twisting and swaying, as if impelled by a strong wind, and meanwhile soaring heavenward. The mist was floating and rising, — and carrying Stella with it !

Now she was thoroughly dismayed, but in a moment she exclaimed, Why, it feels as though the fog is taking me straight up,

STELLA’S ADVENTURES and I ’m climbing up on the fog. Soon we ’ll go bump against the sky, and then perhaps I can step right on to it.”

This thought gave her new energy, and her arms and legs waved frantically, as she tried to crawl on top, so that she might see where she was going, and be ready to disembark at the proper moment ; but although the double sensation of ascending continued, she was almost discouraged before there came any change in her condition.

Stella tells me that this was the most trying period of her whole adventure. So closely was she wrapped in clouds that she could see nothing, could hear nothing, could feel nothing ; but just as she was about to despair of escaping ever, something happened, and very quickly.

With a squeaking, crunching sound, the whole mass came to a stop instantly. Stella found herself rolling over and over, as, with 26

A TRIP TO THE SKY absolutely no control of her body, she shot forward, at first violently, and then more and more slowly, till finally, with a gentle jar, her feet thumped against some substance firm and solid. While this had been taking place, the mist had begun to break into eddying wreaths and circles, even as it was when she first saw it from the hill above the river. Looking downward, she detected here and there a patch of blue.

Immediately she dropped on her knees, and with bare hands, explored in all directions. Everywhere she touched a smooth, clean surface, a trifle more yielding than ice or glass, but still quite hard and firm ; and the fog, as it slowly vanished, disclosed the fact that in all directions was one vast, blue expanse. With a cry of joy, Stella realized that at length she was on the sky !

Soon joy gave place to fear. If where she thought herself to be, her head must be hang- 27

STELLA’S ADVENTURES ing in space, or at least sticking straight out, like a fly climbing up the wall. What was to prevent her from falling? To be sure, she was not falling yet, but it occurred to her that any moment she might commence a hurried plunge through the air. Such an idea was enough to frighten any one.

Stella is a very self-possessed little body, however, and while alarmed, she did not cry nor grow hysterical, as some people might have done. On the contrary, she sat down, because it seemed safer than standing, and said to herself that she would not go a step farther till she had reasoned it all out. So she remained for some moments motionless, looking like some graven image on a broad, blue field, while the little wrinkles on her forehead, and her indrawn lips, showed plainly that she was studying harder than she usually did in school.

A TRIP TO THE SKY her face and she clapped her hands together gleefully. Now I have it,” she said, ‘‘and I ’m every bit as safe here as I am at home. My, but I ’m lots better already.”

“You see, it’s just this way,” she continued, still talking to herself. “ When I was a mite of a girl in B 5 th grade, I used to think how funny the people in China, on the other side of the world, must feel, because they lived upside-down, with their heads dangling in the air, and perhaps having to pin their pigtails on to their coats, so they would not fall straight out below them. Then, when I got into the high school, teacher told us that ‘ down ’ is always towards the centre of the earth, and that the boys and girls in China have the ground under them, same as we do.”

“ Well,” she went on, “ if on the earth, ‘ down ’ is towards the earth’s centre, here on the sky, ‘ down ’ must be towards the 29

STELLA^S ADVENTURES sky’s centre, way under my feet, and to fall I ’d have to fall up, which is n’t possible. I ’m not at all scared now, and I ’m going to find Mr. Comet as fast as ever I can.”

While Stella had mused in this way, mist and fog had disappeared. As she arose, what a vision spread out before her! Spell-bound, she stood and gazed ; and well she might.

Far over head, the canopy hung inky black, but pierced here, there, and everywhere by arms and streamers of light, flaring, fading, advancing, retreating, as you have seen the head-light on some mighty engine project its glare into the stormy night, and flash unknown signals on the clouds above the city.

Below this ray-pierced vault of jet, all around and above her, was a soft and mellow glow, as that shed by the blood-red moon in harvest time, only whiter, stronger, and also more mysterious, because its source was entirely invisible. From beneath her 30