Star Engagement
Ne November night, a few years ago,
there was to be a meteoric display on
the most magnificent scale. Astronomical journals had excited the anticipations
of the whole country.
Indeed, no star ever had more inducement to shoot well than on that night, for the audience was immense — gathered at windows, on house - tops, and in observatories. The only objection we had to the bill of entertainment was that the doors opened at a very late hour, and at a time when we are usually in a very unimpressible state of mind.
We hit upon the following device. We hired, by extra inducement, the servant to sit up and watch, and, at the very first indication of restlessness on the part of the celestial bodies, to thump mightily at our dormitory.
We placed our hat and shoes In places where they could Immediately be found, and, before the gas went out, marked the relative position, both of hat and shoes, lest, in the excitement of rising up, we might get these articles of apparel transposed, and put on at the extremity opposite that for which hatters and bootmakers originally Intended them. We slept with one eye open, and in a state of expectancy, such as one feels when he wants to take an early train, and fears that the alarm - clock is disordered. No such meteoric display had taken place since we were a year old — an age when our astronomical attainments were very limited. Neither had our servant witnessed anything of the kind, and her Ideas were very vague as to what would really be the character of the entertainment. We warned her as to the peril of falling asleep, as when the stars really did shoot, they often shot at random. It was some time before we could persuade her of the necessity of having the gas out while watching, for she persisted in the Idea that you can always see better with a light than without it.
We had fallen into our first nap when there was a loud rap at the door, and we gave a bound to the floor. The servant told us that she had seen one star which had been very uncertain In Its movements, and had crossed lots, wagging a long tail of fire. We cried out: “Do not call us for just one star, but wait till they all get a - going!” We took another nap and woke up, and not hearing anything about the celestial disturbances, the wife went in to see how the servant was getting on, and found her prostrate and Insensible! What was the matter? Had the meteoric display taken place, and this innocent one in the wild sweep been knocked over, another victim of philosophical experiments? No! We found that she had been overcome of sleep. When roused up, she immediately spoke, thus relieving our anxiety In regard to the fatality of the occurrence, and her first words (showing the ruling passion for astronomical Investigation still unimpaired) were the startling interrogation: “Have they shot?”
I concluded to depend on my own watchfulness, and forthwith to look out. Saw one l6o STAR ENGAGEMENT.
“star” in motion, coming up the street on two feet, but concluded from his looks that he would not shoot unless in case of a riot. I gazed intently, and saw no signs of motion among the celestials, except a few that seemed to twinkle mischievously, as if making fun of my white cravat — an article I never wear except in case of hasty toilet.
But the astronomical observation was far from being a failure, for in- returning my head from the open air, I struck it violently against the window, and immediately saw stars. They flew every whither, and, what was peculiar, they were of all colors — white, black, blue, green, and striped. But from the unfavorable impression they produced on me at the time, I feel like warning people against putting out their heads in the night-time, when the meteors are carelessly swinging their shillelahs. We did not blame the stars, nor the astronomers who excited our anticipations, but we all felt disappointed.
MORAL.
Do not calculate too much upon meteors. I would rather have the clear, steady shining of
STAR ENGAGEMENT. l6l
a morning star, than all the capers that comets cut up. Saturn or Mars are more to be depended on than these celestial vagrants. The curse of the world Is its unsanctlfied geniuses, who go darting across the political and ecclesiastical heavens just long enough to make the nations stare, and then go out in darkness. We love brilliancy; but let It be that of a fixed star — steady, cheerful, regulated.
In some great crisis of the world’s night, I have calculated upon the behavior of some one of shining capacities, and I have gone out to hear what noble thing he would say, or to see what thrilling deed he would do, and what long line of light he would stretch across the heavens. But my calculations have failed. My disappointment was full. Another failure at starshooting.
The moral world wants fewer comets, and more Jupiters; fewer fireflies, and more lamps; fewer Jack-o’-the-lanterns to dance the swamps, but more evening stars to cheer the world’s darkness; fewer Lord Byrons, and more John Fosters. We never knew of but one meteor that went forth on a grand mission — the one
STAR ENGAGEMENT.
that ran to stand over Bethlehem; and that got all its glory from the fact that it pointed to the Sun that never sets. Grand thing it was, if, on that night in November, in addition to our horrible cold, we caught these moral reflections.