"While I think of it," said Uncle Henry, "I want to tell you that sometimes you may find a very bright star in a constellation where it doesn't seem to belong. If you watch it for a few nights you will see that it moves. It isn't a star at all, but a _planet_ or "wanderer." Sometime I'll show you how to know all the planets by sight and name. You will never see them except in the zodiac constellations, so they need not confuse you. And now I think all of us had better go downstairs and get warm before we go to bed. Besides, we want to leave a little to do to-morrow night, and there are only two constellations left now."
"Only two?" cried the children in disappointment.
"Only two that we can see well," assured Uncle Henry.
"Well," said Peter, "I guess we'd better have the Society adjourn. I move we adjourn."
"Second the motion," said Paul, with true parliamentary solemnity.
"Carried," murmured Betty, who was beginning to get sleepy in spite of herself.
THE SKY CLOUDED OVER, BUT PETER FOUND THE STAR PEOPLE HIDING IN THE ALMANAC--PAUL FOUND HIS HEAD WAS THE WORLD--AND THE "SOCIETY" FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SWASTIKA AND THE ZODIAC, AND HOW YOU TELL WHEN A DIPPER IS A PLOUGH AND WHEN IT'S A WAGON
Next evening Peter and Paul carried the blackboard to the roof after supper, but soon returned in disappointment. The sky had all clouded over! The evening's session of the "Society of Star-Gazers" was spoiled. Its members stood in a circle about Uncle Henry and looked hopefully at him. Never yet had he failed to make good in an emergency.
"Well, it can't be helped," said Uncle Henry cheerfully. "We'll just have to bring Starland down here into our playroom for this evening. Suppose you get me--let's see--about a dozen sheets of paper from a big scratch pad, some of Betty's colored crayons--they had better be the dark-colored ones--and a good-sized sheet of stiff cardboard or Bristol board. Yes, and some pins and an Almanac. Betty'll get the colored pencils, Paul the cardboard, and Peter the sheets of paper and the pins. I'll borrow the Almanac from Katy. She has one in the kitchen."
The children scattered for the materials and Uncle Henry took the shade off the electric lamp that stood on the playroom table.