Now this very night, if the stars come out before you go to bed, I want you to look for the Great Bear. It is not a real bear, of course; but it is a kind of picture of a bear. I wish it could growl, to give you an idea where it is, because, it really looks so little like a bear, it is very hard to find. It is nearly overhead now; but you needn't be a bit frightened. The Great Bear has never been known to drop down on little girls and boys. There is a funny thing about this bear. Part of him is a big dipper, and I think you will find him out by that. If you can find the seven bright stars in the shape of a dipper, you have found the bear's tail and a part of his body. And now I want to tell you how it happens that these stars are called the Great Bear. If you look up in the sky some bright starlight night, you will see there a good many different figures, in stars; and a long time ago, people gave names to these figures. To one of them they gave the name of the Great Bear; to another, the Little Bear; to another, the Great Dog; and so on. These different star-figures are called constellations. They really look very little like the things they are named for: so I can't expect you to find them without help. Now, it is very convenient to have the stars divided up in this way. When I asked you to find the red star last winter, it would have been a great help to you if I had told you what constellation it was in; but you might not have known what I meant by a constellation. I had so many pleasant letters about that red star, I am going to ask you to write again when you find the Great Bear, although I suppose most of you are abed and asleep before he comes out for the night. He will appear earlier when the days are shorter, and I do not believe he can escape all your bright eyes. But I should advise you to ask some one who knows where he is to point him out to you. M. E. R. [Illustration] [Illustration] TEDDY'S KITTEN. TO let the kitten lie and sleep Is something Teddy cannot do; Like caterpillar in a heap, She'd like to curl the whole day through, If Teddy did but want her to. I wonder if she understands, How just the look of her soft fur So tempts his little roguish hands He cannot keep away from her: He says he wants "to hear her purr!" And, if he does, 'tis well enough; But then, why does he rub the way To make her silky coat look rough?-- That coat of shining silver-gray, So washed and polished every day? Why is it that he loves so much To tickle the unconscious paws With just a finger tip or touch, Or open them to find the claws? _His_ reason for it is, "Because!"