Peter was going to say that it was a _vote_ of thanks that people got from societies, but Betty was so earnest and dignified that he didn't really want to take her down just then, so he joined Paul in seconding the motion and was appointed by Betty as a committee of one to write the "note" and deliver it to Uncle Henry later. Uncle Henry looked quite serious, for him, and said that he had made up a little poem that they might like to hear while standing under the Christmas stars. The Society voted unanimously in the affirmative, so Uncle Henry recited, "There was once a star of old, Wonders to three wise men told. Where it led, there followed they-- Stars had taught them how to pray, How to know the Truth from lies-- God had taught them through His skies. Where the star led, followed they, Found the Christ-child, laid in hay-- To His mother, in the stable, Brought Him gifts that they were able. Stars lead us to Christmas Truth-- Let us look, with eyes of youth!" Then, in a moment more, Uncle Henry and the children were gone, and the sleepless, faithful stars were alone, brooding lovingly over their tiny baby brother, which we call the great world. The author desires to express his indebtedness to the following books, which have given him many hours of enlightening pleasure while riding the star-gazing hobby: A Field Book of the Stars Olcott Star Lore of all Ages Olcott The Heavens and Their Story Mrs. Maunder Astronomy Jacoby Astronomy from a Dipper Clarke New Astronomy Todd Astronomy Lockyer He also wishes to add his appreciation of the monthly pleasure given by "The Evening Sky Map," published by Leon Barritt. Printed in the United States of America Transcriber's note: The original text has been preserved, but for the following exceptions: a few missing or extraneous quotation marks have been corrected, and on page 78 "be" was changed to "he" (had he failed to make good). End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Star People, by Gaylord Johnson