Gertrude Chandler Warner

Auriga, the Wagoner

Look for Auriga
during the middle of November

"Do come in just a minute, Dr. Lorry, and see what I've made," begged Helen, the second night the doctor came to tell her about the stars.

Dr. Lorry put on his eye-glasses and sat down near the library lamp, to look at the small blue book Helen handed to him. It was made of six squares of black paper pasted on larger white cards.

On the first square Helen had drawn the Dippers in white ink, and underneath on the card she had written all she had learned about them. On the blue cover in large white letters was printed MY STAR BOOK.

"That's a fine idea!" exclaimed the doctor. "I wish every little girl in the United States had one. Tonight we'll learn a group of stars that will be harder to draw. It is called Au-ri'-ga, or the Wagoner. We'll go to the same place to see it, and face north."

When they had found the Big Dipper, Dr. Lorry said, "Now, instead of using the two real Pointers to find Auriga, just imagine that the two top stars of the bowl are pointing east, or to the right. You see they point out a very, very bright star, the only bright one anywhere near?"

"Yes," answered Helen, "brighter than even the Dipper?"

"Yes, a star of the first magnitude, we say, meaning brightness. Now, see what we are to look for."

This time the flash-light showed a large figure made of five stars, one of which was the bright star. When the light was turned away, Helen looked up into the darkness and saw the exact copy of the little drawing smiling down upon her—only so very large and grand.

"The bright star is named Ca-pel'-la, the Goat. Playing near her are the three little Kids."

Helen skipped with pleasure when she found them. "This is a prettier group than the Dipper."

"A prettier constellation, we say," said the doctor, smiling and leading the way back to the house.