University of Virginia Library

A Star Story.

The sun went down in the western skies,
The stars came one by one.
And winked and blinked with wond'ring eyes
That another day was done;
And wee maid Bessie with tresses bright,
Curled soft on her little head,
Stood watching the pale moon's silvery light
And finally thus she said:
“O Man in the Moon, up there so far,
In the beautiful, shining sky,
Pray how do you make each twinkling star?
I'd like to know how, and try.”
The Man in the Moon replied: “Dear girl,
'Tis an easy and pretty play
To make the stars that around me whirl,
And this is the only way:
To the shop for some silver paper go,
Let the paper be almost square;
And you fold it thus, and you fold it so,
And you fold it here, and there;
Then turn it round the other way,
And thus you mark a line,
And with scissors sharp without delay
You cut it straight and fine.
And then the paper wide unfold,
And if you have worked with care.
A silvery star you will soon behold,
Like those that you see in air.”