“Why do they call the bright star at the tail of Chara, Cor Caroli, Uncle Henry?” asked Paul.
“It is Latin for ‘heart of Charles,’” said Uncle Henry, “and the Charles they mean is Charles the Second of England, but don’t ask me why, for I don’t know. Perhaps the dog Chara ran away with Cor Caroli. I understand that Charles the Second lost his heart pretty often, and perhaps one time he didn’t get it back. Beware, Paul! I am Father William out of Alice in Wonderland; ‘you have asked me three questions and that is enough.’”
“Are you going to make a poem for us to-night, too?” inquired Betty hopefully.
“Let me see,” said Uncle Henry thoughtfully. “Great bear, Boötes, pronounced Bō-ō-tees, and two dogs—they ought to make some kind of a poem. How’s this? I’ll let you name it after you’ve heard it.”
“The big bear runs, the herdsman runs,
His dogs, they both are chasing.
While Ursa growls, Boötes howls,
His dogs, they both are barking.
For Ursa stole Boötes’ bowl
Of hot milk, set acooling.
His mouth burns yet, the bowl’s upset,
The milky way is streaming.”
“The milky way to catch a bear,” suggested Paul, as a name for the poem.
“Who spilt the milk?” volunteered Peter.