at putting on an eclipse."

"The funniest circumstance in relation to an eclipse, happened to me,"
said Mrs. Wyndham. "When I was a very small child, I thought that quite
as great a miracle was about to happen, as the Indians did. You must
know that there came to Philadelphia a certain famous race-horse named
Eclipse, of whose speed great marvels were told. Handbills about him
were thrown into the house, and I thought he must really be a wonderful
animal. Just at that epoch, I heard my father say something about an
eclipse that night, and the moon in connection with it. My imagination
was instantly fired. "Did you say, father, that Eclipse would go over
the _moon_? why, can that be true?" "Oh yes, my dear, the eclipse is
really going over the moon: if you wish it, you can stay up till nine
o'clock, to see it." "Thank you, thank you, I should like to very much.
But I don't see how it can be!" "More wonderful things than that happen,
my child: you'll understand it better when you are older; but you shall
see it to-night, if you are not too sleepy." "No danger of that--I
wouldn't miss it for the world!" "How much interest little Lucy seems to
feel in the eclipse, mother!" said my father. "We must certainly let her
stay up."

Night came on, and the show began. The best seat at an upper window was
reserved for me, and I looked at the moon constantly, afraid that if I
turned away my eyes for one moment the wonderful event might take place
without my observing it. All were interested in my seeing it. "Lucy, do
you see it, dear I do you see the moon getting dark?" "Oh yes, I see
that, but I don't see Eclipse." "Why, that's the eclipse--when the dark
shadow goes over the moon, that is an eclipse of the moon." "But I don't
see the horse jumping over the moon, at all." "The _horse_? what do you
mean, child?" "You said that Eclipse was to go over the moon, but I
can't see him in the least!"

"Oh, Auntie! were you, really, such a _green_ child as that?"

"Yes, it is a literal fact. I thought it a most astonishing thing that
it could happen; but since my father so gravely said it would, my faith
was equal to the demand made upon it. When I found it was only something
about the shadow of the earth falling on the moon, I went to bed,
grievously disappointed and quite disgusted: I felt somewhat as the
amiable Smith did, that I had been _sold_."

"Ah, Auntie, we children could not be taken in so now, I can tell you!"
said Lewis.