light evening.

As they went home Mr Barlow renewed his caution, and told them the
dangers they had incurred. "Many people," said he, "in your situation,
have been surprised by an unexpected storm, and, losing their way, have
perished with cold. Sometimes, both men and beasts, not being able to
discern their accustomed track, have fallen into deep pits filled up and
covered with the snow, where they have been found buried several feet
deep, and frozen to death." "And is it impossible," said Tommy, "in such
a case to escape?" "In general it is," said Mr Barlow; "but there have
been some extraordinary instances of persons who have lived several days
in that condition, and yet have been taken out alive; to-morrow you
shall read a remarkable story to that purpose."

As they were walking on, Tommy looked up at the sky, where all the stars
glimmered with unusual brightness, and said, "What an innumerable number
of stars is here! I think I never observed so many before in all my
life!" "Innumerable as they appear to you," said Mr Barlow, "there are
persons that have not only counted all you now see, but thousands more,
which are at present invisible to your eye." "How can that be?" inquired
Tommy, "for there is neither beginning nor end; they are scattered so
confusedly about the sky, that I should think it as impossible to number
them, as the flakes of snow that fell to-day while we were in the wood."

At this Mr Barlow smiled, and said, that he believed Harry could give
him a different account, although perhaps he could not number them all.
"Harry," said he, "cannot you show your companion some of the
constellations?" "Yes," answered Harry, "I believe I remember some that
you have been so good as to teach me." "But pray, sir," said Tommy,
"what is a constellation?"

"Those," answered Mr Barlow, "who first began to observe the heavens as
you do now, have observed certain stars, remarkable either for their
brightness or position. To these they have given a particular name that
they might the more easily know them again, and discourse of them to
others; and these particular clusters of stars, thus joined together and
named, they call _constellations_. But come, Harry, you are a little
farmer, and can certainly point out to us Charles' Wain."

Harry then looked up to the sky, and pointed out seven very bright
stars towards the north. "You are right," said Mr Barlow; "four of these
stars have put the common people in mind of