There is an old myth of a winged horse. Would you like to hear it? Listen.

This wonderful horse was under the care of the nine Muses. These nine fair daughters of Jupiter taught men all that is known of music, poetry, history, and the stars. It was said and believed that they helped people to remember what they taught.

And now even their names are forgotten except by the few who love to remember the things others forget.

One beautiful summer morning this winged horse appeared at the fountain of the Muses on Mount Helicon. The laughing Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, saw him as she dropped from the sky. Dancing Terpsichore tried to take him by the mane, but the white wings flashed in her face and the wonderful steed was gone before she had touched him.

Urania, the Muse who loved the heavens, believed that he was from some star world.

Clio, the Muse of History, knew that no such creature had ever lived on earth before.

They all watched for his return. The next morning he was seen again at the fountain; after that he came every day. The Muses named him Pegasus.

"We know that there is a work for all created things. What can his be?" the sisters asked one another.

Sure enough his work came at last.

In a distant land was a brave young soldier named Bellerophon. He was so bold, so fearless, and so handsome that those who ought to have been his friends became jealous of him. That means trouble, you know.

Bellerophon wished to travel. His king gave him letters on parchment to take to King Iobates of Lycia.

The king did not read the letters for ten days after Bellerophon came to Lycia. During those ten days there was feasting and dancing in honor of the new guest.

After the feasts of welcome were over, King Iobates read the letters and found that the one who sent them wanted Bellerophon punished for certain misdeeds which people said he had done.

It was a sharp trick to send such letters by the very person who was to be punished. King Iobates was puzzled as to what to do.

Then some of his wise men told him of the terrible chimera that was in the west of his kingdom. This strange creature had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a crocodile. Its breath was flames of fire, so the peasants said. Nobody dared to attack it.

"Just the thing," said Iobates to himself, and sent for Bellerophon.

"You are the one to rid my country of this terrible monster. Do you dare to try such a task?"

Brave Bellerophon answered, "I have no fear; my heart is pure; my strength is as the strength of ten. I will go."

BELLEROPHON AND PEGASUS. At the Fountain of the Muses on Mount Helicon.

That night he slept in the temple of Minerva, the wise goddess. He dreamed that Minerva brought him a golden bridle and told him to go to the fountain of Pirene and find Pegasus.

When he awoke the golden bridle was in his hand.

He went to the fountain and there he saw Pegasus drinking. Bellerophon held up the bridle and for the first time Pegasus was caught.

The brave soldier leapt on the winged horse's back and Pegasus struck his hoofs once against the earth, and then sprang lightly towards the sky. He spread his wings and the nine Muses saw him sailing in the air with a rider on his back.

"He has found his work," said Clio.

Bellerophon could see over all the land. He found the terrible chimera and slew it. For all its strange shape and fearful looks, it was not such a fierce animal as he had feared.

Pegasus took his rider quickly back to King Iobates' palace and then vanished. He was found the next morning by the nine Muses drinking at their fountain.

Bellerophon was given another hard task to do when the king found that he had lived through his first.

Pegasus came at his call, and with his help everything was easy.

But as soon as one work was done King Iobates found another.

Bellerophon suspected nothing, and went bravely out to help his friend the king.

At last King Iobates said he had nothing more for him to do. After a time Bellerophon married the king's daughter and lived quietly at home in Lycia.

Pegasus, the pet of the nine Muses, became so gentle that he would let them soar to the skies on his back, but no mortal save Bellerophon dared to touch him.

Bellerophon, having no more great earthly tasks to do, called his winged steed one morning and dared to attempt to guide him to Mount Olympus, 011 whose lofty top sat the great Jupiter on his throne in the clouds.

Jupiter, seeing him coming, sent a single gadfly to sting the tender skin of Pegasus. The gadfly dealt a cruel blow and proud Pegasus thought Bellerophon had dared to strike him.

He reared upon his haunches and sent Bellerophon reeling downward to earth, the victim of a selfish wish to outdo others. Bellerophon fell upon a rocky field far from any city. His fall made him both lame and blind. Separated from his friends he wandered alone, living as best he could, and it is not known what became of him. His winged steed fled to the fountain on Mount Helicon, but never again came at his call. He could not forget the sharp sting of the gadfly.

Some have fancied that those who love the Muses see him even in these days, and that the flash of his golden bridle is caught by a gifted few once in each century.

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS

In the earlier ages everything in nature had its myth. We have been too practical and too full of haste in these latter days to listen to nature or to myths, but let us inspire the children to do so. Who among us has not regretted his lack of knowledge of some mythical person, in song, picture, or story?

The greater number of ways in which a truth is presented to the child, the stronger the impression that truth makes upon him. Music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and language, written or spoken, have each told the story of the sun and its glorious power over earthly creatures.

Each nation has its myth concerning the sun's personality. Some may have adapted or adopted those of other nations; some may have originated their own theory to explain the origin of the heat and light which come from the apparent ruler of the skies. The myth is preserved through the ages, and the child in the school perceives its beauty, while he understands as well as his teacher its impossibility.

Let the plain scientific truths of the latest researches be given first. Then the fable, or folklore, or former explanation which once vouched for the origin of the sun, moon, or stars, or other natural objects, seems to the children like their own childish fancies about things unknown.

The story should follow, if possible, a tale or lesson on the subject of the myth. If the children have already had the scientific truths given them, then the myth serves as a reminder of facts already learned.

The special directions are merely suggestive. Teachers will supplement them or substitute others at their pleasure.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE LESSON ON PHAETON.

Secure, if possible, before the reading of the story of Phaeton, a good plaster cast or marble bust of Apollo, or some reproduction of the Aurora of Guido Reni. Show a picture of the temple of Apollo, if one can be obtained; let the children understand how much a part of the life of the Greek was this belief in Apollo's power and Apollo's beauty. The child will then begin to understand how much the ancients strove after beauty in all things.

The Indian, African, and Chinese all have their stories of the origin of light and heat, and history and geography may assist in this lesson on Phaeton.

Sprinkle water on the window sill, and notice its disappearance, caused by the heat of sunshine or of the room. Ask for the reason of a similar loss of water in the street, road, or river. What is the sun's color? What is the color of fire? What is the sun's effect on ice and snow, on vegetable and animal life? Does it work quietly? Is great power usually quiet?

Lower the shades in the schoolroom. Why is it dark? Close the eyes. Why is it dark? What is darkness? What causes dark or dull days? What shapes do clouds take? Are they ever like horses, cattle, sheep, or swans? Is the sun somewhere always shining? Are clouds like curtains? Paint or draw a sunrise or sunset.

Notice a rainbow, when possible, and form one with a prism in the schoolroom. What colors of the prism are shown most in sunset or sunrise? Are all shown each time? How many have seen the same colors on a soap bubble or elsewhere? Mention some other name of the sun, as Sol; the derivation of Sunday; the effect of the sun on the seasons. Describe spring, summer, autumn, and winter as persons. Is the sun king of the hours, the days, the months, and the years? Did the ancients know the real truth concerning the distance, size, and nightly disappearance of the sun? Where is the Great Bear? The Little Bear? Do you think the ancient Greeks really believed the story of Phaeton?

Reproduce it orally after reading.

Each myth may be developed in a similar way.

A BIBLIOGRAPHY.

The following list is given as containing many books which will be helpful for reference or study, as indicating the sources of myths and the customs of the ancients, and as supplying an extended account of any mythical person or object referred to in this volume.

While each book is considered valuable, those marked with a star are especially compact, concise, and helpful to readers who can have access to but few books, and that by purchase.

GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHS.

"Age of Fable," compiled by Thomas Bulfinch. McKay, Philadelphia $1 25

"Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology, and Geography." D. Appleton & Co., New York. Half morocco 6 00

"The Mythology of Greece and Rome," with special reference to its use in art, Oscar Seeman. American Book Company, New York 60

"Harper's Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities," edited by Harry Thurston Peck. Harper Bros., New York, 1 vol. 6 00 2 vols. 7 00

"Seiffert's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities," from the German of Oskar Seiffert. The Macmillan Co., New York 3 00

"Makers," by John Fiske. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston 2 00

"The Classic Myths in English Literature," by C.M. Gayley. Ginn & Co., Boston 1 50

"Myths of Greece and Rome," narrated with special reference to literature and art, by H.A. Guerber. American Book Company, New York 1 50

"The Heroes," by Charles Kingsley. Several publishers; various prices.

"The Queen of the Air," by John Ruskin. Several publishers; various prices.

NORSE MYTHS.

"Myths of Northern Lands," by H.A. Guerber. American Book Company, New York 1 50

"Norse Mythology, or the Religion of Our Forefathers," by R.B. Anderson. Scott, Foresman & Co., Chicago 2 50

"Dr. Wilhelm Wagner's Asgard and the Gods, a Manual of Norse Mythology," edited by W.W. Macdowall. Sonnenshein & Co., London, England 2 00

RUSSIAN MYTHS.

"The Hero of Esthonia," and other studies in the romantic literature of that country, compiled by W.F. Kirby. John C. Nimmo, London, England. 2 vols. 6 00

"Selections from the Kalevala, the Epic Poem of Finland." Henry Holt, New York 1 50

This epic is in the same measure as Longfellow's "Hiawatha," and is interesting to all those who enjoy that poem.

OLDEST EGYPTIAN TALES.

"Egyptian Tales, Translated from the Papyri." Frederick A. Stokes & Co., New York. 2 vols., each 1 50

These tales are interesting from their evident antiquity and from the insight they give as to ancient Egyptian customs.

A PRONOUNCING INDEX.

The following key explains the symbols which are used in the pronouncing index to indicate the pronunciation of the words. It is based upon the 1900 edition of Webster's International Dictionary: