Every clear night, the astronomer put on his old coat and went out to watch the stars. He knew all their names and all their paths, and he could tell you where the moon would rise a month from now.
One evening he wandered past the last houses of the town, with his head tipped back and his eyes on the sky. On he walked, and on. Up above him the stars shone bright, and down below, hidden in the dark grass, lay a deep well.
He took one more step, and the ground was gone.
Splash! He came up cold and wet and bruised all over, and he shouted until his voice cracked. "Help! Oh, my poor knees! Oh, my poor head! Will nobody help me?"
A neighbor heard the noise and came running. She leaned over the edge and peered down at him while he told her how it had happened.
"Old friend," she said, "you try so hard to see what is up in the sky. Why can you not see what is right here on the ground?"
Keep your eyes on the ground as well as the stars.
One thing to talk aboutWhat do you love so much that you forget everything else?
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Discussion questions
- The Astronomer knew so much. How could he still walk into a well?
- Was the Neighbor being kind or unkind when she spoke to him?
- What should the Astronomer do on his next night out, without giving up the stars?
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