diff options
Diffstat (limited to '26619.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 26619.txt | 1822 |
1 files changed, 1822 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/26619.txt b/26619.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ff38c13 --- /dev/null +++ b/26619.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1822 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Minnie's Pet Lamb, by Madeline Leslie + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Minnie's Pet Lamb + +Author: Madeline Leslie + +Release Date: September 14, 2008 [EBook #26619] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINNIE'S PET LAMB *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. A list of corrections +is found at the end of the text. + + + + +[Illustration: "Nannie! Nannie! come and get your breakfast!" P. 16.] + +[Illustration: MINNIE and her PETS + BY MRS MADELINE LESLIE + MINNIE'S PET LAMB.] + + + + + MINNIE'S PET LAMB. + + + BY + + MRS. MADELINE LESLIE, + AUTHOR OF "THE LESLIE STORIES," "TIM, THE SCISSORS-GRINDER," + ETC. + + + ILLUSTRATED. + + + BOSTON: + LEE AND SHEPARD, + SUCCESSORS TO PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO. + 1864. + + + + +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by + +A. R. BAKER, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of +Massachusetts. + +ELECTROTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. + + + + + TO MY YOUNG FRIEND, + + HENRY FOWLE DURANT, JR. + + =These Little Volumes= + + ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED + + BY THE AUTHOR, + + IN THE EARNEST HOPE THAT THEY MAY INCREASE IN HIM THAT + LOVE OF NATURE AND OF RURAL LIFE WHICH HAS EVER + EXERTED SO SALUTARY AN INFLUENCE IN THE + FORMATION OF THE CHARACTERS OF + THE WISE AND GOOD. + + + + +MINNIE AND HER PETS. + + Minnie's Pet Parrot. + Minnie's Pet Cat. + Minnie's Pet Dog. + Minnie's Pet Horse. + Minnie's Pet Lamb. + Minnie's Pet Monkey. + + + + + +MINNIE'S PET LAMB. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +NANNIE AND THE PONY. + + +In another book, about Minnie's pet pony, I have already given you some +account of Nannie, her pet lamb. + +This had all the peculiarities of the South Down, to which breed of +sheep it belonged. It had full, bright, black eyes, a small head, and a +brownish-gray face and legs. Its back was straight and wide, and covered +with fine, short wool, which protected it from the cold. + +When Mr. Lee first brought the lamb home, it cried, or bleated, +continually. It was placed in a pen close by the stall where Star, the +Shetland pony, was kept, and, the next day after it came, managed to get +over the light railing which separated them, and creep up close to the +animal. + +I don't know what Star thought of the little creature; but I suppose he +was pleased to have a companion, for when the hostler went to feed him, +he found them on very social terms. After this, the lamb's affection for +Star grew so strong that it soon forgot all about its mother and its old +friends, and gave its whole heart to the new one. The pony returned the +love, and was as kind to his little companion as he could possibly be. +He never seemed better pleased than when the lamb was standing quietly +by his side, eating the hay or turnips with which it was fed, or when, +its hunger being appeased, it lay down close under his nose, and chewed +its cud by the hour together. + +At such times, the pony was careful not to step on it, or injure it in +any way, but expressed his delight in its society by little short +neighs, which were sometimes answered by a responsive note. + +In a few days they understood each other perfectly, and were as well +acquainted, and as fond of each other, as if they had lived together all +their lives. + +Mr. Lee, who was visiting Minnie's pets with his little daughter, said, +one morning, it would never do for the lamb to stand in the stall, so +closely confined from the out-door air; and he directed John to turn it +out into the barn yard for a few hours every day. + +The man did so; but the poor lamb bleated at this separation from its +friend, until the groom happened to think such a change would do Star +good too. + +As soon as the lamb saw the horse coming through the barn door, it +stopped crying, and ran toward him just as it would if he had been its +mother. + +Star put down his head to his favorite, when the lamb frisked and +gambolled about him, occasionally nibbling at his nose, when he would +start back, and, thinking this fine fun, would begin to dance again. O, +what a pleasant time they did have! + +Every morning, Minnie went with her bowl of milk for Nannie, into +which, as the lamb grew older, she crumbled some pieces of bread. It was +a pretty sight to see the little creature peeping shyly, with its bright +eyes, from behind its friend, and then coming a few steps toward her, +when she called, in her low, sweet voice,-- + +"Nannie! Nannie! come and get your breakfast!" + +Then she held the bowl down where the lamb could reach to put its mouth +in, and laughed to see how much the pretty pet liked the milk. + +One morning the lamb had been eating so many turnips that it was not +very hungry; and when Minnie called, it did not obey. In vain the little +girl called out, in her softest tones, "Nannie, Nannie! come, pretty +Nannie, and drink your milk." + +At last, the child went into the stable to see what was the matter with +her pet, and there her father and mother presently found her, stooping +down on the hay by the side of Star, with the lamb's head in her lap. + +"Minnie! Minnie! come out, quick! The horse will kick you," exclaimed +her mother, greatly alarmed; but Mr. Lee only laughed, as he said,-- + +"No, indeed; Star loves his young mistress too much for that. Let the +child be; she is doing well enough." + +"But she will soil her clothes, and get her shoes covered with dirt," +urged the lady, still looking anxious. + +"O, mamma!" cried Minnie, "I'm in a real clean place on this straw, and +Nannie likes to lick my hand. How funny Star is looking round to see +what I am doing to his friend." + +A few hours later, when Mrs. Lee sat with her sewing in the back parlor, +the little girl ran into the room, and taking a cricket, pulled it +toward her mother, saying,-- + +"I want you to tell me all you know about sheep and lambs. Can they do +such wonderful things, as dogs, and horses, and cats can?" + +The lady laughed. "I am afraid," she began, "that you would not be +satisfied with what little I can tell you; for I confess that I know +very little about them. You had better wait till your father comes home, +for he has been studying a good many books on that subject, and has +learned about the different kinds, with a view to buying a flock. + +"Or you can ask Anne; for she was brought up in a shepherd's family, and +can tell you all about the way they bring up little lambs when their +mothers will not own them." + +"'Not own them,' mamma! What can you mean? I thought mothers always +owned their little children." + +"Sometimes a ewe, as they call the mother, has two or three lambs at a +time; and perhaps she thinks she could not nurse them all, and so she +chooses one or two that she will take care of, and when the other comes +near her, she butts it softly with her head. The lamb knows then that +she will not take care of it; and the little forsaken creature begins to +cry, Anne says, 'for all the world just like a little baby.'" + +"And what do the people do for it?" inquired Minnie, tears filling her +eyes. + +"Why, they take it away from the flock, and 'bring it up by hand,' as +they call it; that is, they feed it with milk, and it learns to love +the one who takes care of it, and follows her about wherever she goes, +just like a little dog. Anne will tell you all about it." + +"She is busy now. I heard her tell cook she wanted to give your chamber +a thorough cleaning to-day. Can't you remember something more?" + +"You know that gentleman, Mr. Sullivan, who comes here sometimes with +your father. He is what is called a practical shepherd; that is, he +knows all about the habits of sheep, from having been brought up with +them. He understands the different breeds, and knows which are the best +for wool; and which, for mutton; and what kinds of food are best for +them. I have heard your father say that he had gained a great deal of +information from Mr. Sullivan, which he could not get from books. I +think he will visit us again before long; and I advise you to save all +your difficult questions for him to answer." + +"If father buys a flock, will he keep them on his farm?" asked the +child. + +"O, no, dear! Sheep like to roam over the hills, and browse on the +bushes and moss. They can find a very good living where a cow would +suffer from hunger." + +At this moment, Anne appeared at the door, to ask her mistress a +question, and Minnie took the opportunity to tell her that she wanted to +hear about raising little lambs. + +"I'll be pleased enough to tell you, miss," answered the woman, smiling. +"I've had a dale to do with sheep, and lambs, too, in my younger days, +and many's the little cosset I've brought up by hand, when the poor +cratur would otherwise have died." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE LITTLE LAMBS. + + +Anne was standing on some high steps, putting up clean curtains in her +mistress's room; and Minnie stood watching her, and wondering how soon +she would be done, so she could tell about the lambs. At last she +said,-- + +"Anne, if I stand up in a chair, I could hold the nails and give them to +you." + +"That's true for you, miss," answered the girl; "and it's a much better +way than kapeing them in my mouth." + +"And you can talk better," urged Minnie, with a roguish look. + +Anne laughed outright. "Ah, it's the story ye're after, I see; and sure +ye're welcome to all I can tell you. + +"You know my mother was English, and my father Irish. I was born in the +great city o' Dublin; but after my father died, which was long enough +before I could tell my right hand from my left, I went with my mother to +her home in England. Of coorse, I knew nothing of that except by +hearsay, which is no evidence at all; but well I can remember, when I +was old enough, I was sent out on my grandfather's farm, to mind the +sheep; I had a dog, Rover, to go with me, and a little crook, because +I was a shepherdess, you know; and I used to carry dinner enough in my +pail for Rover too, for he had to work hard, poor fellow! + +[Illustration: THE YOUNG SHEPHERDESS.] + +"I liked it very well at first, for the lambs looked so pretty, skipping +around the dams; and the air was so fresh and bright; but I was a very +little girl; so I soon grew tired, and left all the care of the sheep to +Rover. He flew from one end of the field to the other, chasing them +away from the hill where they used to wander and get lost. + +"When I saw the lambs drinking their mother's milk, I thought it must be +very nice; and so I lay down on the grass, and drank some too; and I +liked it so well that I used to drink every day, until grandfather found +it out, and forbid me, because the lambs would not have enough. + +"By and by I grew up to be a big girl, and then, what with tending the +sick sheep, and bringing up the cossets, I had plenty to do. Grandfather +had five hundred ewes. He was a rich man, and every body thought well of +him. When the lambs began to come, there were some of the ewes that +would not own them." + +"I know about that, Anne," said Minnie; "mamma told me." + +"Well, when there are two, this is often the case; or sometimes the +shepherd finds the mother has not milk enough for two, even if she would +like them. Did your mamma tell you that some kinds of sheep are much +better nurses than others?" + +"No, I think she did not know that. She says she don't know much about +sheep." + +"Very likely, as she was not brought up with them. There is a kind +called Merinos, which are very bad nurses. Grandfather wouldn't have +them on that account, though they have very fine wool, which sells for a +good price. Out of a hundred lambs, they wouldn't bring up more than +half. + +"They are poor, tender little things, any way. Well, I mind the time +when there was a great storm, and grandfather had to be up all night, +housing the poor craturs; for the lambs were coming fast. A little past +midnight, mother called me, and there we sat till morning, before a +blazing fire, warming up one and another, as he brought them in. I sat +down on a cricket, and took two or three in my lap at once, and hugged +them up to my bosom. When they began to twitch, and we found they must +die, we put them on the great hearth rug, and took more. Sometimes +they'd just lie down and go to sleep, and when we had time to look at +them, they'd be stiff and cold; and then again they would cry out like a +baby. It used to make my heart ache to hear them." + +Anne had now finished her work, and came down from the steps. + +"I don't think I should like to be a shepherdess," said Minnie, +sighing. + +"O, yes, you'd like it mightily. Such a time as that only comes once in +a great many years. And then, when it's warm summer weather, and the +lambs frisk and frolic about their mothers in the field, and you just +sit down and play on the accordeon, while the dog keeps the flock in +order,--O, there's no work so pleasant or so healthy as that!" + +When Mr. Lee returned from the city, Minnie was ready with her +questions about sheep. + +"I want to know all I can about them," she exclaimed. + +"There are few stories that can be told about sheep," he answered, +cheerfully; "for it must be confessed that they are far inferior to the +horse, dog, and many other animals, in intelligence and sagacity. The +sheep has few marked traits, except its meekness, and its natural +affection for its young. Still, when I remember that the lamb was +selected before all other animals for sacrifice, and as a type of Him +who is called 'the Lamb of God,' and who is to take away the sins of the +world, I feel a deep interest in its welfare. + +"The sheep, too, is one of the most useful animals, its fleece or wool +being used as a covering to man, and its flesh for food. It was only +yesterday I read the well-established fact that, from one pound of +sheep's wool a thread was spun so fine that it reached to the almost +incredible distance of ninety-five miles, while one of ordinary fineness +reached twenty-six miles. This covering grows so thick in winter that it +enables them to bear cold which would be fatal to other animals. They +appear to know, too, when a storm is approaching, and take refuge under +a sheltering hill or some projecting cliff. + +"One very curious thing is, that they can live under the snow for a long +time. Mr. Sullivan, who is a shepherd, you know, told me a circumstance +which occurred in his own experience. + +"There was every appearance of a storm, and he, with his men, drove the +sheep early into the fold. In the morning, on counting them, he found +there were seven valuable ewes missing. It had snowed all night, and was +still snowing, when he started out in search of them. But nowhere could +they be found. The storm continued four days, and the snow had reached a +depth very uncommon; but day after day the search was renewed. At last, +however, it was given up; when one day a woodcutter, in going over a +stone wall which lay almost entirely concealed, fell through the snow, +and found himself in the midst of the lost sheep. Their breath had +rendered the crust, which was firm enough to bear his weight in other +places, so thin here that it would not sustain him. They seemed lively +and well, having found enough dead grass under the snow to sustain life. + +"There is an instance very similar to this in one of my books, which I +will find and read to you." + +"In the winter of 1800, a sheep was buried in the snow near Kendal, and +remained there thirty-three days and nights, without the possibility of +moving, and yet survived. + +"In the same winter, a sheep near Caldbeck, in Cumberland, was buried +thirty-eight days; when found, it had eaten the wool completely off both +its shoulders, and was reduced to a skeleton; but with great care it +recovered." + +"Mr. James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, gives a most interesting account +of eight hundred ewes that were buried in the snow. Some of them he and +his fellow-servants succeeded in getting out the first day; but the +second there were but few of them to be seen, except the horns of some +stragglers. The men went about, boring with long poles, but with little +success, until their dog found out their difficulty, and flying to a +spot, began to scrape away the snow. From this time, by his keen scent, +he marked faster than they could get them out, and by his skill saved +two hundred, though some were buried in a mountain of snow fifty feet +deep. They were all alive, and most of them recovered their strength." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE SHEEP AND THE SCAVENGER. + + +"Why, Minnie," said Mrs. Lee, one morning a few weeks later, "here is a +story very much like that of our pony and lamb. If Poll will stop +chattering, I will read it to you." + +"In December, 1825, Thomas Rae, a blacksmith in Hardhills, purchased a +beautiful lamb, of the black-faced breed, from an individual passing +with a large flock. It was so extremely wild that it was with great +difficulty separated from its companions. He put it in a field in +company with a cow and a little white pony. It never seemed to mind the +cow, but soon manifested fondness for the pony, who showed the +friendship to be reciprocated. + +"They soon became so attached that they were constantly to be seen in +company, whether the pony was used for the saddle or its small carriage, +exciting a smile from those who witnessed the unusual spectacle. When +the lamb was approached, she would run under the pony for protection, +when she would gaze around with looks of conscious security. At night, +the lamb always repaired to the stable, and reposed under the manger, +where it felt the pony's breath. + +"When separate, which only happened as it was effected by force, the +little creature would raise the most plaintive bleatings, and the pony a +responsive neighing. + +"On one occasion, they both strayed into an adjoining field, in which +was a flock of sheep. The lamb joined the flock at a short distance from +the pony; but as their owner removed him, it immediately followed, +without the least regard to its own species. + +"Another time, when passing through a large flock, it followed its +favorite without showing any signs of a desire to remain with its +natural companions." + +"Somebody must have known about Nannie, and put it in a book," cried +Minnie, greatly excited. "I wonder who it was." + +"I presume there are many such cases," answered the lady, smiling; "but +you will be pleased to know that Mr. Sullivan will probably be here this +evening; and you can ask him as many questions as you wish." + +The little girl clapped her hands, and then ran out to the kitchen, to +tell Anne the good news. + +When her father returned, she looked anxiously into the carriage, to see +whether he had any one with him, and was pleased to find that a +dark-complexioned, black-whiskered man occupied the other seat. + +"I have prepared Mr. Sullivan for a regular catechising," exclaimed Mr. +Lee, springing from the carriage, and kissing Minnie's glowing cheek. +"You may show him Nannie, too; and he will tell you how to manage her." + +They were soon seated in the parlor, when Mr. Lee said,-- + +"I have often thought of that beautiful passage in which our Saviour +describes the Jewish shepherd: 'The sheep hear his voice, and he calleth +his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out; and he goeth before them, +and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.'" + +"It is astonishing," remarked the visitor, "what power a humane shepherd +has over his flock, when he has once acquired their confidence. This +method of giving names to the sheep, as well as to the leaders, is very +important. They soon learn the name given them, and will readily come at +the familiar call. + +"I read lately an account given by a gentleman who had been travelling +in Greece, and he asked if it was customary there to give sheep names. +'Yes,' was the answer; and soon after he had an opportunity of seeing +for himself. Passing a flock, he asked the shepherd to call one. He did +so; and it instantly left its pasture and its companions, and ran up to +the shepherd with signs of pleasure, and with a prompt obedience which I +had never seen excelled in any other animal. + +"I have heard, too, that an English shepherd knows every sheep in his +flock. By feeding the lambs from the hand, and other kind treatment, he +accustoms them to come at his call, and gradually to understand and +follow his directions, when the rest of the flock will immediately +follow. + +"In France, the shepherd selects certain sheep from the flock, gives +them names, and teaches them to come by offering them a piece of bread. +When he wishes to lead his flock through a defile, or to make them +change the direction in which they are proceeding, he calls one of +these selected sheep. Those that are nearest follow immediately, and the +others are not very far behind; and so, by degrees, the whole flock is +disposed to obey the call of the shepherd." + +"Since you were here last," rejoined Mr. Lee, "I have been reading +Youatt's admirable treatise on sheep. He has an instance very similar +concerning the flock of Messrs. Nowlan, Kilkenny. In 1820, they had six +hundred pure Merinos, all under the charge of one man. Not even a dog +was permitted; the whole care devolved on the shepherd. + +"At the sound of his horn, all the sheep flocked around him if he +stopped, and followed him if he moved forward. + +"Salt was the means by which this docility was acquired, a small +quantity of which he carried about with him, distributing a little as a +reward for their obedience to his call. + +"The Kilkenny farm is divided by the King's River, which at times is so +rapid and impetuous as not to be fordable by the strongest horse. A +plank bridge, eighteen inches wide, and one hundred and ten feet long, +with a rail on one side, is thrown across for the convenience of those +who may be desirous of crossing the stream. + +"When it is necessary to remove the sheep from one side of the river to +the other, the shepherd crosses the plank, sounding his horn, and each +individual of the flock passes regularly after him in single file. Even +in the highest floods, there has never occurred one single casualty." + +"That reminds me," said Mr. Sullivan, "of the flocks in the Island of +Cyrnon, which, on the landing of a stranger, always flee away into the +interior of the country; but as soon as the shepherd blows his horn, +they scamper around him, and forget every fear. + +"But all this time I am quite unmindful of my young friend, who has not +yet asked one question." + +"I want to know whether it's easy to be a shepherdess," said Minnie, +blushing; "because I should like to be one; only I should want the kind +of sheep that would own their lambs, and love them." + +Both Mr. Lee and his visitor laughed heartily. + +"Sheep have one trait, and a very marked one," said Mr. Sullivan, "which +makes it difficult to keep them in order. That is, their habit of +imitation. On my farm, the boundary one side is a stone wall, and it +seems almost impossible to keep them from going over it. There is no +better feed in my neighbor's pasture; but for some reason the leader +runs over, and then the whole flock follow. They know better, and they +seldom attempt it when Moses, the dog, is in sight; for sheep soon learn +the exact boundaries of their enclosure: from being driven back so +often, they find how far they can roam, and remain in peace. + +"So, Miss Minnie, unless you can run very fast, and like to keep on the +chase pretty much all day, I think you would find it easier to take care +of your pets at home than to be a shepherdess." + +"Will you please tell me a story about sheep?" said the little girl. + +"If you like a laughable story, I can tell you one which I was thinking +of not a minute since. It illustrates their habit of imitation. It is +often exceedingly difficult to drive a flock of sheep through a narrow +passage to which they are unaccustomed; but if one of them can be got +through, the rest follow without the slightest trouble. + +"A butcher's boy was driving some fat sheep through Liverpool; but they +ran down a street where he did not wish them to go. The boy saw a man +before him sweeping the street, and called loudly to him,-- + +"'Stop them! Turn them about!' + +"The man began to run from one side of the street to the other, always +opposing himself and his broom to them when they tried to force a +passage through; but the sheep became more and more excited, and +pressed forward with increasing impetuosity. + +"At last, one of them came right up to the man, who was stooping down, +as if he were going to jump over him, which so frightened the fellow +that, instead of rising, he seized the short broomstick, with one hand +on either end, and held it over his head. He remained a few seconds in +this position, when the sheep made a spring, and jumped fairly over +him, without touching the broom. + +"The first had no sooner done this, than another followed, and then +another, in quick succession, so that the man, perfectly confounded, +seemed to lose all recollection, and remained in the same attitude until +the whole flock had jumped over him, not one of them attempting to pass +on either side, though the street was quite clear. + +"All this took place just after a wet day, so that the man was entirely +bespattered with mud and dirt before they had all passed; and it would +be impossible to conceive a more ludicrous appearance than the poor +fellow made on that occasion." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ATTACHMENT TO HOME. + + +"That's a real funny story," exclaimed Minnie, her eyes sparkling with +mirth, "only I can't help pitying that poor man." + +"I can recall another, though a sadder incident," continued Mr. +Sullivan, "illustrating the same quality." + +"In 1808, an accident happened in England to some sheep belonging to +Mr. Cooper, of Huilston Hall, who had intrusted them to the care of a +boy for that day, in the absence of the shepherd, who was assisting in +getting in the harvest. + +"About the middle of the day, the sheep broke from their pasture, when +the thoughtless boy drove them back in great haste over a narrow and +deep ditch. The leading sheep fell in, and the remainder, passing over +them, smothered twenty-five sheep and forty lambs, the whole being worth +near four hundred dollars. + +"In the same book, there is also an account of a flock near Guildford, +consisting of more than eight hundred sheep, in one pasture. A dog one +day jumped the hedge, and so frightened them that one of them jumped +into an adjoining field, which was on a great descent, when the rest of +the flock followed each other over the gap of the hedge so fast that one +hundred and twenty-three of them were killed." + +"There is one quality or characteristic of the sheep which will interest +you, Minnie," said her father, "and that is their love of home. Perhaps +Mr. Sullivan will tell you some stories about that." + +"I should be very glad to hear them, and about the little lambs." + +"A great deal can be said upon that," returned the shepherd, cheerfully. +"So strong is their attachment to the place where they have been bred, +that I have heard of their returning to the Highlands of Scotland from a +distance of three hundred miles. When a few sheep accidentally get away +from their acquaintance in the flock, they always return home with +great eagerness and perseverance. + +"The most singular instance that I know of is that of a black ewe, that +returned from a farm in the head of Glen Lyon to her home in Tweeddale, +and accomplished the journey in nine days. She was soon missed by her +owner, and a shepherd was despatched in pursuit of her, who followed her +all the way to Crieff, where he turned and gave her up. He got +intelligence of her all the way, and every one told him that she +absolutely persisted in travelling on--she would not be turned, +regarding neither sheep nor shepherd by the way. + +"Her poor little lamb was often far behind, and she had constantly to +urge it on by impatient bleating. She unluckily reached Stirling on the +morning of a great annual fair, about the end of May, and judging it +imprudent to venture through the crowd with her lamb, she halted on the +north side of the town the whole day, where she was seen by hundreds, +lying close by the roadside. + +"But the next morning, a little before the break of day, when all was +still, she was seen stealing quietly through the town, in apparent +terror of the dogs that were prowling about the street. The last time +she was seen on the road was at a toll bar near St. Ninian's; the man +stopped her, thinking she was a strayed animal, and that some one would +claim her. She tried several times to break through by force, when he +opened the gate for travellers; but he always prevented her, and at +length she turned patiently back. She found some means of eluding him, +however; for she reached home on a Sabbath morning early in June, having +left the farm at Glen Lyon either on Thursday afternoon or Friday +morning, a week and two days before. + +"I suppose her former owner thought she had earned a right to remain on +her native farm, for he paid the Highland farmer the price of her, and +she remained with him till she at length died of old age, in her +seventeenth year." + +At this moment, company was announced, who remained till evening, so +that poor little Minnie, after waiting a long time for her stories, was +obliged to go to bed without them. + +"Never mind, dear," whispered her father, noticing her look of +disappointment; "I have a book with beautiful anecdotes of sheep and +lambs, which I will read to you when I come home to-morrow night." + +In the morning, Mr. Sullivan found time to pay Nannie a visit, and +pronounced her in a thriving condition. He recommended Mr. Lee to have +her wool sheared off, as it was so long as to make her uncomfortable +during the heat of summer. + +Nannie was now a year old, and was a fine, large lamb, with her speckled +face looking very bright and intelligent, and, as the gentleman said, +did credit to the care of her shepherdess. + +Soon after breakfast, Mr. Lee and his visitor went to the library on +business, and Minnie did not see them again until just as they were +getting into the carriage to drive away. She waited with some impatience +for her father to return, and wished she knew what book her father +referred to as having the stories in it, so that she might have it +ready for him. + +Her mother, finding that she was restless and discontented, advised her +to apply herself to her letters, which she was beginning to learn. + +If the truth must be told, the little girl was not fond of study; but +when her mother reminded her that most children of her age could read +and spell with ease, and that, if she was diligent, she herself would +soon be able to read stories, and not be dependent on any one else, she +thought it would be a good thing to learn. For half an hour, she forgot +her desire for her father's return in finding A's and E's in books to +match letters on her cards. + +Evening came at last, and Mr. Lee with it. He looked very smiling, and +told his wife his sister was in the city, and was coming in a few weeks +to visit them. The moment he saw Minnie's expectant face, he told her he +would be ready in five minutes to attend to her, and then invited Mrs. +Lee to accompany them to the library, to hear some stories from the +Shepherd's Calendar, and other books. + +In a few moments, Minnie was seated on her father's lap, her whole +countenance beaming with pleased anticipation. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AFFECTION FOR ITS YOUNG. + + +The gentleman began:-- + +"The marked characteristic of the sheep is that of natural affection, of +which it possesses a great share. At the present time, there is in +Regent's Park a poor sheep, with very bad foot rot. Crawling along the +pasture on its knees, it with difficulty contrives to procure for itself +subsistence; and the pain which it suffers when compelled to get on its +feet is evidently very great. At a little distance from the sufferer was +another sheep, which, after close observation, I found was always the +same. As I pursued my regular morning walk through the Park, I commonly +sought out the friends, and, after two or three days, they seemed to be +aware that no harm was intended them, and they suffered me to come near +enough to observe their signals, and fully to satisfy myself that it was +always the same faithful adherent by whom the cripple was solaced and +watched. + +"When a sheep becomes blind, it is rarely abandoned to itself in this +hapless and helpless state. Some one of the flock attaches himself to +it, and by bleating calls it back from the precipice, and the lake, and +the pool, and every kind of danger to which it is exposed." + +"Isn't that good of them?" cried Minnie, eagerly. "I like those sheep." + +"There was once a gentleman living in Inverness," Mr. Lee went on, "who +was passing through a lonely and unfrequented district, when he observed +a sheep bleating most piteously, and hurrying along the road to meet +him; on his approaching nearer, the animal redoubled its cries, and +looking earnestly in his face, seemed to implore some favor or +assistance. + +"Touched with a sight so unusual, he alighted, and leaving his gig, he +followed the sheep in the direction whence it had come. There, in a +solitary place, the ewe stopped, and the traveller found a lamb, +completely wedged in between two large stones, almost exhausted, but +still continuing to struggle very feebly. + +"The kind gentleman instantly extricated the little sufferer, and placed +it safely on the neighboring greensward, while the delighted mother +poured out her thanks in a long-continued and grateful, if not a +musical, strain. + +"An interesting provision of nature with regard to these animals is, +that the more inhospitable the land on which they feed, the greater +will be their kindness and affection to their young. + +"'I once herded,' says the Ettrick Shepherd, 'two years on a wild and +bare farm, called Willenslee, on the border of Mid Lothian; and of all +the sheep I ever saw, these were the kindest and most affectionate to +their lambs. I was often deeply affected at scenes which I witnessed. We +had one very hard winter, so that our sheep grew lean in the spring, +and disease came among them, and carried off a number. Often have I seen +these poor victims, when fallen to rise no more, even when unable to +lift their heads from the ground, holding up the leg to invite the +starving lamb to the miserable pittance that the udder still could +supply. I had never seen aught more painfully affecting. + +"'It is well known that it is a custom with shepherds, when a lamb dies, +if the mother have a sufficiency of milk, to bring her from the hill, +and put another lamb to her. This is done by putting the skin of the +dead lamb upon the living one; the ewe immediately acknowledges the +relationship, and after the skin has warmed on it, so as to give it +something of the smell of her own lamb, and when it has suckled her two +or three times, she accepts it, and nourishes it as her own ever after. +Whether it is from joy at this apparent reanimation of her young one, or +because a little doubt remains in her mind, which she would fain dispel, +I can not decide; but, for a number of days, she shows far more +fondness, by bleating and caressing, over this one, than she formerly +did over the one that was really her own. + +"'While at Willenslee, I never needed to drive home a sheep by force, +with dogs, or in any other way than the following: I found every ewe, of +course, hanging her head over her dead lamb; and having a piece of twine +with me for the purpose, I tied that to the lamb's neck or foot, and, +trailing it along, the ewe followed me into any house, or fold, or +wherever I chose to lead her. Any of them would have followed me in +that way for miles, with her nose close on the lamb, which she never +quitted for a moment, except to chase my dog, which she would not suffer +to walk near me. + +"'Out of curiosity, I often led them in to the side of the kitchen fire, +by this means into the midst of servants and dogs; but the more that +dangers multiplied around the ewe, the closer she clung to her dead +offspring, and thought of nothing whatever but protecting it. One of +the two years while I remained on this farm, a severe blast of snow came +on by night, about the latter end of April, which destroyed several +scores of our lambs; and as we had not enough of twins and odd lambs for +the mothers that had lost theirs, of course we selected the best ewes, +and put lambs to them. I found one fine ewe standing over a dead lamb +in the head of the Hope, and asked my master to put a lamb to her, but +he did not. I watched her, and faithfully did she stand to her charge; +so faithfully, that I think the like was never equalled by any of the +woolly race. I visited her morning and evening, and for the first eight +days never found her above two or three yards from the lamb; and always, +as I went my rounds, she eyed me long ere I came near her, and kept +trampling with her feet, and whistling through her nose, to frighten +away the dog. He got a regular chase, twice a day, as I passed by. + +"'The weather grew fine and warm, and the dead lamb soon decayed; but +still this affectionate and desolate creature kept hanging over the poor +remains, with an attachment that seemed to be nourished by +hopelessness. It often drew tears from my eyes, to see her hanging with +such fondness over a few bones, mixed with a small portion of wool. + +"'For the first fortnight, she never quitted the spot, and for another +week she visited it every morning and evening, uttering a few kindly and +heart-piercing bleats each time, till at length every remnant of her +offspring vanished, mixing with the soil, or wafted away by the winds +of heaven.'" + +"There, Minnie, I think you have heard enough for to-night," said Mr. +Lee, gayly, as he heard his little daughter sigh repeatedly. + +"O, father, I can't help being so sorry for the poor sheep!" + +"You had better read her something more cheerful, or she'll be thinking +of that all night," responded Mrs. Lee, laughing at the child's +dolorous tone. + +"Yes, father, please read one more." + +"Well, then, here is something that will please you." + +"A drover, being on his way to Smithfield market with a flock of sheep, +one of them became so sore-footed and lame that it could travel no +farther. The man, wishing to get on, took up the distressed animal, and +dropped it over the paling of an enclosure belonging to Mr. O'Kelly, and +where the celebrated race-horse Dungannon was then grazing, and pursued +his journey, intending to call for the sheep on his return, believing, +after a little rest, it would quickly recover. This was the case; but, +in the mean time, a strong attachment grew up between the two +inhabitants of the paddock. The horse would playfully nibble the neck +of the sheep, and, without hurting it, would lift it into the manger of +a neighboring shed belonging to the field, as much as to say, 'Though +you are not able to reach it, I will help you to the banquet.' Besides +this, the horse would, on all occasions, protect his new friend, and +would suffer no one to interfere with him. + +"When the drover returned, the two friends had become so attached, that +it seemed cruel to part them; and Mrs. O'Kelly, having learned the +circumstances, bought the sheep, and left the friends in peaceable +possession of the paddock and its adjoining shelter." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE SHEEP-FARM. + + +About this time, Minnie went a short journey with her parents, and was +greatly delighted when, one afternoon, they drove through a long, +winding lane to a farmhouse, where her friend, Mr. Sullivan, was +residing. + +"Will you please let me see the lambs?" she asked the kind old lady, Mr. +Sullivan's mother, who kept house for him at this time. + +"My little daughter has been scarcely able to contain her joy," +explained Mr. Lee, "since I told her, a few miles back, that we were +going to visit your son." + +The good woman smiled kindly upon the child, and then went to the back +door, where she took down a long horn, and blew upon it with all her +might. + +"Joseph will hear that," she said, laughing, as she saw Minnie's large +eyes fixed so eagerly on her face, "and he will come up presently from +the field. When he has taken care of your father's horses, you can go +back with him if you please." + +"And may I take the little lambs in my arms? I love lambs dearly." + +"They are rather shy of strangers, dear, but you can try. If the ewes +are willing, I am." + +Minnie then ran to the door, and soon announced, in a glad voice, that +Mr. Sullivan was in sight. + +He gave them a cheering welcome, and, after kissing Minnie, told her she +might run all over the farm, just where she pleased. + +"There is a calf in the barn," he said, laughing, "and plenty of little +pigs in the sty." + +"But I like lambs better than pigs, sir." + +"Well, there are some over a hundred of them, and you shall be +introduced to their acquaintance as soon as I have given the horses some +oats." + +Mrs. Lee was readily induced to join the party, although somewhat tired +with her long drive. The sheep, of which there were one hundred and +fifty, were eating grass on the side of a hill, but, at the shepherd's +call, came running to meet him, bleating for their lambs to follow. He +threw out some salt, with which his huge pockets were filled; and while +Minnie gazed with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks upon the unusual +scene, asked Mr. Lee what he thought of their appearance. + +"I never saw a finer flock," was the eager reply. "They do credit to +their keeping." + +A scream of delight from Minnie caused her father to turn quickly, in +time to see a beautiful white lamb crowding its little nose through the +fence, into the child's hand. + +"Here, Minnie," said the shepherd, giving her an ear of corn; "hold this +up, and call, 'Luke,' and you'll soon have the mother to the lamb eating +from the cob." He laughed merrily, as he added, "My boy has given them +all Bible names; so we have Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He hesitated +a little about Acts, but finally thought he'd better go straight +through. So here comes Acts, with her twin lambs, as fine a pair as +there is in the flock." + +Mr. and Mrs. Lee laughed heartily, and presently Minnie asked, "What is +the name of that great one, with horns?" + +"O! That's Jeroboam. He's a cruel fellow, I'm sorry to say. I wouldn't +advise you to have much to do with such a fellow as he is." + +"He looks like a picture in our Bible of a ram going to sacrifice," said +the child, gravely. "I wish he were good, though." + +"Here comes a lamb now," said Mr. Sullivan, "that I took the liberty to +name for you. To my fancy, she's the prettiest one of the flock. Minnie, +Minnie, come and get your corn." + +"Can lambs eat corn, sir?" + +"No; but their mothers can, and they get the good of it." + +Minnie's mother came and ate the corn greedily from his hand, while the +lamb danced about, first on one side and then on the other, much to the +amusement of the child. + +"Do they stay out in the field all night, sir?" + +"O, no! we always shelter them. At this season, we allow them to feed +till late; the sun being so hot in the middle of the day, they all +crowd under the shade of the hill." + +"But what do they do when it rains?" + +"A warm shower doesn't hurt the lambs; but we had some cold north-east +storms earlier in the season, when we were obliged to drive them all in, +as we couldn't separate the lambs from their mothers. One day, we tried +to keep the ewes out to feed, but they bleated so much for their little +ones 'twas no use; they wouldn't eat." + +"I'm glad of that," cried Minnie, eagerly. "I'm glad your sheep love +their children. In Ireland, sometimes they won't own them." + +"We had a great deal of trouble with the merinos," Mr. Sullivan went on, +directing his remark to Mr. Lee. "Not one in ten cared any thing about +her lamb. If she had milk enough, I could tie her; but it often made my +heart ache to hear the poor wee things crying for a mother's care. I was +almost glad when they died off, as they generally did. I find it's the +universal opinion now that merinos make poor nurses." + +The shepherd turned smilingly to Minnie: "Have you any more questions to +ask, Miss?" + +"O, a great many! But as we are going to stay all night, I shall have +time." + +"Then, my dear, I will go in," said her mother, laughing. "I think you +have catechised Mr. Sullivan quite enough for the present." + +The next hour was spent by the child in wandering all over the farm. In +company with her father and the good-humored shepherd, she examined the +neat continuous racks all around the sheep-house, which, in winter, +were filled with hay or husks for their food. Long troughs were +underneath, into which, as night approached, she was much amused to see +the boy, Isaac, pour the scalded meal. + +In the centre of the house was a large, shallow box or trough, filled +with clear water from a neighboring hill. This, Mr. Sullivan assured +them, had not frozen during the winter. + +Minnie stood for a long time watching the pearly drops as they trickled +slowly through the pipe, wondering why the water never rose any higher +in the trough. At length her father showed her a little pipe which +carried off the waste water into the ground. + +They were sitting at the supper table, and Minnie was giving a glowing +account of her discoveries, when they were startled by a loud shouting: +"Stop, Israel! Go along, Moses! Ssh! hi! there, Obadiah! Here, Jonah, +Amos, Nebuchadnezzar, Moses! what are you about?" + +"What is the stupid fellow bringing up the sheep at this time for?" +queried Mr. Sullivan, glancing at the clock; and then, seeing the look +of merriment on the faces of his visitors, he burst into a hearty laugh. + +"I believe you'll have to excuse me," he said, rising hastily. "Isaac +will never be able to get them into the fold alone." + +"I want to go, too," whispered Minnie. + +She was rather frightened at first at the loud bleating of the ewes, and +the responsive cries of the lambs; but keeping close to the shepherd, +had the satisfaction of feeling that she was of great assistance in +driving them into the enclosure. + +The moment they began to enter the sheep-house, the boy, Isaac, +commenced a loud, shrill whistle, which the sheep seemed to understand, +and which her friend informed her directed them to the troughs for their +supper. + +"I didn't mean to shelter them for an hour yet," exclaimed the lad, when +his master blamed him for driving them to the fold so early; "but +Jeroboam butted down a rail in the fence, and before I knew it, the +crazy creatures were all out in the garden." + +"We must kill that fellow if he does much more mischief," Mr. Sullivan +said; and taking Minnie's hand, they returned to the house. + +"It speaks well for Isaac's knowledge of Scripture," remarked Mr. Lee, +archly, "that he has chosen the names so appropriately." + +"O! He goes to mother for that," was the ready answer; "but it does +surprise me to see how he recognizes every one. I believe he is as well +acquainted with the name and character of every sheep and lamb as a +pastor is with his congregation. I often hear him talking to one for +being selfish, or praising another for her meekness. I am well enough +acquainted with Jeroboam to know that he is as obstinate and +self-willed as his illustrious namesake." + +"Isaac says little Abner is a thief," exclaimed Minnie, laughing. + +"So he is, and steals his supper from the ewes whenever he can get it, +at the expense of many a poor lamb." + +"I saw Minnie again, mother, and I knew her in a minute." + +"You'd make a capital shepherdess," added Mr. Sullivan; "you'd govern +them all by love." + +"That is the way you do," remarked his mother. + +"Well, there is no other way. Sometimes they are rather provoking; but I +always feel ashamed of myself when I lose my temper with a brute. There +is nothing like kindness to conquer even the most obstinate animal. Last +winter, I had a man to help me. He was giving one of the ewes a dose of +medicine, and she struggled so hard to get away that she threw over the +cup three successive times. I found he could do nothing with her, and so +I myself undertook the job. The poor creature was by that time so +frightened, that when I forced the spoon between her teeth, she bit my +finger to the bone. I said nothing of the pain until I had accomplished +my object--" + +"And then you came near fainting," interrupted his mother. "The finger +was a long time in healing." + +"The man was terribly angry," added the shepherd, "and showed so much +spite to the innocent cause of his rage, that I told him he was unfit +for the care of animals; that he degraded himself to a brute when he +revenged on them his own awkwardness. I dismissed him, and took Isaac, +who is worth a dozen such fellows." + +The next morning, Minnie arose in season to help Isaac drive the sheep +from the fold to the pasture; and then, having received a promise from +Mrs. Sullivan to save some of the lamb's wool, and knit Minnie a pair of +stockings, she took leave of the farm, exclaiming, as she rode off, "O, +I do love sheep, and I wish we lived on a farm!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. + + +A few mornings after this, Minnie went out at an early hour to see her +pets in the stable, when she found the sheep lying on its side, quiet +and still. She did not, as usual, spring forward to eat the corn which +Minnie was sure to have for her, but only raised a feeble, plaintive +cry. + +As her father was already gone to the city, Minnie flew to the house, +for Anne to come and tell her what was the matter with poor Nannie. + +Anne looked very sober after examining the sheep, and then said, "It +must have a dose of medicine at once." + +Poor Minnie was dreadfully excited, and looked really pale, though, like +a brave little girl, she insisted on holding the cup from which nurse +was feeding sick Nannie. Star, too, seemed really anxious, and he was +quite careful to keep his own side of the stall, for fear he should hurt +his favorite. + +Through the day, Minnie visited the barn as often as twice in an hour, +and always insisted that Anne should accompany her. Before her father +returned, she had the satisfaction of knowing that Nannie was much +better. She was still very weak, but her eyes looked brighter, and she +chewed her cud, which Anne said was a good sign. + +To turn her mind from her trouble, Mr. Lee took his book again, and +said,-- + +"Minnie, did you ever hear of a sheep that had so fat a tail that it +weighed more than fifty pounds?" + +"O, no, sir," answered the child, laughing; "how funny they must look!" + +"They are called the fat-tailed sheep," added her father, "and are +natives of Africa." + +"Are there as many kinds of sheep as there are of dogs?" + +"More, if all the inferior qualities are counted. They are constantly +multiplied, too; and there are many very greatly improved varieties. Now +I suppose you would like to hear about the sheep-dogs, and how they are +trained to take care of the flocks." + +"Yes, sir, I should like that." + +"In many parts of the world, where there are immense flocks, it is very +important to have dogs to assist in taking care of them. But as a sheep +considers the dog an enemy, and is more afraid of him than of almost any +other animal it meets, it is necessary, in the first place, to get these +animals acquainted, that they may feel friendly. + +"In order to do this, when one of the ewes has a lamb, the shepherd +takes it from her, and puts a young puppy in its place. + +"After being held two or three times while the puppy suckles her, the +ewe will generally adopt the little creature, and love it as well as if +it was her own lamb. + +"All this time, the puppy has a bed of wool to lie on, to accustom him +to the smell of the animal; and by the time he is weaned, he becomes so +attached to his new friends, that he will never forsake them, nor leave +the particular drove with which he has been brought up. Not even the +voice of his master can entice him out of sight of the flock. No hunger +and thirst can do it. There he remains, constant and true to his charge, +ready even to lay down his life for them, while they regard him not only +as a dearly loved friend, but as a protector and guide, whom it is +their duty to obey. Did you ever know, Minnie, that the Italian wolf dog +has short wool under his hair? This is the case, the wool resembling the +Leicester and Lincoln breeds. + +"One of these faithful, noble animals takes charge of a thousand sheep, +going out with them in the morning, and bringing them all back at night. + +"If one of the sheep strays from its companions, the dog follows it, +even into a strange flock, takes it carefully by the ear, and leads it +back. + +"When a stranger approaches the flock, the dog advances, barking, and +the sheep all close in his rear, as if round the oldest ram, while they +are so fierce with other dogs and wolves, that it is said a whole pack +of hungry wild dogs will not venture to attack them. + +"The only trouble with the sheep-dog is, that when they are young, they +like to play with the sheep, and sometimes run them unmercifully; but +when they are older, they seem fully to understand their duty, and walk +up and down continually on the outer side of the flock, ever watchful +for the approach of danger. + +"Sometimes, where there is a scarcity of grass, two flocks will be +brought within a short distance of each other, when these faithful +sentinels place themselves in the space between them, and if one or a +number attempt to rush across and make acquaintance with their +neighbors, their respective dog gently but firmly selects them from all +the others, and leads them back. What is very strange is the fact that +on such occasions, the other dog stands quietly by until the intruders +are removed, while no force would induce him to allow the strange dog +to enter his flock on any other pretence. + +"A very affecting instance of the faithfulness of these animals I will +tell you. + +"A shepherd dog, having the charge of a small flock, was allowed to +wander with them into the mountains, while the shepherd returned to his +village for a few days, having perfect confidence in the ability of the +animal to protect them, but with a strange forgetfulness to provide the +dog with food. + +"Upon his return to the flock, he found it several miles from the place +where he had left it, but on the road leading to the village, while the +poor dog, in the midst of plenty, was lying by the roadside in the +agonies of death by starvation. He might have torn one of the lambs to +pieces; but so devoted was he to his charge, that rather than injure +one of them he sacrificed his own life." + +"What a wicked man!" cried Minnie, indignantly. "I shouldn't think he +would ever forgive himself." + +"Yes, it was cruel; but no doubt he felt the loss keenly, as it could +not readily be made up. Another dog must be brought up among them, and +be trained to his business; for it is a mistake to suppose that, +however well taught a shepherd's dog may be, he will be allowed by the +sheep to come among them until they have learned to regard him as a +friend and protector." + +"I heard, not long since, a laughable story, to illustrate this fact. + +"Mr. Thomas Jefferson, one of our Presidents, having a flock of sheep on +his place at Monticello, was very glad to receive a thoroughly broken +shepherd dog which had been sent him. + +"Soon after its arrival, he had a number of distinguished guests, to +whom he made known his recent gift, the convenience of having a dog to +manage his flock, and the almost incredible ability of the animal, and +whom he led forth to witness the value of his present. + +"The dog had not as yet been admitted to the sheep, but at the word of +command sprang in among them. + +"The terrified animals fled in all directions, some of them dashing +themselves over precipices, and breaking their necks. + +"The dog either shared the same fate, or, mortified at his failure, felt +his pride too deeply wounded to return. Mr. Jefferson never recovered +him." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +HARRY AND HATTY. + + +One pleasant morning in June, Mr. Lee ordered the carriage, and drove +with Minnie to a delightful residence on the border of a lovely lake. +Minnie had often been here to visit little Harry, only child of her +mother's friends. + +This dear boy, like Minnie, had many pets, and could fully sympathize +with her in her love for animals and for the beauties of nature. + +Harry had a pony named Cherokee; he had also pretty birds, that he +delighted to watch, as they hung in their cage. + +But the pet which Harry loved more than all others was a lamb, which he +had named Hatty. This little creature had been given him but a short +time before Minnie's visit; but it had learned to know his voice, to +run to meet him, and to eat grass from his hand. + +When Hatty was first carried from her mother to Harry's home, she cried +for her usual companions. The boy's tender heart was touched, and he +begged his father to let the lamb sleep in his room. + +"She will be so lonely!" he urged; "and I shall want to take care of +her. Please, papa, be so kind as to let me have her there." + +His parents, ever anxious to please their dear child, readily consented; +but first his mamma allowed him to take his pet into the lake for a +bath. + +Nurse, laughing at his delight, dressed Harry in his red flannel bathing +suit; and then, with his lamb in his arms, he waded into the water. + +Hatty was a little afraid; but even in those few hours that she had +been with her young master, she had learned that he would not allow her +to be injured. + +When the lamb's soft wool was dry, as it soon was in the hot sun, his +father left his reading in the parlor to help him find a basket large +enough for the lamb's bed. + +In the morning, when his mother went into his chamber, she laughed to +see that he had taken his pet to share his own bed, and was lying with +his arms around her neck, kissing her with demonstrative affection. + +"Pretty little Hatty!" he exclaimed, again and again; "I do love you so +dearly!" + +Minnie had scarcely alighted from the carriage, when Harry cried out, +"Please come and see my lamb." + +The child smilingly followed him to the field, where the little +creature was learning to graze in the rich clover. As soon as she heard +his voice, she ran toward him, bleating and showing every mark of strong +affection. She was a pretty lamb, with long, silky wool, gentle eyes, +and a meek, loving expression. + +During the day, the two children were scarcely a moment away from Hatty; +for Harry's heart was moved by her cries for him, and he was so fond of +her he could not endure a separation. Sometimes they would sit down on +the clean, sweet grass, the boy laying his head on Hatty's neck; but +more commonly they were running over the lawn, with the lamb close at +their heels, sharing their happiness. + +"O, mamma," he exclaimed, when they went in to dinner, "we have had such +a funny time! Hatty knows Minnie now quite well; but she does not love +her, of course, as she does me. She cries for me whenever she cannot see +me." + +His mother smiled, and then asked, "Have you told Minnie about Una, and +what Hatty does while you are learning your lessons?" + +"O, no, mamma! I quite forgot to tell her." + +"Will you please tell me about Una?" urged Minnie, with great +earnestness. + +"Yes, dear. Una was the name of a lamb I once saw. She was not gentle +and loving, as Harry's lamb is; she was more lively, and full of tricks. +She had a bad habit of browsing the trees, so that her mistress one day +told a servant to tie her to a stake in the orchard, or she would +destroy the young plants. + +"Una had a little companion that was very quiet and inoffensive, but +was sometimes led by her into mischief. The next morning after she had +been tied, when the man went with the leather strap and string to lead +her to the orchard again, Una was nowhere to be found. All day long she +and her companion were off out of sight; but at night they came timidly +back, watching to see that the man did not catch them." + +Minnie laughed heartily. "I suppose," she exclaimed, "that she ran away +to escape being tied, as our Leo used to when he wanted to go to +church." + +"Yes; and she repeated the trick for several days. She was a very +cunning lamb, and would watch her chance, standing on her hind feet, to +eat the bark from the young trees, and pull the slender twigs down +toward the ground with her fore leg." + +"Can you remember any thing more about her?" timidly inquired Minnie. + +"Dinner is ready," answered the lady, smiling. "We shall not have time +now; but Harry may tell you about Hatty." + +Harry stood up very straight, his bright eyes sparkling with pleasure; +then, with a motion peculiar to him, tossing the curls from his +forehead, and turning to Minnie, he said, in an animated tone, "Every +morning I have my lessons with mamma; but Hatty doesn't like me to +study, because she wants to be playing, you know. At first, she cried so +much that I couldn't get on at all well, until mamma put my stool close +to the door. You see it is glass, and she could look through the panes. +So she lies on the piazza outside, with her nose as close as she can get +it to me." + +"And her loving eyes fixed on his face," added mamma, smiling at +Minnie's earnest gaze. + +"Isn't it funny," cried the boy, leaning toward his young visitor, "for +her to sit still till my lessons are learned, so that I can say them all +by heart? + +"O, mamma!" he shouted, "there's Hatty now." + +And, true enough, the affectionate creature had followed them around the +house to the dining room, and there she stood butting against the +glass, to get to her dear little master. + +"I do think," cried Minnie, enthusiastically, "that Hatty is the very +best lamb I ever saw." + + + + +MRS. LESLIE'S JUVENILE SERIES. + +16mo. + +MRS. LESLIE'S JUVENILE SERIES. + +16mo. + +FOR BOYS. + + Vol. I. THE MOTHERLESS CHILDREN. + " II. PLAY AND STUDY. + " III. HOWARD AND HIS TEACHER. + " IV. JACK, THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER. + +FOR GIRLS. + + Vol. I. TRYING TO BE USEFUL. + " II. LITTLE AGNES. + " III. I'LL TRY. + " IV. ART AND ARTLESSNESS. + + + + + MINNIE'S PET HORSE. + + + BY + + MRS. MADELINE LESLIE, + AUTHOR OF "THE LESLIE STORIES," "TIM, THE SCISSORS-GRINDER," + ETC. + + + ILLUSTRATED. + + + BOSTON: + LEE AND SHEPARD, + SUCCESSORS TO PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO. + 1864. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +The following typographical errors were corrected: + + Page Error + 16 crumbed changed to crumbled + 48 their strength. changed to their strength." + 109 adjoining shelter. changed to adjoining shelter." + 143 companions, the changed to companions, the dog + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Minnie's Pet Lamb, by Madeline Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINNIE'S PET LAMB *** + +***** This file should be named 26619.txt or 26619.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/6/1/26619/ + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |