Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/138

134 June, June, June?" she trilled. "I wonder if I am going to be a singer or a poet or if I am going to be a farmer's wife and raise turkeys. I might be all three—that is, if I keep on living in the country. Look at the precious lamb coming down the path to meet me!"

At the top of the hill was a flock of sheep. They were spread out as though on dress parade and peered over the brow of the hill at the girl as she advanced up the path. Their leader had separated himself from the flock and slowly and sedately came to meet Rebecca.

"Lamby, lamby!" she called when about a hundred yards off. "You are mighty sweet and woolly. Do you lie down in these beautiful green pastures, and are you led beside these still waters? Surely one could fear no evil in such a spot. I think it is sweet of you to come to meet me."

The little girl held out her hand and hurried along the path. As she came closer to the advancing animal she was astonished to see how much larger it was than it had at first seemed.

"You are no spring lamb, that's certain," said Rebecca, "but you are mighty handsome, anyhow. I don't think you have a very pretty face," she decided as the creature drew nearer and its curled horns and evil eyes revealed