Page:Moni the goat boy (IA monigoatboy00spyr 1).pdf/16

 goat-boy of Fideris? Do the goats belong to the village below?”

“Yes, to be sure!” was the reply.

“Do you go up there with them every day?”

“Yes, surely.”

“Is that so? and what is your name?”

“Moni is my name—”

“Will you sing me the song once more, that you have just sung? We heard only one verse.”

“It is too long,” explained Moni; “it would be too late for the goats, they must go home.” He straightened his weather-beaten cap, swung his rod in the air, and called to the goats which had already begun to nibble all around: “Home! Home!”

“You will sing to me some other time, Moni, won’t you?” called Paula after him.

“Surely I will, and good night!” he called back, then trotted along with the goats, and in a short time the whole flock stood still below, a few steps from the Bath House by the rear building, for here Moni had to leave the goats belonging to the house, the beautiful white one and the black one with the pretty little kid. Moni treated the last with great care, for it was a delicate little creature and he loved it more than all the others. It was so attached to him that it ran after him continually all day long. He now led it very tenderly along and placed it in its shed; then he said: