Page:Pieces People Ask For.djvu/55

 For Mr. Sheep walked slowly back, about a rod 'tis said, and ere the deacon could retreat he stood him on his head.

The congregation then arose, and went for that 'ere sheep: several well-directed butts just piled them in a heap.

Then rushed they straightway for the door, with curses long and loud; while rammy struck the hindmost man, and shoved him through the crowd.

The minister had often heard that kindness would subdue the fiercest beast. "Aha!" he said, "I'll try that game on you."

And so he kindly, gently, called, "Come, rammy, rammy, ram; to see the folks abuse you so, I grieved and sorry am."

With kind and gentle words he came from that tall pulpit down, saying, "Rammy, rammy, ram—best sheepy in the town."

The ram quite dropped its humble air, and rose from off his feet; and when the parson landed, he was behind the hindmost seat.

As he shot out the door, and closed it with a slam, he named a California town—I think 'twas "Yuba Dam."

CUT, CUT BEHIND.

shnow und ice vas on der ground,
 * Und merry shleigh-bells shingle;

Vhen Shack Frost he vas peen around,
 * Und make mine oldt ears tingle—

I hear dhose roguish gamins say,
 * "Let shoy pe unconfined!"

Und dhen dhey go for efry shleigh,
 * Und yell, "Cut, cut pehind!"

It makes me shust feel young some more,
 * To hear dhose youngsters yell,

Und eef I don'd vas shtiff und sore,
 * Py shings! I shust vould—:Vell,

Vhen some oldt pung was coomin' py,
 * I dink I'd feel inclined

To shump right in upon der shly,
 * Und shout, "Cut, cut pehind!"