Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/140

Rh NCE upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep.All day long the little fellow wandered barefoot through the pathless plain, tending his flock, and playing his tiny shepherd's pipe from morn till eve.But one day came a great big wolf, and looked hungrily at the small shepherd and his fat sheep, saying, 'Little boy! shall I eat you, or your sheep?'

Then the little boy answered politely, 'I don't know, Mr. Wolf; I must ask my Auntie.'

So all day long he piped away on his tiny pipe, and in the evening, when he brought the flock home, he went to his Auntie and said, 'Auntie dear, a great big wolf asked me to-day if he should eat me, or your sheep.Which shall it be?'

Then his Auntie looked at the wee little shepherd and at the fat flock, and said sharply,' 'Which shall it be?why, you, of course!'

So next morning the little boy drove his flock out into the pathless plain, and blew away cheerfully