Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-07-22
Chr family Girtle.
Hos " Little 30 Peep Lost her Sheep"
BY ELEANOR KIRK

BY ELEANOR KIRK.
Little 30 Peep had neither father or
mother They died when she was quite
Il baby, leaving her to the care of Il cross
old woman who earned her living raising
sheep. ~ soon Is 30 Peep was bio
enough to walk out of dourS, this old wo-
man found her work to do. At first it
was picking up chips and carrying them
into the house for Aunt Furico TO boil her
polridge with; then it was feeding the
hens and ducks. and the pigS, the last of
which Bo Peep could never get used to
and was always afraid of. 1t frightened
her to have them put up their great shouts
and sQueal and scratch and knock each
other down when She went to empty the
little pail of meal into the trough. 30
Peep wasn't strong enough to carry all
they wanted ut once, ana used to 90 ever
50 many times before the noisy animal,
would lie down contentcd. BY and by
Aunt Furic0 gave her a few sheep to take
care of, and then when She found that she
brought them safe to the shccp-tuld ut
night She increased the number, until II
last the little girl had forty sheep to look
after. Bo Peep was very fond of the
sheep, but she could no, love her Aunt
Furico, and tried very hard, because she
knew, although she mad never been tau ht,
that it was very wicked t. hate any one.
The sheep were always kind 10 her. They
came ut her call, and many of them would
allow her to hug them, and would lay
their noses in her lap and almost tell her
how much they loved her. just think Of
Il little girl with no person to care for her:
with no one to Kiss her and comb her hair.
one 70 tuck her into bed and 81 hv her
till She went fast asleep: with no.hny in
the world to love but It lock OF sheep.
One cold morning in November Aunt
Furico arose very early and made porrid.e
for breakfast; then She called 30 Peep;
but Be Peep was sleepy and, although She
didn't mean to disobey her Aunt, dropped
off into another doze Aunt turco wait
ell few minutes. then She took 4 long
stick from the corner of the kitchen aud
went into b Peeps bedroom. 10 Peep
lay with one ft.liule arm under her head.
Il smile playing round her pretty rosy
lips, all unconscious of die dreadlul fac
awaiting her. Aunt Furico shook her
roughly by the arm, then turned away the
bcd-clothes, and down came blow after
blow with such terrible effect rs to break
the poor little tender SKIN 30 Peep
groahed anu clled with pam; but her cross
old aunt didn't care for her means. She
stood by with the stick in her hands until
30 Peep had put ON her scanty clothes;
then she took out a bowl of porridgc and
set it on the kitchen table; but Of course,
Bo Peep could not eat. Her throat was
filled up with 4 great bunch. and the tears
rained out of her eyes, and she tried to
tha,,1 Ia all Inn. 5fr,t i
her Aunt Furiyo angrier than ever to have
Bo Peep cry.
Are you going to eat Your porrdgc?"
asked the old woman. still holding the
stick in her hand.
- am not hungry sobbei 30 Peep.
Then start for the hill!7 continued the
us the sun lasts. and then bring them
will whip You harder than | have this
time"
30 Peep made no answer; but she went
out into the shed and tied a pair of old
shoes on her bare feet; then She put on
her hood (BO Peep had no sacque or
shawl, let out the sheep, and after giving
them their breakfast, started for the bill, T
followed by her forty woody Chil,ren Of
course DO 1ccp grew lilnl AMER aWnIel /
and there was nothing to eat on the great
bare hill, hardly anything for the poor
sheep; but they had their fill, and were
to Craze around the dry grass,
upon Il little bit of green that
served for nice delicate lunch 30 Peep |
sat down upon Il stone and wished from
the bottom of her heart that she was Il
sheep. They were not hungry, neither
were they cold. She was both. and very
wretchcd every way. At last Old Jilley,"
her pet, came and stretched out beside
her. Bo Peep tucked her tired head in
MS neck, and two minutes after she was
Fast asleep. How do you think Bo Peep
felt when she woke and found that all her
sheep except Old Jilley" had deserted
ler? Aunt Furico would almost kill her;
she knew that; and after rubbing her