Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-07-16
Che family Circle.
Nellie buttons Lamb,

Little Nellie Button was only seven
Years old when she lost her father, who
had been a shepherd to rich sheep mas
ter on the Chcviot hills. His widow wa.
very sad and very poor. and had hard
struggle to support her one orphtn. Mel
lie, who was too young to help her much
But Nellie knew the Good Shepherd who
gave His life for the sheep. and prayed tc
Him to make her one of the lambs of His
flock.
She and her mother lived in little cot
tage on the outskirts of the moor, where
she kept a goat and a few hens. Mrs
Dutton knitted stockings for the farmers
wives, and sometimes hel ped in their dairy
work in the busy summer time, and in thu
evening she taught Nellie to read in hei
fathers Billie. Nellie used to help her by
picking up firewood, and heritage for tn,
goat; and by winding the wool for knit.
ting. When she was between nine and
ten years old, she was sweeping away thu
snow from the doorway one very cold
morning in February, when drover pass
ed the door with his flock, ard in his arms
was n poor little weak lamb, just born
that looked ready to die.
The drover had known Nellie's father
so he spoke kindly to her, and seeing no =
pi'ifully she looked at tie little lamb, he
said, " Here. Nellie. take this poor thing
it won't live an hour, but it will make !;
stew for you and your MOTHER" and 81
saying, he put it in her arms, and hurrec
on to his flock, which the sheep dog Wa,
leading through the snowy road to market
Nellie was flied with joy ut the though
Of having the lamb for her very own. AM
she hurried into the cottage to her mother
"Oh MOTHER she said, see what
have got! Sandy the drover gave it to m,
10 make q stew. lie said it was dying
but if we warm little milk for it, ant
keep it by the FIRE, may be il would recov
en-" Mrs. Dutton had just boiled some
milk and poured it on some bread fo
| Nrlie's breakfast, and she said, Il hay,
no more milk, Nellie"
80! IN share my breakfast with my
little pet" said Nellie; and so saying. sh'
sat down by the blazing wood fire, on he
stool. and wrapping the lamb in a warn
old shawl she took it on her lap. opene,
| its mouth with her finger and by degree,
got a few spoonfus of the warm mill
d,wn its thrort. and after Il little the hea
and food revived it, and it opened its eye;
ind gave a feeble little ma-a.' Thu,
was sweet music to Nellie's ears; AM
>qucezing her bits of bread out of tn,
| basin, and eating them herself, she KEEP
the milk by the fire, and every half-hou
gave II spoonful or two to little Flossy-a
she called her pet,-and by evening it WA
able to stand ON its legs without nursing
1t night it was wrapped up warmly by thu
| fireplace. Her care WIS successful; fol
every day it grew stronger, and soon fol
lowed her about like little dog. and b,
he time the summer came. it was begin
ming to pick the blades of tender grass.
| 1t would make our story too long 10 tel
you of all the lambs pretty gambols, ant
| he delight of Kind Nellie Dutton when il
skipped about after her wherever sh,
went. The next summer it had II goo
fleece to be shorn. that, when it was spun
made plenty of warm stockings for Neli,
and her mother, as well as some to sell
and the next spring after that, 10, and he
hold there were two more little lambs
and the kind farmer, Mr.. Mayfeld, VIII,
knew Mrs. Dutlon, and helped her il
many ways, gave Nellie grass on hi
sheep walk for her little flock. and Offered
10 buy them all from her. Nellie sold thu
two babies, but the mother she would no
part with. The lamb brought prosperity
to the widow and her child
Kindness to animals is the sign of ;
gentle, loving disposition, and it is pleas
ant in the eyes of Him whose "tendrl
mercies are over all His works" Euri,
Dn1S