Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-12-24
THE PET LAMB.
4 True sToRT BIZ EFBIE.

Many years ago agood man wro.e these words,
''God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. y
They are SO kind and tender that many 10
this day reverentlY believe they are the lam
guaee Of the Bible. But tenderness is not
always an outward token of Gods love. The
Good Shepherd with diviner pity often teaches
us by pain. 1t was piteous day in early
spring when my father brought home poor
little shivering laubkin. There had been a
lovely promise Of springtime with blue skies
and soft airs: SO that the trees had forgotten
their calendar and simmer of green shone
on meadow and wood. Birds sang raily and
golden cowslips nodded among their glossy
green leaves by the brook-side
But now winter seemed come again with
pitiess rain and sleet. The chilled buds
shrank back affrighted, and the birds flew
swiftly away beyond the border of the storm.
Horses and cows returned to winter quar-.
tiers ard the rejoicing cakle of hens was
hushed while they huddled disconsolately in
corners. The sheep still fingered in the field.
put with the hrst iull OF the storm, my father
sought them and found in lonely spot lamb
newborn, deserted by its hind. The storm
had driven the flock into the shelter of the
wood, but this little weakllng unable to follow
lay IN the pelting rain calling with weak cry
Tor pity and help. But pity and help were
near. and the little creature was borne in care.
ful arms to the house. There in the warm
kitchen It rested, fed with milk, and caressed
by loving children until the storm was over
Then home was made forit in the wood-shed
and it grew as glad and frolicklesome as though
skipping in the fields by its woody mother
The children called their pet Fanny, md when
summer came they would sometimes hang
flowers around her neck and frolic with her
upon the grass until they were tired with
play, and then rest with her under The shade
OF the trees, making pretty picture for
painters brush. The children were the only
friends that Fanny knew. She would wal,
patiently at the door for their appearance in
the morning and follow them with merry bIeat
IN all their romps, or IN their rambIes over
the farm. Ono day she heard their we'll
known voices in their rooms, and when an
open door gave her a chance in she dashed
with swift and saucy- hoof, up the staircase.
and straight to their room sure of welcome
from the gay rogues she sought Hugs and
praises rewarded her confidence and even
after all arguments Of whatever sort were en-.
able to convince her sleeps head that the
childrens room was not a true lambs fold.
So went the summer, no lamb or child ever
knew gayer or happier one, and the storm
which frowned on Fanny at her birth melted
into sunshine. But clouds may come again
over the iairest sky, and Reason complained
ofthe tenderness which would give even a
creature which was fhe very type OF love. all
of its own sweet way.
With the waning of the summer The order
went forth that Fanny must go TO the flock.
but no mirror Of experience had taught her
that she was a sheep, and she fed from them
with terror stricken bounds. Patient and
repeated trials brought her no wisdom. Then
it wasthought that the wise house dog who l,ore
presence with philosophic gravity might recon-
| Gle her to the society Of the stables where
he shared the favor of horses and cows alik,s.
but only closed doors kept her there. and
ever and anon there came forth sad nla,nt
which told that Fanny was not happy
The long cold winter with Its subduinp can-
tiyity passed slowly by, but spring-time and
summer came again, and Fanny bounded
forth SO big and bold that memory was
almost cheated with doubt that she was the
feeble hmbkin of one year ago. But there
was no changein her memory or in the ardor
of her affections, and she was fain 10 return to
ner old haunts and playmates Pitiful and
kiad though her master was, his reason
vocsd the mandate, and Fanny was banished
TO heids from which she could never return,
and the children saw her no more. Now they
are "old folk grown and wiser but have reve,
| forgotten the lesson Of Tenderness ant
when man of books toldthem the ROYAL riy
airy between the words Of Sierne and Bib,
lore, they said the man wrote wisely but III.
Good Shepherd who carries the lambs IN hi
bosom gave US The better wisdom il the words
Feed my lambs. -