Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-07-26
wnuss Cor ths Osfori D,mcrsi
QiIYH's pEY.

Ruth Was q little girl Who lived on q
farm among the hills 81 Maine Ia the
county Of oxford.
Her father kept quite q large fock 81
sheep aud lambs, besides other farm
animals. A Ruth was very fond of pets
aud spent much time out of doors, these
were objects Of much love aud care. tax.
Ing the place of the playmates which lit
tie girls In cities aud village. have.
sb-sp Ike good thing. Ia eat "a well ne
Ruth made friends with them by giving
tbem hsndfuls of corn, or pieccs ~ p,,-
tato aud turnip.
some of the flock knew Ruth 81 we'll
q. tn eat corn from her hand, aud some
Of the tsmest had been cosxed into the
Kitchen, to make q short call aud get q
taste Of something nice. They liked this
80 we'll that they would walk In when
ever there Was chance. How pleased
Ruth Was when the cunning little lamb.
were bold enough Ia follow their mother
through the door. You will know that
Ruth had q Kind mother or such com
pany would not have been allowed la tile
house.
The little lambs were very pretty with
their cot, wool aud bright faces, but
none of them were so dear 10 Ruth a.
one gentle and very friendly sheep,
named spotty, who Was remarkably
trustful and friendly, and would let the
children put their arm. aroand her neck
and pet her as none of the other sheep
would. Ruth was more fond of her than
any children can Imagine unless they
have had some pet which they loved
dearly. Spotty wzstoo Wise Ia be afraid
Of the children, and would leave the
flock aud come and stay With Ruth aud
her brother when they were making
snow houses or digging caves In the big
snOwdrifts.
The queerc.t sight was Ia see Ruth
drawing wood with spotty. She made
= harness same as boys sometimes make
for their dogs, aud putting this on Spot
", she would take her 10 the wood pile
near the shei and fasten q small load Of
sticks to the tugs, aud then spotty
would follow her to the shed With the
load, where she expected some pieces of
potato AZ q reward Tor being so good.
THIS was nice fun for Ruth, aud spotty
WAS considered the best sheep Ia the
world.
I.uih's father wa. much pleased Ia see
the friendship between his only daughter
aud the gentle sheep. hut one thing
troubled him. Terrible hears lived In
the mountains, aud they often came
down TO the pastures, and then the poor
sheep had TO suffer. The fear that
Spotty would be killed troubled Ruth's
father. lie would rather have lost
numl,~r Of the other sheep, or one Of the
cows. lie put sharp sounding bell on
Spotty's neck, In the spring, and hopci
lts noise would keep the bears away
from her.
The sad part Of this true story must
now be- told. Que day ltuth's father
came down from the woods driving .
sheep which bear had wounded terri
bly,. Ruth and her mother went out TO
zee the poor sheep and a. Ruth stood be-
side her father, he put bis arm around
her aud said tenderly, III have sad news
for Ruth; Spotty 10 dead!" I'oor Ruth
She lay down upon the grass faint and
sick at heart. ID Was such shock, for |
she had never before lost anything which |
she loved 90 much. A big old bear had
ALLIED poor Spotty. and Ruth Was Q very |
aad little girl. She Got . little Of
spotty's soft wool and put lt away caro-
FULLY In q boz, and it Was long time
before she forgot her sorrow. Her IA
her has avenged Spotty's death BY
aughtsrinG lots Of bears, Including the
pne Who killed Spotty.
Ruth has had many pets since, bot
never one onual 20 0pOtty,