Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-11-29
The GIFT
By BARRY PAIN

Il vac sDringtims and the world vas
young. and the Sun was shining
By the foOEpath OF the hillside sat
z young shepherd Beside him were
tTo young lambs Therewftn hs had
just started IN tile business or pro-
fessi0a Of being 4 shepherd TIE
lambs had nothing 10 Do bur ea-. an
Lheg were dpiug il vigorously. For
the time The shepherd han nothing %
do but think and a. il vas spring
time and he ard the world we're 5orh
Young. you know as well as do wnst
he was thinking about
There came maiden thai way.
. These shepherds have Al the IuckD
Her hair was golden and somewhat
brief but curly. she SAT down and be-
gan 10 play With one Of the lambs.
{ The shepherd Joined in the game.
After ne had caught her round the
+ waist and kissed he- twice on the
I ear. because that vas All she allowed
him 70 get Al. she sid she mist be
{ going on
The shepherd caught I'D tie lamb
she had been playing with and put
/ It in her arms.
what she said rs that Tor ne7'
Yes. he said. IF you VII hare
an Of it,
He nodded laughing She he'd ID
the lamb and kissed f. looking ont At
him with bright eyes as she I'D 50.
He took step nearer. and she ran
on. calling back her thanks
So there was half the aocE gone.
The shepherd SAT down ard went IN
thinking much what he had been
thinking before
Prese1t.v another maiden came mat
way fReaiT. these shepherds are
too sstolisElngl This maiden hsd
red hair thar would have made a
pa -ter mai for pure i0y. and she
had tied il up with q blue ribbon:
and thar blue and thar red went to-
gether much better than you suppose.
So The shepherd began 70 talk 10 her.
without previous Introduction surety,
security OF preliminary fees. She
ala not mind r. ia the least. because.
as have already explained. this vas
in The bad old days. which. an
thankful 20 say. now are gone forever.
She had gray eyes. and looked far,
far more poefical than she ever vas.
She saf still and listened 20 the bows
praise Of her which made a pleasant
music that spring morning in her
ears Her vide sleeve fell back and
showed how beautiful her white arm
was.
I should ike TO kiss thar. sad
the boz. reEecdrely-
She neither moved nor answered.
So he did a he liked. And then sae
sDrang to her feet. for she remember
ed thar she had TO 90 70 a neigh5o--
Ing farmhouse 10 buy three pounds
of bacon exactly ike the last Ii is
a sil aad shame THAT girls made for
poetry sholid have 10 do these things
Bur IL occasionally happens.
Dc -aae that lamb s-Ifh you. said
the shepae-
You donr really mean it, said
tha si-L But a. the same time shs
unl-d the blue ribhon from her hair
E.ereU-L 90 lead il home and as
she fastened il round the lambs neck
She said how sweet II was OF hin.
Her red hair rumUled in a charming
disorder z hate To have 10 say rhzt
She went o. To buy the bacon il IS.
unfortunate trae
So now the shepherd was left with
Do flock az all which Is generally
considered. believe. TO le an irri7zt-
NJ thing 10 happen 10 a shepherd.
Then waikins quite slowly. th4-s
anne along another maiden 10,
Has, poor shepherd, She Ioosei
straight before her with biz broza
yes that were fun of wonder and II
attn I.er midnight hair fell over
Ter shapeiy shoulders She was
ressed bur in RAGS. and I doubt Il
he really tad received superior
ducation To the boy -hese defects
Meant nOch'cE He knew that his
-ue love had come AT last. and there
-as a pain = his heart She PASSED
s. him in silence He ran after her
nj caught her by the hand
Have I found you AT last he said
3 low voice % my beloved
This was a little rapid. The girl
armed and looked al him. aud hs
as z good sort CT { toy 70 lock al.
He peTsua led her 70 come and sit
= him or rhe grass. and told her that
P vas shepherd
-Bu son have no flock
= had one once. he said. 4 had
80 lambs IL was hundred years
20
Where are thel
"A niaidva PASSED this way he
ia and Z gave her one Of them
And the other
~}Ven. q maiden happened to-
Z see she said Did ycu Kiss
-m--
-Ir WAS q hnndred sears aso~ the
= said d,eam.ly.
She seized his hand and bid IL
eW you are punished "a ssa. she
.d since IL ssvms 10 yoa hundred