Thereupon every one started for the barn yard to visit the lambs. Just as Mrs. James reached the fence of the enclosure, a harrowing sight was presented to the interested watchers. The ewe had slipped back and forth so many times to elude the lambs, and they kept jumping about to reach her and nurse from her, for they were hungry, when the old one suddenly turned and butted her solid forehead against the nearest lamb.
It was instantly flattened against the side of the shed, while the old ewe turned her attention to the other teaser. The butted lamb bleated such mournful cries that the girls felt like crying for it. While the ewe was dealing justice to the second little lamb, the first one managed to creep up unawares behind her and try to snatch a drink of milk.
The ewe then kicked lustily and sent the little wobbly thing sprawling out on the ground.
“Oh, you inhuman mother, you!” shrilled Janet angrily.
“Isn’t she horrid to her children?” added Natalie.
“We’ll just make her feed those darlings!” declared Norma, as she saw Sam crossing the yard, and beckoned him to come over.
When the story of the wicked mother had been told Sam, he said wisely: “Mebbe she wants to wean ’em.”
“But she just can’t, Sam, until they are old enough to feed themselves,” returned Janet.
“I’se seen lambs fed in a bottle till they was big enough to pick fer themselves,” ventured Sam.
“A bottle? Like a baby?” chorused the interested girls.