“Joseph will hear that,” she said, laughing, as she saw Minnie’s large eyes fixed so eagerly on her face, “and he will come up presently from the field. When he has taken care of your father’s horses, you can go back with him if you please.”
“And may I take the little lambs in my arms? I love lambs dearly.”
“They are rather shy of strangers, dear, but you can try. If the ewes are willing, I am.”
Minnie then ran to the door, and soon announced, in a glad voice, that Mr. Sullivan was in sight.
He gave them a cheering welcome, and, after kissing Minnie, told her she might run all over the farm, just where she pleased.
“There is a calf in the barn,” he said, laughing, “and plenty of little pigs in the sty.”
“But I like lambs better than pigs, sir.”
“Well, there are some over a hundred of them, and you shall be introduced to their acquaintance as soon as I have given the horses some oats.”
Mrs. Lee was readily induced to join the party, although somewhat tired with her long drive. The sheep, of which there were one hundred and fifty, were eating grass on the side of a hill, but, at the shepherd’s call, came running to meet him, bleating for their lambs to follow. He threw out some salt, with which his huge pockets were filled; and while Minnie gazed with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks upon the unusual scene, asked Mr. Lee what he thought of their appearance.
“I never saw a finer flock,” was the eager reply. “They do credit to their keeping.”