CHAPTER VII.
THE SHEPHERD’S DOG.
A few mornings after this, Minnie went out at an early hour to see her pets in the stable, when she found the sheep lying on its side, quiet and still. She did not, as usual, spring forward to eat the corn which Minnie was sure to have for her, but only raised a feeble, plaintive cry.
As her father was already gone to the city, Minnie flew to the house, for Anne to come and tell her what was the matter with poor Nannie.
Anne looked very sober after examining the sheep, and then said, “It must have a dose of medicine at once.”
Poor Minnie was dreadfully excited, and looked really pale, though, like a brave little girl, she insisted on holding the cup from which nurse was feeding sick Nannie. Star, too, seemed really anxious, and he was quite careful to keep his own side of the stall, for fear he should hurt his favorite.
Through the day, Minnie visited the barn as often as twice in an hour, and always insisted that Anne should accompany her. Before her father returned, she had the satisfaction of knowing that Nannie was much better. She was still very weak, but her eyes looked brighter, and she chewed her cud, which Anne said was a good sign.
To turn her mind from her trouble, Mr. Lee took his book again, and said,—
“Minnie, did you ever hear of a sheep that had so fat a tail that it weighed more than fifty pounds?”