She gave
the cage to Piccola, and the swallow seemed to make himself quite at
home in it at once, and sat on the perch winking his bright eyes at
the children. Rose had saved a bag of candies for Piccola, and when
she went home at last, with the cage and her dear swallow safely
inside it, I am sure there was not a happier little girl in the whole
country of Italy.
[*] From "The Story Hour," by Wiggins and Smith. Published by consent
of the authors and also the publishers--Houghton, Mifflin and Company.
THE SHEPHERD'S STORY[*]
Washington Gladden
"Bring hither that sheepskin, Joseph, and lay it down on this bank of
dry earth, under this shelving rock. The wind blows chilly from the
west, but the rock will shelter us. The sky is fair and the moon is
rising, and we can sit here and watch the flocks on the hillside
below. Your young blood and your father's coat of skins will keep you
warm for one watch, I am sure. At midnight, my son, your father,
Reuben, and his brother James will take our places; for the first
watch the old man and the boy will tend the sheep."
"Yes, grandfather; you shall sit in that snug corner of the rock,
where you can lean back and take your comfort. I will lie here at your
feet. Now and then I will run to see whether the sheep are wandering,
and that will warm me, if I grow cold.
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