He ran so fast
and he ran so far that he was never seen in the king's country again,
though the shepherds in the pastures watched for him day after day.
Jean led his flock home at eventide, white sheep and black sheep and
frolicsome lambs, not one was missing.
"Was the day long?" asked his mother, who was watching in the doorway
for him.
"Are the sheep all in?" called the sick father.
"Did the wolf come?" said the old grandfather; but there is no need
for me to tell you what _Jean_ said. You can imagine that for
yourself.
[*] From "More Mother Stories," by Maud Lindsay. Used by permission of
the author and the publishers--the Milton Bradley Company.
BABOUSCKA[*]
Russian Legend
It was the night the dear Christ Child came to Bethlehem. In a country
far away from Him, an old, old woman named Babouscka sat in her snug
little house by her warm fire. The wind was drifting the snow outside
and howling down the chimney, but it only made Babouscka's fire burn
more brightly.
"How glad I am that I may stay indoors!" said Babouscka, holding her
hands out to the bright blaze. But suddenly she heard a loud rap at
her door. She opened it and her candle shone on three old men standing
outside in the snow. Their beards were as white as the snow, and so
long that they reached the ground.
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