Mother Goose in Prose | Page 7

the Squire, "it was only
yesterday you said you must get a boy to tend the sheep, and this little
boy can do it nicely."
"Very well," replied the Squire, "it shall be as you say, and if he is
attentive and watchful he will be able to save me a good bit of trouble
and so really earn his money."
Then he turned to the child and said,
"Come to me in the morning, my little man, and I will give you a silver
horn to blow, that you may call the sheep and the cows whenever they

go astray. What is your name?"
"Oh, never mind his name, papa!" broke in the Squire's daughter; "I
shall call him Little Boy Blue, since he is dressed in blue from head to
foot, and his dress but matches his eyes. And you must give him a good
wage, also, for surely no Squire before ever had a prettier shepherd boy
than this."
"Very good," said the Squire, cheerfully, as he pinched his daughter's
rosy cheek; "be watchful, Little Boy Blue, and you shall be well paid."
Then Little Boy Blue thanked them both very sweetly and ran back
over the hill and into the valley where his home lay nestled by the
riverside, to tell the good news to his mother.
The poor widow wept tears of joy when she heard his story, and smiled
when he told her that his name was to be Little Boy Blue. She knew the
Squire was a kind master and would be good to her darling son.
Early the next morning Little Boy Blue was at the Hall, and the Squire's
steward gave him a new silver horn, that glistened brightly in the
sunshine, and a golden cord to fasten it around his neck. And then he
was given charge of the sheep and the cows, and told to keep them
from straying into the meadowlands and the fields of grain.
It was not hard work, but just suited to Little Boy Blue's age, and he
was watchful and vigilant and made a very good shepherd boy indeed.
His mother needed food no longer, for the Squire paid her son liberally,
and the Squire's daughter made a favorite of the small shepherd and
loved to hear the call of his silver horn echoing amongst the hills. Even
the sheep and the cows were fond of him, and always obeyed the sound
of his horn; therefore the Squire's corn thrived finely, and was never
trampled.
Little Boy Blue was now very happy, and his mother was proud and
contented and began to improve in health. After a few weeks she
became strong enough to leave the cottage and walk a little in the fields
each day; but she could not go far, because her limbs were too feeble to

support her long, so the most she could attempt was to walk as far as
the stile to meet Little Boy Blue as he came home from work in the
evening. Then she would lean on his shoulder and return to the cottage
with him, and the boy was very glad he could thus support his darling
mother and assist her faltering steps.
But one day a great misfortune came upon them, since it is true that no
life can be so happy but that sorrow will creep in to temper it.
Little Boy Blue came homeward one evening very light of heart and
whistled merrily as he walked, for he thought he should find his mother
awaiting him at the stile and a good supper spread upon the table in the
little cottage. But when he came to the stile his mother was not in sight,
and in answer to his call a low moan of pain reached his ears.
Little Boy Blue sprang over the stile and found lying upon the ground
his dear mother, her face white and drawn with suffering, and tears of
anguish running down her cheeks. For she had slipped upon the stile
and fallen, and her leg was broken!
Little Boy Blue ran to the cottage for water and bathed the poor
woman's face, and raised her head that she might drink. There were no
neighbors, for the cottage stood all alone by the river, so the child was
obliged to support his mother in his arms as best he could while she
crawled painfully back to the cottage. Fortunately, it was not far, and at
last she was safely laid upon her bed. Then Little Boy Blue began to
think what he should do next.
"Can I leave you alone while I go for the doctor, mamma?" he asked,
anxiously, as he held her clasped hands tightly in his two little ones.
His mother drew him towards her and