ago, were found hidden in that copse, and only
taken after great difficulty and resistance, and the maiming of a
peace-officer.--'Pray don't go there, Miss! For mercy's sake don't be so
venturesome! Think if they should kill you!' were the last words of Mrs.
Sally.

Many thanks for her care and kindness! But, without being at all
foolhardy in general, I have no great fear of the sheep-stealers of
sixty years ago. Even if they escaped hanging for that exploit, I should
greatly doubt their being in case to attempt another. So on we go: down
the short shady lane, and out on the pretty retired green, shut in by
fields and hedgerows, which we must cross to reach the copse. How lively
this green nook is to-day, half covered with cows, and horses, and
sheep! And how glad these frolicsome greyhounds are to exchange the hard
gravel of the high road for this pleasant short turf, which seems made
for their gambols! How beautifully they are at play, chasing each
other round and round in lessening circles, darting off at all kinds of
angles, crossing and recrossing May, and trying to win her sedateness
into a game at romps, turning round on each other with gay defiance,
pursuing the cows and the colts, leaping up as if to catch the crows
in their flight;--all in their harmless and innocent--'Ah, wretches!
villains! rascals! four-footed mischiefs! canine plagues! Saladin!
Brindle!'--They are after the sheep--'Saladin, I say!'--They have
actually singled out that pretty spotted lamb--'Brutes, if I catch you!
Saladin! Brindle!' We shall be taken up for sheep-stealing presently
ourselves. They have chased the poor little lamb into a ditch, and are
mounting guard over it, standing at bay.--'Ah, wretches, I have you now!
for shame, Saladin! Get away, Brindle! See how good May is. Off with
you, brutes! For shame! For shame!' and brandishing a handkerchief,
which could hardly be an efficient instrument of correction, I succeeded
in driving away the two puppies, who after all meant nothing more than
play, although it was somewhat rough, and rather too much in the style
of the old fable of the boys and the frogs. May is gone after them,
perhaps to scold them: for she has been as grave as a judge during the
whole proceeding, keeping ostentatiously close to me, and taking no part
whatever in the mischief.

The poor little pretty lamb! here it lies on the bank quite motionless,
frightened I believe to death, for certainly those villains never