r visit to the lamb and went at once to meet them.

VI

THE BLIND HARPER

The dame-school, which was about a mile from the village, was a long,
low house with a thatched roof. It was sheltered by a few old oaks,
under which the grandparents and great-grandparents of the children
now at school had played long ago. The play-green sloped down from the
front of the school, and was enclosed by a rough paling. The children
obeyed and loved the dame who taught them, for she was ever quick to
praise them when they did well, and to give them all the pleasure she
could. Susan had been taught by her, and the dame often told her
little pupils that they must try to be like her, wise and modest,
gentle and kind. As she now opened the gate, she heard the merry
voices of the little ones, and saw them streaming out of the narrow
door and scattering over the green.

"Oh, there's Susan!" cried her two little brothers, running, leaping
and bounding up to her; and many of the other rosy boys and girls
crowded round her to tell of their games.

Susan always liked to hear of all that made others happy, but she had
to tell the children that if they all spoke at once she would not be
able to hear what any of them said. The voices were still raised one
above the other, all eager to tell about ninepins, or marbles, or
tops, or bows and arrows, when suddenly music was heard. The children
at once became silent, and looked round to see whence the sound came.
Susan pointed to the great oak-tree, and they saw, sitting under its
shade, an old man playing upon his harp. The children all drew near
quietly, for the music was solemn; but as the harper heard little
footsteps coming towards him, he played one of his more lively tunes.
The merry troop pressed nearer and nearer to the old man. Then some of
those who were in front whispered to each other, "He is blind." "What
a pity!" "He looks very poor." "What a ragged coat he wears!" "He must
be very old, for his hair is white; and he must have come a long way,
for his shoes are quite worn out."

All this was said while the harper tuned his harp. When he once more
began to play, not a word was spoken, but every now and again there
was a cry of delight. The old man then let the children name the airs
they would like best to hear. Each, time Susan spoke, he turned his
face quickly to where she stood, and played the tune she asked for
over and over again.

"I am blind," he said, "and cannot see