hich were arranged
in form upon the mantelpiece, and carefully dusted them for the young
ladies' use.

Eliza followed the old woman into the cow-house, and began asking a
thousand questions, when her attention was suddenly attracted by the
appearance of a tame lamb, who went up bleating to its mistress with
a view of asking its accustomed breakfast.

"You must wait a little, Billy," said the woman, "and let your betters
be served before you. Don't you see that we have got gentlefolks to
breakfast with us this morning?"

Eliza was so delighted with the beauty of the little animal that she
wanted to kiss it, and attempted to restrain it for that purpose,
while Billy, ungrateful for her intended kindness, gave a sudden
spring and frisked away.

Eliza followed in hopes of being able to catch him, but he ran baaing
along into the high road.

A woman whose appearance was descriptive of poverty but whose smiling
countenance indicated good nature, at that moment happened to pass,
and, accosting Eliza in a tone of familiarity, said: "That's not half
such a pretty lamb, miss, as I have got at home, and not a quarter so
tame, for if you did but say, 'Bob' he'd follow you from one end of
the town to the other, and then he'll fetch and carry like a dog,
stand up on his hind legs, when my husband says 'Up' for the thing,
and play more tricks than a young kitten."

"Oh, the pretty creature," replied Eliza, "how I should like to see
it!"

"Well, come along with me, miss," said the woman, "for I only lives
just across the next field, but you must run as hard as you can,
because my husband is going to work, and he generally takes Bob with
him."

"Well, make haste, then," said Eliza.

"Give me your hand, miss," replied the woman; "for we can run faster
together. But there goes my husband, I declare; and there's Bob, as
usual, skipping on before."

"Where? where?" exclaimed Eliza, stretching her little neck as far as
she possibly could, to see if she could discern the lamb.

"You are not tall enough," said the artful creature; "but let me lift
you up, miss, and then I dare say you will see them;" and, instantly
catching her up, she cried out: "Look directly towards the steeple,
miss; but I'll run with you in my arms, and I warrant we'll soon
overtake them."

Eliza looked, but looked in vain, and, perceiving the woman had soon
carried her out of sight of the cottage, begged she would set her
down, as she dare not go any fa