sea-gull came with its great wings, and diving into
the river, bore away a poor fish in its beak to swallow at its leisure.

[Illustration]

Then we came close to a solemn-looking heron, who stood so still that
we could hardly tell if he were alive, till we saw him suddenly dive his
head in a pool of water and pull out a frog, which he swallowed at one
mouthful; and then he stood as still and solemn as ever. He flew away
when we walked near him, flapping his immense wings slowly, and giving a
mournful cry.

Then we turned away from the river, and took a path across the meadows,
where Harry ran about and gathered cowslips and buttercups until he was
quite tired; therefore it happened very luckily that just as we reached
the gate into the high-road, who should we see but Uncle George driving
past in his gig! He stopped his horse when he saw us, and both Harry and
I were very glad to have a nice ride home with him.

In the evening Harry and I went for a stroll in the fields near home,
and presently we came to one where the sheep were feeding. The shepherd
was just calling them home to be put in the fold, and we were very much
amused to see the antics of some of the young lambs that would skip
about instead of going to bed with their mothers. This put me in mind to
tell Harry Mrs. Barbauld's story about

THE SILLY LITTLE LAMB.

There was once a shepherd, who had a great many sheep and lambs. He took
a great deal of care of them, and gave them sweet fresh grass to eat,
and clear water to drink; and if they were sick he was very good to
them; and when they climbed up a steep hill, and the lambs were tired,
he used to carry them in his arms; and when they were all eating their
suppers in the field, he used to sit upon a stile, and play them a
tune, and sing to them. And so they were the happiest sheep and lambs in
the whole world. But every night this shepherd used to pen them up in a
fold. Do you know what a sheepfold is? Well, I will tell you. It is a
place like the court; but instead of pales there are hurdles, which are
made of sticks that will bend, such as osier twigs; and they are twisted
and made very fast, so that nothing can creep in, and nothing can get
out. Well, and so every night, when it grew dark and cold, the shepherd
called all his flock, sheep and lambs, together, and drove them into the
fold, and penned them up, and there they lay as snug and warm and
comfortable as could be, and nothing could get i