d in an instant the whole moved off, the herdsman
bringing up the rear. They moved at the word of command much quicker,
and marched off in better order, than do our militia."

THE SHEEP.

Of this useful creature there are many varieties, all of which are
supposed to have sprung from the argali, which is found in Asia,
Europe, and America.

_Anecdotes._--The house of the celebrated Dr. Cotton, of Massachusetts,
stood on an eminence, with a garden sloping down in front, filled with
fruit-trees. At the foot of the garden was a fence, and in a straight
line with the fence was an old well-curb. Mr. Cotton kept a great many
sheep, and one day these uneasy creatures took it into their heads to
get a taste of their master's fruit. But the minister had another mind
about the matter, and sallied out to chastise the marauders. These were
very much alarmed; and, according to their usual habit, all followed
their leader to escape. The well-curb being the lowest part of the
barrier which presented itself to the retreating animal, over he
leaped, and down he went to the very bottom of the well, and after him
came several of his followers, till it was in danger of being choked up
by the silly sheep. Dr. Cotton leaped over the barrier himself, and
prevented the rest from destruction. As for those in the well, they
humbly stretched out their forefeet to their master, and bleated
piteously, as if petitioning him to release them. "Don't be in haste,"
quietly replied the good pastor: "wait patiently till I go to the house
for a rope--then I will try to save you." He was as good as his word;
he fastened the rope around their bodies, and drew them one by one out
of the water.

"There are few things," says Hogg, "more amusing than a sheep-shearing.
We send out all the lambs to the hill, and then, as fast as the ewes
are shorn, we send them to find their young ones. The moment that a
lamb hears its dam's voice, it rushes from the crowd to meet her; but
instead of finding the rough, well-clad, comfortable mamma, which it
left a few hours ago, it meets a poor, naked, shivering, most
deplorable-looking creature. It wheels about, and, uttering a loud,
tremulous bleat of despair, flies from the frightful vision. The
mother's voice arrests its flight--it returns--flies and returns
again--generally for a dozen times, before the reconciliation is fairly
made up."

The following pleasing anecdote of the power of music is given by the
celebrated