e they did have!

Every morning, Minnie went with her bowl of milk for Nannie, into
which, as the lamb grew older, she crumbled some pieces of bread. It was
a pretty sight to see the little creature peeping shyly, with its bright
eyes, from behind its friend, and then coming a few steps toward her,
when she called, in her low, sweet voice,--

"Nannie! Nannie! come and get your breakfast!"

Then she held the bowl down where the lamb could reach to put its mouth
in, and laughed to see how much the pretty pet liked the milk.

One morning the lamb had been eating so many turnips that it was not
very hungry; and when Minnie called, it did not obey. In vain the little
girl called out, in her softest tones, "Nannie, Nannie! come, pretty
Nannie, and drink your milk."

At last, the child went into the stable to see what was the matter with
her pet, and there her father and mother presently found her, stooping
down on the hay by the side of Star, with the lamb's head in her lap.

"Minnie! Minnie! come out, quick! The horse will kick you," exclaimed
her mother, greatly alarmed; but Mr. Lee only laughed, as he said,--

"No, indeed; Star loves his young mistress too much for that. Let the
child be; she is doing well enough."

"But she will soil her clothes, and get her shoes covered with dirt,"
urged the lady, still looking anxious.

"O, mamma!" cried Minnie, "I'm in a real clean place on this straw, and
Nannie likes to lick my hand. How funny Star is looking round to see
what I am doing to his friend."

A few hours later, when Mrs. Lee sat with her sewing in the back parlor,
the little girl ran into the room, and taking a cricket, pulled it
toward her mother, saying,--

"I want you to tell me all you know about sheep and lambs. Can they do
such wonderful things, as dogs, and horses, and cats can?"

The lady laughed. "I am afraid," she began, "that you would not be
satisfied with what little I can tell you; for I confess that I know
very little about them. You had better wait till your father comes home,
for he has been studying a good many books on that subject, and has
learned about the different kinds, with a view to buying a flock.

"Or you can ask Anne; for she was brought up in a shepherd's family, and
can tell you all about the way they bring up little lambs when their
mothers will not own them."

"'Not own them,' mamma! What can you mean? I thought mothers always
owned their little children."

"Sometimes a