One man was very cross, and threatened to beat her. At last she came
to a stile, on which an old Raven was perched. He looked so wise that
Little Bo-Peep asked him whether he had seen a flock of sheep. But he
only cried "Caw, caw, caw;" so Bo-Peep ran on again across the
fields.

[Illustration: Bo-peep and Raven.]

She wandered on till night-fall, and being faint with hunger, was
very glad to see a light just before her. As she went on, she saw
that it shone from a cottage window. But when she came to the door,
it looked so dark and dismal that she was afraid to go in, and was
just going to run away, when a cross-looking old woman came out, and
dragged her into the cottage. She made her sit by the side of her
son, who was a very ugly youth with a great red face and red
hair.

[Illustration: Bo-peep and ugly Youth.]

The old woman told him that she had brought Bo-Peep to be his wife,
so Bo-Peep, who did not like him at all, ran away while they were
asleep. But she did not know where to go, and gave herself up for
lost, when she heard something cry, "tu-whit--tu-whoo," in the
tree above her. It was a great owl, which began flapping its wings
with joy. Bo-Peep was frightened at first, but as the owl seemed very
kind, she followed it. It took her to a cottage were there was plenty
to eat and drink, and then, to Bo-Peep's great surprise, it began to
speak, and told her this story:--

"Know, dear Maiden," said the owl, "that I am the daughter of a King,
and was a lovely Princess; but I was changed into an owl by the old
woman at the cottage, because I would not marry her ugly son. But I
have heard the fairies say that one day a lovely maiden, who would
come into this wood to find her lost sheep, should be the means of my
gaining my own form again. You are that pretty maid, and I will take
you to a spot where you will find your sheep, but without their
tails. The elves will play with them for this night, but in the
morning every sheep will have its tail again, except the stupid
Bell-wether. You must then wave his tail three times over my head,
and I shall resume my shape again."

The owl flew off, and led Bo-Peep into the wood, and said, "Sleep,
maiden, I will watch." How long she was asleep she could not tell,
but the charmed spot was suddenly lighted up, and she saw the Queen
of the Fairies seated on a bank. The Queen said the sheep should be
punished for running away. She then saw all her sheep come trooping
into