e baby. His little face puckered and grew red.
Then he opened his mouth and uttered shrieks so ear-piercing that
their like had never been heard before. At least so the chief thought.
He rushed from the wigwam and fled a mile before he stopped to breathe
deeply.
Meanwhile Wasis had found his maple sugar and was calm again. "Goo,
goo!" he said; "Goo, goo! Goo, goo, goo!"
And to this day when you see a baby crowing and saying "Goo, goo!"
remember he is thinking of the time when he overcame the Indian chief
who had conquered all the world. For of all created things the Baby
alone is master.
_Hans the Shepherd Boy_
ELLA LYMAN CABOT
Hans was a little shepherd boy who lived in Germany. One day he was
keeping his sheep near a great wood when a hunter rode up to him.
"How far is it to the nearest village, my boy?" asked the hunter.
"It is six miles, sir," said Hans. "But the road is only a
sheep-track. You might easily miss your way."
"My boy," said the hunter, "if you will show me the way, I will pay
you well."
Hans shook his head. "I cannot leave the sheep, sir," he said. "They
would stray into the wood, and the wolves might kill them."
"But if one or two sheep are eaten by the wolves, I will pay you for
them. I will give you more than you can earn in a year."
"Sir, I cannot go," said Hans. "These sheep are my master's. If they
are lost, I should be to blame."
"If you cannot show me the way, will you get me a guide? I will take
care of your sheep while you are gone."
"No," said Hans, "I cannot do that. The sheep do not know your
voice--and----" Then he stopped.
"Can't you trust me?" asked the hunter.
"No," said Hans. "You have tried to make me break my word to my
master. How do I know that you would keep your word?"
The hunter laughed. "You are right," he said. "I wish I could trust my
servants as your master can trust you. Show me the path. I will try to
get to the village alone."
Just then several men rode out of the wood. They shouted for joy.
"Oh, sir!" cried one, "we thought you were lost."
Then Hans learned to his great surprise that the hunter was a Prince.
He was afraid that the great man would be angry with him. But the
Prince smiled and spoke in praise of him.
A few days later a servant came from the Prince and took Hans to the
palace.
"Hans," said the Prince, "I want you to leave your sheep to come to
serve me. I know you are a boy whom I can trust."
Hans
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