"
"I've seen them," said Miss Laura, "standing up on their hind legs and
nibbling at the trees, taking off every shoot they can reach."
"They don't hurt the old trees," said Mr. Wood; "but the young ones have
to be protected. It pays me to take care of my fruit trees, for I get a
splendid crop from them, thanks to the sheep."
"Good-bye, little lambs and dear old sheep," said Miss Laura, as her
uncle opened the gate for her to leave the pasture. "I'll come and see
you again some time. Now, you had better go down to the brook in the
dingle and have a drink. You look hot in your warm coats."
"You've mastered one detail of sheep-keeping," said Mr. Wood, as he
slowly walked along beside his niece. "To raise healthy sheep one must
have pure water where they can get to it whenever they like. Give them
good water, good food, and a variety of it, good quarters--cool in
summer, comfortable in winter, and keep them quiet, and you'll make them
happy and make money on them."
"I think I'd like sheep-raising," said Miss Laura; "won't you have me
for your flock mistress, uncle?"
He laughed, and said he thought not, for she would cry every time any of
her charge were sent to the butcher.
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