THE SHEPHERD OF THE DOWNS 117 



then it must be a good place to be in.'" Could he 

 have said more ! 



After that great event it was planned that the 

 wife should go up to the next annual gathering of 

 the Army, and that like very many others of its 

 friends she should take some little gift or thank- 

 offering ; and after many days' discussion it was settled 

 that, as they lived in the South Downs, a lamb 

 would be the most appropriate gift to offer. Money 

 was put by for the purpose, and a young lamb 

 bought at a neighbouring farm and reared by hand 

 so as to make it very tame. It would, they thought, 

 look so well in a procession of gift-bearers, its fleece 

 washed white as snow, its neck decorated with bright 

 ribbons and flowers, its mistress leading it by a silken 

 cord. 



I had forgotten all about the lamb, and was not 

 too delighted to hear of the glorious future that 

 awaited it. No doubt it would look very pretty in 

 its snowy fleece, blue ribbons and flowers, led by its 

 gentle, dove-eyed mistress; but close behind her and 

 her singing fellow-processionists I could see as in a 

 vision the Salvation butcher in his red waistcoat, 

 keeping time to the music while sharpening a big 

 broad-bladed knife on a screaming steel. 



But it was idle to vex my mind about the ulti- 

 mate destiny of an animal created for man's use. 

 I daresay that even that famous lamb that was 

 accustomed to attend Mary in all her walks had its 



