THE RED COW 



Mary had a little lamb — 



They took her to the show. 

 And though she had a perfect shape 



It really wasn't so. 



After seeing her in her finished form I have no 

 doubt that Mary Belle will win prizes in the show 

 ring, but I feel that the prizes should not go to her, 

 but to the sculptor who fashioned her. She is more 

 of a work of art than any of the lambs and sheep we 

 see in pastoral paintings. 



P.S. — I almost forgot to tell that the showman 

 enlightened me on another trick of the prize-ring. 

 While I stood behind Mary Belle he caught her un- 

 der the chin in such a way that her back and rump 

 looked broader and fuller than ever. Then as I 

 walked around in front of her he changed his posi- 

 tion and with a skilful flick of his toe separated her 

 feet so that she stood with feet well apart. This 

 made her breast look broader and plumper than any 

 breast of lamb could possibly be. All of which made 

 me wonder if the fall fairs influence sheep-breeding 

 as much as they do the art of sheep-showing. I 

 wonder if all the other animals of the show-ring are 

 handled in the same expert way. 



112 



