180 



NED'S BLACK LAMB. 



So the mother had to send him off to the field, some miles from 

 town. Poor Is^ed sadly missed his playmate, and his little heart 

 was full of grief. 



Some weeks after, when a flock of sheep went by, his mamma 

 heard him say to the driver, " Please, have you a little black lamb 

 with a white collar round its neck? I would like just a little one. 

 If you have not any black, a white one will do 'most as well ! " 



Even now the family do not talk about the bad ways of that 

 " black sheep," for fear of grieving JS'ed's faithful little heart. 



