THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE SHEEP


    HAVE you ever seen an old wooden cupboard quite black with
age, and ornamented with carved foliage and curious figures?
Well, just such a cupboard stood in a parlor, and had been
left to the family as a legacy by the great-grandmother. It
was covered from top to bottom with carved roses and tulips;
the most curious scrolls were drawn upon it, and out of them
peeped little stags' heads, with antlers. In the middle of the
cupboard door was the carved figure of a man most ridiculous
to look at. He grinned at you, for no one could call it
laughing. He had goat's legs, little horns on his head, and a
long beard; the children in the room always called him, "Major
general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's-legs." It was
certainly a very difficult name to pronounce, and there are
very few who ever receive such a title, but then it seemed
wonderful how he came to be carved at all; yet there he was,
always looking at the table under the looking-glass, where
stood a very pretty little shepherdess made of china. Her
shoes were gilt, and her dress had a red rose or an ornament.
She wore a hat, and carried a crook, that were both gilded,
and looked very bright and pretty. Close by her side stood a
little chimney-sweep, as black as coal, and also made of
china. He was, however, quite as clean and neat as any other
china figure; he only represented a black chimney-sweep, and
the china workers might just as well have made him a prince,
had they felt inclined to do so. He stood holding his ladder
quite handily, and his face was as fair and rosy as a girl's;
indeed, that was rather a mistake, it should have had some
black marks on it. He and the shepherdess had been placed
close together, side by side; and, being so placed, they
became engaged to each other, for they were very well suited,
being both made of the same sort of china, and being equally
fragile. Close to them stood another figure, three times as
large as they were, and also made of china. He was an old
Chinaman, who could nod his head, and used to pretend that he
was the grandfather of the shepherdess, although he could not
prove it. He however assumed authority over her, and therefore
when "Major-general-field-sergeant-commander
Billy-goat's-legs" asked for the little shepherdess to be his
wife, he nodded his head to show that he consented. "You will
have a husband," said the old Chinaman to her, "who I really
believe is made of mahogany. He will make you a lady of
Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's-legs. He
has the whole cupboard full of silver plate, which he keeps
locked up in secret drawers."

    "I won't go into the dark cupboard," said the little
shepherdess. "I have heard that he has eleven china wives
there already."

    "Then you shall be the twelfth," said the old Chinaman.
"To-night as soon as you hear a rattling in the old cupboard,
you shall be married, as true as I am a Chinaman;" and then he
nodded his head and fell asleep.

    Then the little shepherdess cried, and looked at her
sweetheart, the china chimney-sweep. "I must entreat you,"
said she, "to go out with me into the wide world, for we
cannot stay here."

    "I will do whatever you wish," said the little
chimney-sweep; "let us go immediately: I think I shall be able
to maintain you with my profession."

    "If we were but safely down from the table!" said she; "I
shall not be happy till we are really out in the world."

    Then he comforted her, and showed her how to place her
little foot on the carved edge and gilt-leaf ornaments of the
table. He brought his little ladder to help her, and so they
contrived to reach the floor. But when they looked at the old
cupboard, they saw it was all in an uproar. The carved stags
pushed out their heads, raised their antlers, and twisted
their necks. The major-general sprung up in the air; and cried
out to the old Chinaman, "They are running away! they are
running away!" The two were rather frightened at this, so they
jumped into the drawer of the window-seat. Here were three or
four packs of cards not quite complete, and a doll's theatre,
which had been built up very neatly. A comedy was being
performed in it, and all the queens of diamonds, clubs, and
hearts,, and spades, sat in the first row fanning themselves
with tulips, and behind them stood all the knaves, showing
that they had heads above and below as playing cards generally
have. The play was about two lovers, who were not allowed to
marry, and the shepherdess wept because it was so like her own
story. "I cannot bear it," said she, "I must get out of the
drawer;" but when they reached the floor, and cast their eyes
on the table, there was the old Chinaman awake and shaking his
whole body, till all at once down he came on the floor,
"plump." "The old Chinaman is coming," cried the little
shepherdess in a fright, and down she fell on one knee.

    "I have thought of something," said the chimney-sweep;
"let us get into the great pot-pourri jar which stands in the
corner; there we can lie on rose-leaves and lavender, and
throw salt in his eyes if he comes near us."

    "No, that will never do," said she, "because I know that
the Chinaman and the pot-pourri jar were lovers once, and
there always remains behind a feeling of good-will between
those who have been so intimate as that. No, there is nothing
left for us but to go out into the wide world."

    "Have you really courage enough to go out into the wide
world with me?" said the chimney-sweep; "have you thought how
large it is, and that we can never come back here again?"

    "Yes, I have," she replied.

    When the chimney-sweep saw that she was quite firm, he
said, "My way is through the stove and up the chimney. Have
you courage to creep with me through the fire-box, and the
iron pipe? When we get to the chimney I shall know how to
manage very well. We shall soon climb too high for any one to
reach us, and we shall come through a hole in the top out into
the wide world." So he led her to the door of the stove.

    "It looks very dark," said she; still she went in with him
through the stove and through the pipe, where it was as dark
as pitch.

    "Now we are in the chimney," said he; "and look, there is
a beautiful star shining above it." It was a real star shining
down upon them as if it would show them the way. So they
clambered, and crept on, and a frightful steep place it was;
but the chimney-sweep helped her and supported her, till they
got higher and higher. He showed her the best places on which
to set her little china foot, so at last they reached the top
of the chimney, and sat themselves down, for they were very
tired, as may be supposed. The sky, with all its stars, was
over their heads, and below were the roofs of the town. They
could see for a very long distance out into the wide world,
and the poor little shepherdess leaned her head on her
chimney-sweep's shoulder, and wept till she washed the gilt
off her sash; the world was so different to what she expected.
"This is too much," she said; "I cannot bear it, the world is
too large. Oh, I wish I were safe back on the table. again,
under the looking glass; I shall never be happy till I am safe
back again. Now I have followed you out into the wide world,
you will take me back, if you love me."

    Then the chimney-sweep tried to reason with her, and spoke
of the old Chinaman, and of the
Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's legs; but
she sobbed so bitterly, and kissed her little chimney-sweep
till he was obliged to do all she asked, foolish as it was.
And so, with a great deal of trouble, they climbed down the
chimney, and then crept through the pipe and stove, which were
certainly not very pleasant places. Then they stood in the
dark fire-box, and listened behind the door, to hear what was
going on in the room. As it was all quiet, they peeped out.
Alas! there lay the old Chinaman on the floor; he had fallen
down from the table as he attempted to run after them, and was
broken into three pieces; his back had separated entirely, and
his head had rolled into a corner of the room. The
major-general stood in his old place, and appeared lost in
thought.

    "This is terrible," said the little shepherdess. "My poor
old grandfather is broken to pieces, and it is our fault. I
shall never live after this;" and she wrung her little hands.

    "He can be riveted," said the chimney-sweep; "he can be
riveted. Do not be so hasty. If they cement his back, and put
a good rivet in it, he will be as good as new, and be able to
say as many disagreeable things to us as ever."

    "Do you think so?" said she; and then they climbed up to
the table, and stood in their old places.

    "As we have done no good," said the chimney-sweep, "we
might as well have remained here, instead of taking so much
trouble."

    "I wish grandfather was riveted," said the shepherdess.
"Will it cost much, I wonder?"

    And she had her wish. The family had the Chinaman's back
mended, and a strong rivet put through his neck; he looked as
good as new, but he could no longer nod his head.

    "You have become proud since your fall broke you to
pieces," said Major-general-field-sergeant-commander
Billy-goat's-legs. "You have no reason to give yourself such
airs. Am I to have her or not?"

    The chimney-sweep and the little shepherdess looked
piteously at the old Chinaman, for they were afraid he might
nod; but he was not able: besides, it was so tiresome to be
always telling strangers he had a rivet in the back of his
neck.

    And so the little china people remained together, and were
glad of the grandfather's rivet, and continued to love each
other till they were broken to pieces.


                            THE END