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LITTLE BO-PEEP.
she was afraid to go in, and was just going to run away,
when a cross-looking old woman came out, and dragged her
into the cottage. She made her sit by the side of her son,
who was a very ugly youth with a great red face and red
hair. The old woman told him that she had brought Bo¬
Peep to be his wife, so Bo-Peep, who did not like him at all,
ran away while they were asleep. But she did not know
where to go, and gave herself up for lost, when she heard
something cry, “ tu-whit—tu-whoo,” in the tree above her.
It was a great owl, which began flapping its wing's with joy.
Bo-Peep was frightened at first, but as the owl seemed very
kind, she followed it. It took her to a cottage were there
was plenty to eat and drink, and then, to Bo-Peep’s great
surprise, it began to speak, and told her this story :—
c Know, dear Maiden,” said the owl, “that I am the
daughter of a King, and was a lovely Princess; but 1 was
changed into an owl by the old woman at the cottage, because
I would not marry her ugly son. But I have heard the
fairies say that one day a lovely maiden, who would come
into this wood to find her lost sheep, should be the means
sheep, but without their tails. The elves will play with them
for this night, but in the morning every sheep will have its
tail again, except the stupid Bell-wether. You must then
wave his tail three times over my head, and [| shall resume
my shape again.”
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