"But the heart, how'll I get a lady heart, Dad?"

"How does the violet get its perfume, Sammy?" Where does the rose
get its color? How does the bird learn to sing its song?"

For a moment she was puzzled. Then her face lighted; "I see!" she
exclaimed. "I'm just to catch it from folks like Aunt Mollie, and-
-and someone else I know. I'm just to BE, not to make believe or
let on like I was, but to BE a real lady inside. And then I'm to
learn how to talk and look, like I know myself to be." She drew a
long breath as she rose to go. "It'll be mighty hard, Dad, in some
ways; but it'll sure be worth it all when I get out 'mong the
folks. I'm mighty thankful to you, I sure am. And I hope you won't
never be sorry you promised to help me."

As the girl walked swiftly away through the thickening dusk of the
evening, the shepherd watched her out of sight; then turned toward
the corral for a last look at the sheep, to see that all was right
for the night. "Brave, old fellow," he said to the dog who trotted
by his side; "are we going to make another mistake, do you think?
We have made so many, so many, you know." Brave looked up into the
master's face, and answered with his low bark, as though to
declare his confidence. "Well, well, old dog, I hope you are
right. The child has a quick mind, and a good heart; and, if I am
not mistaken, good blood. We shall see. We shall see."

Suddenly the dog whirled about, the hair on his back bristling as
he gave a threatening growl. A man on a dun colored mule was
coming up the road.