was watchful and vigilant and made a very good shepherd boy indeed.
His mother needed food no longer, for the Squire paid her son
liberally, and the Squire's daughter made a favorite of the small
shepherd and loved to hear the call of his silver horn echoing amongst
the hills. Even the sheep and the cows were fond of him, and always
obeyed the sound of his horn; therefore the Squire's corn thrived
finely, and was never trampled.

Little Boy Blue was now very happy, and his mother was proud and
contented and began to improve in health. After a few weeks she became
strong enough to leave the cottage and walk a little in the fields
each day; but she could not go far, because her limbs were too feeble
to support her long, so the most she could attempt was to walk as far
as the stile to meet Little Boy Blue as he came home from work in the
evening. Then she would lean on his shoulder and return to the cottage
with him, and the boy was very glad he could thus support his darling
mother and assist her faltering steps.

But one day a great misfortune came upon them, since it is true that
no life can be so happy but that sorrow will creep in to temper it.

Little Boy Blue came homeward one evening very light of heart and
whistled merrily as he walked, for he thought he should find his
mother awaiting him at the stile and a good supper spread upon the
table in the little cottage. But when he came to the stile his mother
was not in sight, and in answer to his call a low moan of pain reached
his ears.

Little Boy Blue sprang over the stile and found lying upon the ground
his dear mother, her face white and drawn with suffering, and tears of