"But what a shame it is," continued the ram, "for the farmer to steal
all the wool from us when we have taken all the trouble to grow it!"

"I do n't mind," bleated a young lamb named Frisky, as it kicked up
its heels and gambolled about upon the grass; "it 's nice to have all
that heavy wool cut off my back, for I sha' n't have to carry it
around wherever I go."

"Oh, indeed!" sneered the ram, "you like it, do you? Have you any idea
what you look like, all sheared down to your skin? How would you like
to have someone come along and see you, now that you are all head and
legs?"

"Oh, I would n't mind," said the lamb again; "I shall grow more wool
by wintertime, and I 'm sure I do n't look any worse than you do."

Some of the sheep looked at the ram and began to titter, for he was
old and thin, and looked very comical indeed without any wool. And
this made him so angry that he went off by himself and began eating
grass, and would not speak to the others at all.

"I do n't know why sheep should feel badly about having their fleeces
cut," remarked the Black Sheep, thoughtfully, "for the farmer is very
kind to us, and so is his dame, and I am glad my wool serves to keep
them warm in the winter. For before the snow comes our wool will grow
out again, and we shall not be any the worse for our loss."

"What do those people who have n't any sheep do for clothes?" asked
the lamb.