girls from the village of Brampton assembled as
lookers-on, and helpers to push the sheep into the river
towards the men who stood in the water ready to seize
and give them a good roll over, as they were passed
from one to the other. Though the lambs were not
washed, many were allowed to accompany the ewes,
and what with lambs and sheep, such a loud bleating
was heard that you could hardly hear yourself speak,
for the flock consisted of hundreds. They were penned
in with hurdles, which came down and reached to the
brink of the river, the lambs remaining outside, where
the ewes were permitted to return and join them after
they were washed; and very necessary it was to watch
the lambs when their dams came up from the river,
dripping with water as they stood with puzzled looks
and knew not what to do, such a change had the
washing made in their fleeces, which before were so
warm and dry. Here Christabel and her companions
were very busy, for she knew nearly all the sheep and
lambs in the flock, and she would say to some pretty
little lamb, that was bleating and running about as if
lost, and trying to kneel under some strange ewe, "You
dear little stupid, that isn't your mother : she's bleating
outside there and trying to find you; don't you know
her again after she's been washed so nice and clean ?
She'll soon be dry in the sunshine, and all the sweeter
to sleep beside to-night after such a good washing as
she's had." And then the pretty lamb would begin to
wag its tail, showing how pleased it was at having
again found its dam. What wet frocks Christabel
and her little friends went home with, after moving
about among the dripping sheep, to place the lambs
under the right ewes. But the dear children were too
happy and too busy to bestow a thought on their dry.
ness, and the exercise prevented them from watchingg cold.