A BIG SHEEP FARM. . 333

After the return to the house, came a season of very hospitable
feasting. Then all spent the evening on the veranda, that was made
very comfortable with its lounging-chairs and sofas. The boys
went to bed early. Before jumping into his nest, Ralph looked out of
the window. It was a still, starry night. All around the house,
standing a little way off, as if to respectfully recognize the presence
of their master’s mansion, was a shadowy line of trees.

“And on the other side of the world is old Concord. I wonder
what they are doing there!”

After this soliloquy, Ralph turned to the bed. He was wondering
whether he had better imaugurate a pillow-fight with Rick, when he
heard a snoring.

“Nonsense, he’s gone to sleep! Ill put it off till morning,” and
having made this resolve, Ralph sprang into bed to pass his first night

in bush-land. He was awake early the next morning, only to
find that though he had a bed, he lacked a bed-fellow. Rick
had gone.

“That’s mean!” exclaimed the disappointed knight of the pillow.
He hastily dressed and went out-doors. The sun was already look-
ing over the wall of gum-trees beyond the house, making an early
inspection of the grounds. Ralph went to the kitchen, which was
quite near the house. ,

“Have you seen my brother, a boy not so big as me?” he asked
the cook.

“T ouess I have. I gave him a lunch, and I guess he has gone
down to the wool-shed; for he went that way.”

“The wool-shed!”

“Oh, he is all right,” and the ‘cook turned a piece ot steak she
was broiling.

“Uncle Nat won't like that,” thought Ralph.