AEUEN IPZAS SIOSEs OUT Tiel, Slatellsiie.

sound was beyond my province, when the bleating of a sheep brought me
quickly to my senses, and I remembered to have heard that at this season the
shepherds come down from the mountains with their flocks, to take them to the
warmer plains below. So I hastily aroused the sleeping children, who only
needed the word “lambs” to make them broad awake, and we flew to the
windows, and lo! what a sight was there.

The whole street and sidewalk below, as far as we could see in either direc-
tion, was filled with a moving mass. Hundreds and thousands of sheep and
_ lambs; flocks following each other in quick succession, with only room enough
between for the shepherd, who always leads his sheep with a big crook. The
indispensable green umbrella is always over one shoulder, and he is generally
carrying one or more tiny lambkins in his arms.

There was no trouble with refractory sheep racing off in the wrong direction ;
all were content and happy to follow their beloved shepherds, at whose sides
trotted the faithful dogs (the friends, and not tormentors of the sheep), and
the big leaders of the flocks, that wore the bells. It was the tinkling of these
hundreds of bells that had aroused me so early. Never shall I forget that.
strange, weird sound as it rose and fell on the early morning air.

These numerous flocks of sheep pass through the city twice a year—in the
spring, when they leave the warm lowlands around Perugia for the Northern
mountains, and in autumn, when the frosty air drives them back to the plains.
And as they must pass through the cities on their way, they are obliged to.
linger outside the city walls until all business in the streets is suspended, when
the night guar ds open the ponderous gates and allow them to pass through.

It was an impressive sight to see those hundreds of sheep ene their
leaders so happily, and spoke volumes for the friendly relations existing between
them, and contrasted strongly with the remembrance I had of sheep driven by
men and chased by dogs, until the poor frightened creatures did not know which
way they ought to go.

Then came home to me with a new force and beauty the familiar words of
Jesus, descriptive of the good shepherd :

“ And he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them; and the sheep.
follow him, for they know his voice.”

Belle Spalding.