When Bobby Smart was six years old, he was left to the care of his
Uncle James, who lived in the country. His aunt took him to his future
home, and at the depot he saw his uncle for the first time.
Bobby was lonely and sad; his uncle often treated him with harshness
and even cruelty. The cold winter had come on early. Bobby was the
only boy about the farm, and he had to work very hard. His clothing
was unfit for the winter weather, and he often suffered from the cold.
Among the duties which this poor boy had to perform was that of
tending a flock of sheep. One afternoon, when there were signs of a
snow-storm, he was sent to drive the flock to the barn. He started for
the field, but his clothes were so thin that he was benumbed by the
intense cold. He sat down on a large rock to rest himself. He felt
strangely tired and cold. In a little while he began to feel drowsy.
Then he thought it was so nice and comfortable that he would stay
there awhile. In a very few moments he was asleep, and perhaps
dreaming.
Suddenly he was aroused by a tremendous blow which sent him spinning
from his perch on the rock to the ground. Looking about him, he saw an
old ram near by. The creature looked as though he had been doing
mischief, and Bobby was no longer at a loss to know where the blow
came from; but he thought the attack was an accident, and in a short
time he was again in the land of Nod.
Again the ram very rudely tumbled him over into the snow. He was now
wide awake, and provoked at the attack of the beast. He began to
search for a stick to chastise his enemy. The ram understood his
intention, for he turned upon Bobby as if to finish the poor boy.
Bobby was forced to take to his heels, and ran towards home.
The ram chased him, while the rest of the flock followed after their
leader. The inmates of the farm-house were surprised to see Bobby
rushing towards the house as fast as his little legs would allow him.
His hair was streaming in the wind, and he was very much terrified.
Close upon him was the old ram, kicking up his heels in his anger.
Behind him could be seen a straggling line of sheep doing their best
to keep up.
[Illustration: {THE RAM CHASES BOBBY.}]
Bobby won the race, however. His uncle came out in time to turn the
flock into the barn. It was a long time before Bobby would venture
near the ram again.
Bobby knows now that but for the efforts of that old ram in knocking
him from his seat on that bitterly cold day he would have been among
the angels in a very short time. The sleepy feeling which overcame him
would have ended in death.
Bobby declares that the ram knew all the time what ailed him, and that
he butted him from the rock on purpose. I cannot explain it, but do
know that "God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform."