1. all of a sudden, as mercy had quite made up her mind to leave brownie, and was half way across the yard to her own door, a thought struck her.

2. there was an old shed which had once been the stable of a donkey, quite at the far end of the garden.

3. her father had turned it into a pigsty; but he had left off keeping pigs for some time. it was a clean place, for peter[pg 59] did not let his pigs live in a dirty sty as some people do.

4. some dry straw was in it, and some roots stored for the winter. it would be just the place if only she could get brownie there.

5. in a moment she turned back to hurry again over the heap of snow to the place where the donkey still stood. he could do nothing for himself to make things better.

6. all that he could do was to bear them without any complaint. poor thing! he was stiff with cold, and seemed not to wish to move. but mercy knew what was for his good.

7. she meant to do what was best for poor brownie, whether he knew it or not. so she talked to him, patted him, and coaxed him till at last he let her lead him down to the old shed at the bottom of the garden.

8. "this is lucky for you, brownie," cried she, feeling very proud at her success. there was a bundle of hay in one corner, of which she shook down a nice soft armful.[pg 60]

9. and then she gave brownie one good brisk rubbing with some of the straw, to warm them both. she made him a bed of straw too.

10. brownie was glad to nibble a mouthful while this was being done. then she took some fine carrots from a shelf, and put them in front of him. oh, how brownie did munch those fresh juicy roots!

11. lastly, she found a bucket of clean water which had not long been drawn from the well, and which had only a thin coating of ice on the top.

12. it had been set in the shed ready for making some mortar, with which father was going to plaster up the cracks in the wall.

13. brownie seemed almost more glad of the water than of the food. he took a long drink, and turned to thank mercy with his great deep dark eyes.

14. "now, poor old fellow, i think you will do," said the child. "i could not bear to leave you out this bitter night, and now i must be getting home, for the snow has soaked through my boots."[pg 61]

15. she stopped fondling and stroking the donkey, but he would follow her, rubbing his soft nose against her hand. "oh, go back again, do, dear brownie!" she said.

16. "you really must not come out with me!" shutting the little gate, which had once been the front door of the pigsty, she ran back to the cottage.

write: at last the little girl thought of[pg 62] a shed. it was at the end of the garden, and it was a clean place. she put the donkey there and fed him well.

questions: 1. what thought struck mercy as she was going back? 2. what sort of shed was it? 3. what did she do for brownie first? 4. what did she give him to lie on? 5. what did she find for him to eat? 6. what did she give him besides food?