Besides these, two young men who had no families, and for whom no such provision of time was made, having gone somewhere to spend the Sabbath, were absent.
My master was greatly irritated, and had resolved to have, as he said, "a general whipping-match among them." Preparatory to this, he had a rope in his pocket, and a cowhide in his hand, walking about the premises, and speaking to every one he met in a very insolent manner, and finding fault with some without just cause.

My father, among other numerous and responsible duties, discharged that of shepherd to a large and valuable flock of Merino sheep.

This morning he was engaged in the tenderest of a shepherd's duties;--a little lamb, not able to go alone, lost its mother; he was feeding it by hand.

He had been keeping it in the house for several days.

As he stooped over it in the yard, with a vessel of new milk he had obtained, with which to feed it, my master came along, and without the least provocation, began by asking, "Bazil, have you fed the flock ?" "Yes, sir." "Were you away yesterday ?" "No, sir." "Do you know why these boys have not got home this morning yet ?" "No, sir, I have not seen any of them since Saturday night." "By the Eternal, I'll make them know their hour.