The Sheep and Lamb

Johnny's pet lamb becomes a painful family concern when his father's injured foot keeps him from earning enough to pay the rent. Near the village of Greenham, the boy's affection for his animal meets the hard demands of a laborer's household. Charley, a farmer's son, offers one of his own lambs, while Polly helps put his generous plan into action. The scene joins a child's immediate sorrow to the practical worries of the adults around him.

Thomas Miller's country tales use familiar animals to teach lessons about kindness, gratitude and conduct. Another passage turns to a greedy duckling whose affectionate behavior conceals selfish thoughts, with a grandmother and her granddaughter judging it very differently. Direct comments from the narrator make the moral purpose clear. For readers interested in older children's fiction, the book offers village scenes, close bonds with pets and a candid view of the place farm animals occupy in rural life.