Chapter V

All the week the little lamb had to stay at home while Mary went to [school]; but on Saturday they had such good times! First, [Mary] had her tasks to do. She wiped all the [cups] and [plates] and [spoons], dusted the [chairs] and made her own [bed]. Then she went out to play. The nicest place to "play house" was the [roof] of a [hut] by the [barn]. Mary and little Aunt Hannah climbed up by the [fence], with their [dolls] and [tea set] but the [lamb] couldn't climb. They tried to carry him, but he was too heavy--and he kicked, too. So they took him up on the [straw] in the [barn] and dropped him out of a [window] onto the [roof]. Then they all had a good time playing "party", with some caraway [biscuits] and a little [jug] of milk. But at noon, when Mary's Mother blew the dinner-[whistle], the lamb couldn't get down! They couldn't lift him up to the [window], and he was afraid to jump to the ground. Little Aunt Hannah stood on the [wheelbarrow], but could not reach him. Then they brought out armfuls of [straw] and made a big soft [haystack] and [Mary] stood on the [roof] and tried to push him off into the [straw] but he wouldn't budge. "Come to dinner, children," called Mary's [Mother]. "It is getting cold." "Oh dear!" said little Mary, almost crying. "He'll have to stay up here and starve! But he's had three [caraway biscuits], anyway." At last [Hannah's] big brother came out to find them. He laughed when he saw the [lamb] and the [haystack] but he went for a [ladder], and very quickly brought the little [lamb] safely down to the ground. Then they all went in and had their dinner together.