L2-4-1

The forest was full of shadows, as a little girl hurried through it, one summer evening

in June.

It was already eight o 'clock, and Sylvie wondered if her grandmother would be angry

with her for being so late.

Every evening Sylvie left her grandmother's house at five thirty to bring their cow home.

The old animals spent her days out in the open country eating sweet grass.

It was Sylvie's job to bring her home to be milked.

When the cow heard Sylvie's voice calling her, she would hide among the bushes.

This evening it had taken Sylvie longer than usual to find her cow.

The child hurried the cow through the dark forest following a narrow path that led to

her grandmother's home.

The cow stopped at a small stream to drink.

As Sylvie waited, she put her bare feet in the cold, fresh water of the stream.

She had never before been alone in the forest as late as this.

The air was soft and sweet.

Sylvie felt as if she were a part of the grey shadows and silver leaves that moved in the evening breeze.

She began thinking how it was only a year ago that she came to her grandmother's farm.

Before that, she had lived with her mother and father in a dirty crowded factory town.

One day Sylvie's grandmother had visited them and had chosen Sylvie from all her brothers and sisters

to be the one to help her on her farm in Vermont.

The cow finished drinking and, as the nine -year -old child hurried through the forest to the home she loved,

she thought again about the noisy town where her parents still lived.

Suddenly, the air was cut by a sharp whistle not far away.

Sylvie knew it wasn't a friendly bird's whistle.

It was the determined whistle of a person.

She forgot the cow and hid in some bushes, but she was too late.

Hello, little girl!

A young man called out cheerfully.

How far is it to the main road?

Sylvie was trembling as she whispered two miles.

She came out of the bushes and looked up into the face of a tall young man carrying a gun.

The stranger began walking with Sylvie as she followed her cow through the forest.

I've been hunting for birds, he explained, but I've lost my way.

Do you think I can spend the night at your house?