A native of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Colleen Welsh enjoys many activities such as reading, watching Netflix, crocheting, and being involved in her social group on campus. She is an English major contemplating on furthering her education by studying abroad in either England or Ireland. She is avidly interested in children’s books and stories and from this stemmed her fairy tale. One day while thinking about lambs, Colleen began weaving ideas together in the genre of children’s literature, and this story is what emerged.
Mary Holz
Mary Holz
THE lion and the lamb
By Colleen Welsh
Long ago, in a small village, there there lived a young boy named Humphrey. Humphrey was a mild-mannered shepherd, and spent most of his days out in the fields with only his flock for company.
The village was a quaint place. Its inhabitants were well-meaning merchants and field workers who, for the most part, kept to themselves. There was a long-standing legend in this village of a ferocious lion who resided in the dark caves at the outskirts of the village. This caused an underlying terror in the people, and caused shepherds like Humphrey to take their duties very seriously.
Day in and day out, Humphrey tended his flock, simultaneously taking care of them and watching over them to be sure they did not cross paths with the lion, because the sheep grazed very close to the Northern Mountain, which was rumored to have been where the dangerous beast lived.
Humphrey had a favorite sheep in his herd—the one he called Oswin. This particular sheep was seemingly very ordinary. He never bothered the other sheep, or made too much noise. He spent his days off grazing in his own patch of grass, never causing any trouble. Little did Humphrey know, however, this sheep was growing tired of his lifestyle.
Every day was the same for Oswin: Follow Humphrey to the grasslands, watch as the little lambs fight over the best grass, see the older sheep moseying mindlessly around—it was all very tedious. This sheep had dreams. Every day, while the other sheep focused on grazing themselves full, Oswin would look out at the sunset over the Northern Mountain, and wish that he could see what more the World had to offer than grazing with the herd.
One day, Oswin decided he had had enough. Humphrey arrived later in the day, and all the sheep were very hungry. They were being ornery, shoving each other up the hill, and fighting over grass even though there was plenty for everyone. Oswin sought out his opportunity to escape. While Humphrey was off tending to the lambs, who were still fighting over the ideal plot to graze, Oswin snuck down the hillside, and headed toward the mountain pass.
Almost immediately, Oswin became a very happy sheep. He was heading into the sunset, and could see the mountains go on for miles and miles. As the sun sank into the mountains, Oswin came to a realization—he had never been out in the dark. Humphrey always took the herd back to their shelter as the sun was setting, where they remained for the night.
There was something exhilarating about being out on his own at night, but soon, Oswin just felt fear. It was dark, and he no longer knew where he was. He came across a cave, where he decided to settle in for the night. Oswin lay down, closed his eyes, and began to fall asleep when, suddenly, he heard a loud roar from directly behind him.
Oswin awoke with a jolt, and began to panic. Being that he was a sheep, there was no way he could produce light. He tried looking around, frantically searching to see what could have produced such an alarming sound, when an enormous figure emerged. It was the lion.
Oswin had heard mutterings of the infamous lion among the people of the village. It was said to be the most terrifying creature around. His breathing became fast and heavy, and he was becoming more and more frightened with each passing moment when, suddenly, he felt a large paw on his back. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, and prepared for his demise.
“Hey little guy, you lost?” he heard the booming voice say. He peeped one eye open, and turned his head to face the Lion. Anticipating an angry scowl or an open mouth bearing huge, fang-like teeth, Oswin was surprised that squinting in the darkness, the figure he could make out was nothing of the kind. By the light of the moon, he could see a friendly face with a faint smile across it.
“Uhh..n-n-no,” mumbled Oswin, “I just needed a place to stay and I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t know this was where you lived.”
“Ah, so you’ve heard of me before, have you?” replied the Lion.
“Yes, but you’re not…” Oswin’s voice trailed off, deciding it would be best not to offend the Lion, provided that his wrath may just come out when provoked.
“Not what?” asked the Lion.
“Just not what I was expecting. Anyways, I’d better get going. The sun’s starting to rise, and it will worry my shepherd if I’m not there at dawn,” said Oswin.
“Alright, well in that case, I’ll show you the way!” said the Lion, “I know a pass that will get you up to the village in no time.”
Oswin nervously followed the Lion out of the cave, through the mountains, and up the pass. They talked for a few hours, and Oswin found that the Lion was kind, friendly, and had the most incredible stories. He had experienced so much living in the mountains, but said that he felt lonely at times, living down there all alone. Soon after, as promised, the Lion brought Oswin to the village.
“Thank you so much for all your help. It was really nice to get out of the village for a while. You’re not at all what I expec—”
Oswin was cut off by a shrill scream.
“Li-li-LIOOOOONNN!” exclaimed the civilian.
“No! Wait! You don’t understand! He’s really quite friendly!” attempted Oswin, but all that could be heard by the terrified woman were a series of loud “baas.”
Being that the village was quite small, when the woman screamed, nearly the entire town was gathered within minutes to see what had happened. When they saw the Lion, everyone’s faces turned to those of sheer panic. The men of the town ran back inside their homes and businesses, and returned with weapons, ready to protect their town from this seemingly ferocious beast.
Oswin looked at the Lion, both of them quite nervous as the people could not understand their pleas. If the Lion were to try and escape, he would not be able to outrun the people down the steep mountain pass so, instead, they sat in fear. Then, the Lion had an idea.
He gently placed his paw on Oswin’s head, and pet it. The people looked puzzled. At that moment, a little girl ran up behind them, not knowing the Lion was there. Once she saw him, she looked up at him, frozen in fear and awe. He slowly approached her, and the civilians gasped, nervous in anticipation. The Lion leaned down, and licked the face of the little girl.
The people of the village were astonished. This beast they had feared for so long was a gentle giant. They cheered, and Oswin smiled, knowing his new friend was safe.
From that day forward, things were more interesting in the village. The Lion chose to reside in the village. He shared his stories with all of the animals, and brought all kinds of new ideas and activities to the people and animals alike.
Oswin was happy that he had a new friend. He finally had an idea of what the world outside of the village had to offer. His days no longer consisted of grazing alone and dreaming of a more eventful life—he got to hear about life in the mountains, and have new experiences of his own, as well as good company. As for the Lion, living in the village brought his life new purpose, for he was no longer feared, and would never be lonely again.
The village was a quaint place. Its inhabitants were well-meaning merchants and field workers who, for the most part, kept to themselves. There was a long-standing legend in this village of a ferocious lion who resided in the dark caves at the outskirts of the village. This caused an underlying terror in the people, and caused shepherds like Humphrey to take their duties very seriously.
Day in and day out, Humphrey tended his flock, simultaneously taking care of them and watching over them to be sure they did not cross paths with the lion, because the sheep grazed very close to the Northern Mountain, which was rumored to have been where the dangerous beast lived.
Humphrey had a favorite sheep in his herd—the one he called Oswin. This particular sheep was seemingly very ordinary. He never bothered the other sheep, or made too much noise. He spent his days off grazing in his own patch of grass, never causing any trouble. Little did Humphrey know, however, this sheep was growing tired of his lifestyle.
Every day was the same for Oswin: Follow Humphrey to the grasslands, watch as the little lambs fight over the best grass, see the older sheep moseying mindlessly around—it was all very tedious. This sheep had dreams. Every day, while the other sheep focused on grazing themselves full, Oswin would look out at the sunset over the Northern Mountain, and wish that he could see what more the World had to offer than grazing with the herd.
One day, Oswin decided he had had enough. Humphrey arrived later in the day, and all the sheep were very hungry. They were being ornery, shoving each other up the hill, and fighting over grass even though there was plenty for everyone. Oswin sought out his opportunity to escape. While Humphrey was off tending to the lambs, who were still fighting over the ideal plot to graze, Oswin snuck down the hillside, and headed toward the mountain pass.
Almost immediately, Oswin became a very happy sheep. He was heading into the sunset, and could see the mountains go on for miles and miles. As the sun sank into the mountains, Oswin came to a realization—he had never been out in the dark. Humphrey always took the herd back to their shelter as the sun was setting, where they remained for the night.
There was something exhilarating about being out on his own at night, but soon, Oswin just felt fear. It was dark, and he no longer knew where he was. He came across a cave, where he decided to settle in for the night. Oswin lay down, closed his eyes, and began to fall asleep when, suddenly, he heard a loud roar from directly behind him.
Oswin awoke with a jolt, and began to panic. Being that he was a sheep, there was no way he could produce light. He tried looking around, frantically searching to see what could have produced such an alarming sound, when an enormous figure emerged. It was the lion.
Oswin had heard mutterings of the infamous lion among the people of the village. It was said to be the most terrifying creature around. His breathing became fast and heavy, and he was becoming more and more frightened with each passing moment when, suddenly, he felt a large paw on his back. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, and prepared for his demise.
“Hey little guy, you lost?” he heard the booming voice say. He peeped one eye open, and turned his head to face the Lion. Anticipating an angry scowl or an open mouth bearing huge, fang-like teeth, Oswin was surprised that squinting in the darkness, the figure he could make out was nothing of the kind. By the light of the moon, he could see a friendly face with a faint smile across it.
“Uhh..n-n-no,” mumbled Oswin, “I just needed a place to stay and I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t know this was where you lived.”
“Ah, so you’ve heard of me before, have you?” replied the Lion.
“Yes, but you’re not…” Oswin’s voice trailed off, deciding it would be best not to offend the Lion, provided that his wrath may just come out when provoked.
“Not what?” asked the Lion.
“Just not what I was expecting. Anyways, I’d better get going. The sun’s starting to rise, and it will worry my shepherd if I’m not there at dawn,” said Oswin.
“Alright, well in that case, I’ll show you the way!” said the Lion, “I know a pass that will get you up to the village in no time.”
Oswin nervously followed the Lion out of the cave, through the mountains, and up the pass. They talked for a few hours, and Oswin found that the Lion was kind, friendly, and had the most incredible stories. He had experienced so much living in the mountains, but said that he felt lonely at times, living down there all alone. Soon after, as promised, the Lion brought Oswin to the village.
“Thank you so much for all your help. It was really nice to get out of the village for a while. You’re not at all what I expec—”
Oswin was cut off by a shrill scream.
“Li-li-LIOOOOONNN!” exclaimed the civilian.
“No! Wait! You don’t understand! He’s really quite friendly!” attempted Oswin, but all that could be heard by the terrified woman were a series of loud “baas.”
Being that the village was quite small, when the woman screamed, nearly the entire town was gathered within minutes to see what had happened. When they saw the Lion, everyone’s faces turned to those of sheer panic. The men of the town ran back inside their homes and businesses, and returned with weapons, ready to protect their town from this seemingly ferocious beast.
Oswin looked at the Lion, both of them quite nervous as the people could not understand their pleas. If the Lion were to try and escape, he would not be able to outrun the people down the steep mountain pass so, instead, they sat in fear. Then, the Lion had an idea.
He gently placed his paw on Oswin’s head, and pet it. The people looked puzzled. At that moment, a little girl ran up behind them, not knowing the Lion was there. Once she saw him, she looked up at him, frozen in fear and awe. He slowly approached her, and the civilians gasped, nervous in anticipation. The Lion leaned down, and licked the face of the little girl.
The people of the village were astonished. This beast they had feared for so long was a gentle giant. They cheered, and Oswin smiled, knowing his new friend was safe.
From that day forward, things were more interesting in the village. The Lion chose to reside in the village. He shared his stories with all of the animals, and brought all kinds of new ideas and activities to the people and animals alike.
Oswin was happy that he had a new friend. He finally had an idea of what the world outside of the village had to offer. His days no longer consisted of grazing alone and dreaming of a more eventful life—he got to hear about life in the mountains, and have new experiences of his own, as well as good company. As for the Lion, living in the village brought his life new purpose, for he was no longer feared, and would never be lonely again.