National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-02-23
Eli perkin, an u Farmer.

terror Of Maine. Unfortunately m
lands are eleven miles from the rairoa
Eleven miles j. quite n distance to ha
immense quantities OF wheat, corn, ry
and oats hut rs hav'n't any 10 haul,
do not, after all, suffer much on that ~
count.
Two years ago I tried sheep-iaising.
bought fifty lambs, and turned thel
loose on my broad and beautiful acres.
II was pleasant on bright morning
after coming back from u lecturing tot
TO stroll leisurely out ON to the farm
my dressing gown, with cigar in IN
mouth, aud watch those innocent littl
lambs as they danced gaily DER the hill
side.
One day, my gentle shepherd, Mr.. f
Perkins, THAT was mel said, 1--WE mus
have some shepherd dogs"
had no very precise idea rs to wha
shepherd dogs were, but | assumed
rather profound look, and said!
We must, Eli. Ispoke to you abou
this some time ago !"
| wrote to Boston for two shepher,
dogs, and the dogs came forthwith
They were splendid creatures snuff
colored, hazel-eyed, LONG tailed, ano
shapely- -jawed,
We led them proudly to the fields.
"Turn them in, Eli, ] said
Eli turned them in.
They went in Mt once, and killed TWEEN
ty OF my best lambs in about four min.
utes and a half.
My friend had made a trifing mistake
in the breed of these dogs.
Eli Perkins was astonished, and OBJ
served
"WaaI did you ever ?"
C, rtainly never had.
There were pools of blood on the green
sward, and fragments of wool and raw
lamb chops lay round in confused heaps.
The dogs would have been sent to
Boston that night, had they not rather
died that afternoon of throat
distemper 1t wasn't swelling of the
throat. 1t wasn't diphtheria. 1t was a
violent opening of the throat, extending
from ear to ear.
Thus closed their life-stories. Thus
ended their interesting tails.
failed as raiser of lambs. AS a
sheepist, | was not a success
Last Summer Mr.. Perkins said, II think
we'd better cut some grass this season,
sir. "
We cut some grass.
To me the new mown hay is very sweet
md nice. New mown hay is really fine
hing. 1t is good for man and beast.
We hired four honest farmers to assist
is, and led them gaily to the meadows.
| was going to NOW, myself
| saw the sturdy peasants go round
nee ere l dipped my flashing Soy the
nto the tall green grass.
Are you ready p said E. Perkins.
am here ~
"Then follow us p
followed them.
Followed them rather too closely, evi-
entity, ior a white haired old man,
ho Immediately followed Mr. Perkins,
nlled upon us to halt. Then in low
rm voice he said to his son, who was
lst ahead of me, "John, change places
18th me. | hain't got long to live any
ow, Yonder buryin' ground will soon
ave these old bones, and it's no matter
neither I'm carried there with one leg
I and terrible gashes in the other or
IT But you, John-vou are young"
The old man changed places with his
n. A smile of calm resignation lit up
g wrlnkled face, as he said, "Now, sir
am ready"
" What mean you, old man ?" | said, q,
81 mean that if you continuer to ;;
an'ish that blade as you have been ;;
it, you'll slash-out of some :
lis before we're hour older p
There was some reason mingled with !
is white-haired old peasants profan-
r. 1t was true that had twice escap-
moving off his sons legs, and his
her was perhaps naturally alarmed
| went and sat down under u tree 81
yer know'd n literary man in my life"
overheard the Old man say, that a
ovid anything" q
Mr.. Perkins was not as valuable to me I
is season as I had fancied he might be. /
cry afternoon he disappeared from q
2 field regularly, and remained about II
ne two hours. He said it was head
le. He inherited it from his mother.
S mother was often taken in that way,
| suffered great deal.
At the end Of the two hours Mr.. Per. G
IS would reappear with his head neat
lone mp in large wet rag, and say he
plt better"
)ne afternoon it so happened that |
N followed the invalid to the house, r,
as | neared the porch heard fe- n,
lie voice energetically observe, You t1
p n' 1t was the voice of the hired N,
|, and she added, "Ill holler for Mr.. a
,wn !" =,
Oh no, Nancy I heard the invalid W
Perkins soothingly say, Mr.. Brown Il
'ws love you. Mr.. Brown approves
{. "
his was pleasant for Mr.. Brown -,
peered cautiously through the kitch. y,
blinds, and, however unnatural it -
: appear, the lips of Eli Perkins and q,
hired girl were very near together. y, y.
said, "You shan't do So" and he sc sc
Oed. She also said she would get " "
1t up and go away, and as an evi- 81 81
&c that she was thoroughly in earnest r,
ut it, she remained where she was. y' =,
hey are married now, and Mr.. Per ri
! is troubled no more with the head ~
?. n
his year we are planting corn. Mr.. nI I
kins writes me that on accounts W.
o skare krows bein put up krows -
and digged fust crop up but soon
mother in. Old Bisbee who was rel
e you'd cut his sons leggs of Ses you pli
go and stan up in feeld yrself with sol
sin gownd on & gesses krows will to
} way, this made Boys in store larf, cul
lore terday from Yours respectful be
ELI PERKINS" ers
S.-Eli has done better since he got a.. s"-
-ied. ~, ~.
ARTEMUs WARD. P.,