The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-26
Ell Perkins a, a Farmer.

some four years. NY farm Is in the in.
terror Of Maine. Unfortunately my
lands are eleven miles from the railroad,
Eleven miles is quite adiStance to haul
immense quantities of wheat, corn, rye,
and oats; but as hay'n't any to haul, I
do not, after all, suller much on that nc.
count.
Two years ago tried sheep-mising.
Thought / fifty lambs, and tnrned them
loose on my broad and beautiful acres.
1t wns pleasant on bright mornings
after coming back from lecturing tour
to stroll leisurely ont ON to the farm in
my dressing gown, with cigar in my
mouth, ,.aud watch those innocent little
lambs as they danced gaily DER the hill
side.
One day, my gentle shepherd, Mr.. Eli
Perkins, THAT wns mel said, eve must
have some shepherd dogs"
/ had no very precise idea as to what
shepherd dogs were, But l assumed II
rather profound look. and saidl
" We must, Eli. Ispoke to you about
this some time agon
| wrote to Boston for two shepherd
dogs, and tho dogs came forthwith.
They were splendid creatures snuff.
colored, hazel.cyed, long tailed, aud
shapely-iawed.
We led them proudly to the fields
Turn them in, Eli" | said.
Eli turned them in.
They went in ut once, and killed TWEEN.
ty OF my best lambs in about four min.
utes and a half,
My friend had made tritling mistake
in the breed Of these dogs.
Eli Perkins was astonished, and oh.
served
"Waal did You ever ?"
IcCrtainly l 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 boen sent to
Boston that night, had they not rather
suddenly died that afternoon Of throat
distemper. It wasn't swelling Of the
throat. It wasn't diphtheria. 1t wns a
violent opening Of the throat, extending
from ear to elr.
Thus closed their life.stories. Thus
ended their interesting tails.
l failed rs raigGr Of lambs. As n
sheepist, was not 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
aud nice. New mown hay is really fine
thing. 1t is good for man and beast.
We hired four honest farmers to assist
us, and | led them gaily to the meadows,
/ was going to NOV, myself.
| saw the sturdy peasants go round
once ere I dipped my flashing Scythe
into the tall green Rnlss..
care you ready ?" said E. Perkins,
" / am here !"
"Then follow usr
followed them.
Followed them rthcr too closely, cvi.
IDENTIFY, ior a white haired old man,
who Immediately followed Mr.. Perkins,
called upon us to halt. Then in low
firm voice he alid to his son, who was
just ahead Of me, John, change places
with me. hain't got long to live any
how. Yonder huryln' ground will soon
have these old bones, md it's no matter
whether I'm carried there with one leg
of and terrible gashes in the other OF
not /! But you, John-youarc young"
The old man changed places with his
son. A smile Of calm resignation lit up
his wrinkled face, us ho said, "Now, sir,
| am readyw
"Whpt mean you, old man ?" | said,
az mean that il you continuer to
bran'ish that blade ms you have been
bran'ishin' it, you'll slasll-out OF some
Of us before we're hour older |"
There was some reason mingled with
this white.haired old peasants profan'
ity. It was true that / had twice escap,
cd moving of his sons legs, and bis
iNther was perhaps naturally alarmed.
l went and sat down under u tree. ~
never knowd u literary man in my life.
/ overheard the old man say, "that
know'd anything"
Mr.. Perkins WIS not as valuable to mt
this season as ! had fancied he might be
Every afternoon he disappeared from
the field regularly, mud remained about
some two hours. Ho sail il was head
ache. He inherited it from his mother.
His mother was often taken in that way,
and suffered u great deal
At the end OF the two hours Mr.. Per
kins would reappeHr with his head neat
ly done mp in q large wet rag, and say h'
"felt better"
One afternoon it so happened that !
soon followed the invalid 70 the house
and ns / nenred the porch heard fe
male voice energetcally observe, !" Yor
stop p It WIS the voice Of tho hired
girl, and she added, "I'll holler for Mr..
Brown !"
"Oh no, Nancy ! heard the invalit
Z. Perkins soothingly say, Z" Mr.. Brow
knows love you. Mr.. Brown approves
oft.
This was pleasant for Mr.. Brown
| Ipeered cautiously through the htch
cn.blinds, and, however unnatural /
may appear, thelips Of Eli Perkins AMI
my hired girl were very near together
She said, "You shan't do So" and HI
dO-sotd. She also said she wonld 60
right up and go away, and as IN evi
dCnce that she was thoroughly in earnes
about it, she remained where she was.
They me married now, and Mr.. Per
kins is troubled no more with the head
ache.
This year we are planting corn. MI
Perkins writes me that on account
of no skare hows bein put up krow
cum aud dlgged iust crop up but 500
got mother in. Old Bisbee who wa
Trade you'd cut his sons leggs Of Ses yo
bet go and stan up in feeld yrself wit