Connecticut western news., 1872-02-16
Eli Perkins as a Farmer.

| ana fefefS to the faithful labOrS Of Ell Perkins, on the farm in Maine
 NEW YORK, June 12, l865.- To he F'a,me,'S' Club, Cooper hastitMe-Gentle- maen have been an honest farmer for some four years. My farm is in the in- terior of Maine. Unfortunately my lands are eleven miles from the railroad. Eleven miles is quite distance to haul immense quantities of wheat, corn, rye, and oats; but as hav'n't any to haul, I do not, after all, suffer much on that ac- count.
 Two years ago tried sheep-1aising. l bought fifty lambs, and turned them loose on my broad and beautiful acres. It was pleasant on bright mornings after coming back from featuring tour to stroll 1eisurely out on to the farm in my dressing gown, with cigar in my mouth, aud watch those innocent little lambs as they danced gaily OCT the hill side
 One day, my gentle shepherd, MT. Eli Perkins, (that was mel said, "We must have some shepherd dogs.''
 l lad no very precise idea as to what shepherd dogs were, but assumed a rather profound look, and said!
 "We must, Eli. Ispoke to you about th1s some time ago !' wrote to Boston for two shepherd dogs, and the dogs came forthwith. They were splendid creatures-snuff- colored, hazeleyed, long-tailed, and shapely- -jawed.
 We led them proudly to the fields.
 "Turn them in, Eli," said.
 Eli turned them in.
 They went in at once, and killed twen- ty of my best lambs in about four min utes and half.
 My friend had made trifing mistake in the breed of these dogs.
 Eli Perkins was astonished, and ob- served
 "Waal did you ever ?"
 I certainly 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 suddenly died that afternoon of throat distemper. It wasn't swelling of the throat. It wasn't diphtheria. It was violent opening of the throat, extending from ear to ear
 Thus closed their ife-stories. Thus ended their interesting tails.
 failed as raiser of lambs. As 8 sheeplst, l was not success.
 Last Summer MT. Perkins said, sI think we'd better cut some grass this season, sir"
 We cut some grass.
 To me the nev mown hay is very sweet thing. It is good for man and beast.
 We hired four honest farmers to assist us, and I led them gaily to the meadows.
 was going to now, myself.
 l saw the sturdy peasants go round once ere dipped my flashing scythe into the tall green grass.
 "Are you ready ?'' said B. Perkins.
 6 I am here p
 "Then follow us p
 Followed them.
 Followed them rather too closely, evil dently, for 8 white haired old man, who immediately followed Mir. Perkins, called upon us to halt. Then in low firm voice he said to his son, who was just ahead of me, "John, change places with me. I hain't got long to live any how. Yonder buryln' ground will soon have these old bones, and it's no matter whether I'm carried there with one leg off and terrible gashes in the other or not But you, John-you are young." " The old man changed places with his son. A smile of calm resignation lit up his wrinkled face, as he said, 'Now, sir, am ready p " @.
 What mean you, old man ?'' said,
 " mean that if you continuer to bran'ish that blade as you have been bran'ishin' it, you'l slash-out of some of us before we're hour older p
 There was some reason mingled with this white haired old peasants profan- ity. It was true that I had twice escap- ed moving off his sons legs, and his father was perhaps naturally alarmed.
 l went and sat down under tree "I never know'd literary man in my life. :" I overheard the old man say, z" that know'd anything'
 MT. Perkins was not as valuable to me this season as had fancied he might be. | Every afternoon he disappeared from the field regularly, and remained about some two hours. He said it was head | ache. He inherited it from his mother. His mother was often taken in that way. and suffered 9 great deal.
 At the end of the two hours MT. Per. kins would reappear with his head neat K '' felt better"
 One afternoon it so happened that soon followed the invalid to the house, and as neared the porch I heard fe- male voice energetically observe, ss You stop p It was the voice of the hired girl, and she added, "I'n holler for MT. Brown!''
 "Oh no, Nancy" I heard the invalid B. Perkins soothingly say, |" MT. Brown knows I love you. MT. Brown approves of it. '
 This was pleasant for MT. Brown!
 lpeered cautiously through the kitch- en-blinds, and, however unnatural it may appear, the lips of Eli Perkins and my hired girl were very near together She said, "You shan't do so.'' and he 1o-soed. She also said she would get right up and go away, and as an evi- ience that she was thoroughly in earnest about it, she remained where she was. They are married now, and MT. Per klns is troubled no more with the head ache. This year we are planting corn. MT. Perkins writes me that s on accounts of no skare krows bein put up krows ,um and digged fust crop up but soon got mother in. Old Bisbee who was rade you'd cut his sons leggs of Ses YOU pet go and stan up in feeld yrself with iressin gownd on & gesses krows will zeep way, this made Boys in store larf, 10 More terday from Yours respectful
 "ELI PERKINS" P. s.-Ei has done better since he got married.