The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-06-17

the morning, OF rather in the night, at
half-past three, / was aroused from shear
ing sheep by the man behind me rolling
over me and standing on the floor. When
1 was able to speak I said:
"Who's sick?"
No reply.
Where's the fire2"
"No foolin', young man," was the
gruff reply. you'd better be tumblin'
out, or you'll miss your breakfast"
During this speech the speaker was
jumping hurriedly into his pants and his
boots.
"Well, you're hungrier than 1 ever
was, although I've often been in need
of n square meal. But 1 thiuk I would
have to be pretty bad off before 1 would
hurry as you do"
But ere 1 had finished my audience
was half way down stairs. l rose and
leisurely put on my clothes and went
down stairs, guided by a piece of tallow
candle sputtering in an old dirty lantern.
When l landed in the kitchen 1 found
the farmer, his son, and two hired men
standing before a bench, on which was
about half q dozen lanterns similar tc
the in my bed-chamber. 1 was as,
tonished. Couldit be possible that these
dirty lanterns were productions of the
farm2
"Here's your lantern, young feller,'
said the "boss," as l heard the two mer
call him.
1 took the proffered. production, and
in solemn silence we marched through
the back door in single file, and wendell
our way in the direction of the barn:
the boss taking the lead, the two hired
men next, and the author calamity bring.
ing up the rear.
1 thought this a strange way of going
to breakfast, but said nothing. 1 was
not thoroughly awake, and, as we were
thus marching along, L fell into a sort OF
a doze, and dreamed 1 was on a railroad
train and the men beforeme were my
brakemen.
"An aboard" Ishouted, swinging my
lantern above my head.
1 suddenly became aware of my mis-
take. 1 had struck the next man in
front of me on the nose, and, strange as
it may seem, he was without doubt
dreaming the same thing as l was, think
ing himself a conductor also, for he
turned toward me and said something.
I could not tell whether it was cal
aboard or not; anyhow, he swung his
lantern in such a way that it struck my
head, and the lantern was smashed to
atoms.
"What's up 2" I said. care we off
the track"
He made some remark about uncoup-
ling me, but as I was no hand to debate,
1 turned and followed the train, while
my brother conductor went back to the
station to procure another lantern and
return on the next train.
[ will not relate what TRANSFERRED while
at the barn, but let the reader guess we
did something by saying that after two
hours work we returned to breakfast,
which consisted chiefly of cold turnips
and fat salt pork, with nothing to drink
but black coffee without milk or sugar.
When breakfast was over we again re,
paired to the barn-this time to sheal
sheep. They were all huddled together
in a small pen neal the barn, where they
had been put the night previous. The
boss and 1 got into the pen for the pur
pose of catching and handing out to the
two men, who were to carry them to the
barn.
On getting in, I was cautioned to look
out for the old ram. But 1 was moi
afraid. I determined not to catch the
old ram, and thus remain unhurt. But
alas for human nature, how sadly was
1 deceived. For a wonder, my first at
tempt to catch a sickly looking lamb was
a success. picked him up in triumph
and started to where the man was wait
ing, but on the way my burden became
FESTIVE. So L put it down in the center
of the pen, and stopped fondly over it tc
rest myself. 1 was thus standing evel
the helpless sheep, when a voice called
out:
"Look out for the ram !"
The next thing 1 knew I was flying
through the air over the fence. L STRUCK
the ground, face downward, of course
Presently 1 arose, and finding no bonei
broken, struck out into the open countr,
beyond. The farmer laughed, the hireC
men ditto, the sheep bleated, the dog
barked, and I,-well, mind that.
Before I vas out of hearing the farme
made some remark about paying for m,
meals and lodging; but, without needing
his plaintive appeal, 1 rushed bravely ON
vowing never to look on a Granger again