The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-04-08

OPPou oleep W uuSlc Ol Quacklnt
geese, barking dogs, and my two bet
fellows snoring an accompaniment. Ii
the morning, or rather in the night, a
half-past three, L was aroused from
shearing sheep by the man behind m,
rolling over me and standing on the
floor. When l was able to speak, said
4" Who's sick 2"
No reply.
Where's the fire 2"
" No foolin', young man," was the
gruff reply. "You'd better be tumblin
out, or you will miss your breakfast" 1"
During this speech the speaker was
jumping hurriedly into his pants and
boots.
Well. you are hungrier than L evel
was, although I've often been in need oi
a square meal. But think 1 would
have to be pretty bad off before would
hurry as you do"
But, ere L had finished, my audience
was half way down stairs. 1 rose, and
leisurely put on my clothes and went
down stairs, guided by 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 q bench, on which was
about half a dozen lanterns similar to the
onein my bed chamber. was astonished.
Could it be possible that these dirty Ian
terms We're productions of the farm2
Here is your lantern, young feller, ~
said the "boss," as L heard the two men
call him.
1 took the proffered production, and
IN solemn silence we marched through
the back door in single file, and wended
our way in the direction of the barn
the boss taking the lead, the two hired
men next, and the author gallantly
bringing up the rear.
L thought this strange way of going
to breakfast, but said nothing. 1 was
not yet thoroughly awake, and, as we
were thus marching along. L fell into a
sort of doze, and dreamed 1 was on
railroad train and the men before me
were my brakemen.
"All aboard" I shouted, swinging
my lantern above and around my
head.
suddenly became aware of my mis-
take. [ had struck the man next in
front of me on the nose, and strange as
it may seem, he was without doubt
dreaming the same thing as 1 was,
thinking himself a conductor also; for
he turned toward me and said something.
could not tell whether it was call
or not; anyhow, he swung his
lantern in such way that it struck my
head, and the lantern was smashed to
atoms.
whats up ?" I said. "Of the
track p
He made some remark about uncoup-
ling me, but as L was no hand to debate,
L turned and followed my train, while
my brother conductor went back 30 the
station to procure another lantern and
return on the next train.
L will not relate what transpired while
1T the barn, but let the reader guess we
did something by saying, after two hours
work we returned to breakfast, which
consisted chiefly of cold turnips and
lat salt pork; with nothing to drink but
black coffee without sugar or milk.
When breakfast was over we again re-
paired to the barn-this time to shear
sheep. They We're all huddled together
IN a small pen near the barn, where they
lad been put the night previous. The
BOSS and 1 got into the pen for the pur-
pose of catching and handing out to the
,wo men, who were to carry them into
he barn.
On getting in was cautioned to look
'ut for the old ram. But I was not
lfraid; determined not to catch the old
am, and thus remain u1hurt. But, alas
or human nature, how sadly was de-
eived. For wonder my first attempt |
o catch a sickly looking lamb was a
uccess. 1 picked him up in triumph,
nd started to where the man was in |
Waiting, but on the way my burden be-
ame restive. SO put it down in the
entire of the pen, and stopped fondly
ver it to rest myself. was thus stand |
ng over the helpless sheep, when voice
allied OUT
"Look on: for the ram !"
The next thing 1 knew L was flying
trough the air over the fence. struck |
he ground, face downward, of course. |
Presently arose, and, finding no bones
roken, struck out into the open country
eyond. The farmer laughed, the hired
len ditto, the sheep bleated, the dogs
arked, and I-well, never mind that.
Before I was out of hearing, the
lrmer made some remark about paying
IL meals and lodging but, without
eeding his plaintive appeal, rushed
ravely onward, vowing never to look on
Granger again.