Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-29

tween the sheep and the she pherd, watch
inc the former lest they should venture
TOO nigh the forbidden line. and the latter
for his signals always hoping. perhaps,
that it may be about time fol his recall,
and for stirring up the other dog. Just as
sure as any of the sheep show a banker
inc after the grain fields, Mr.. Dog is at
his side Not one of them need think of
coming sly game over him. That thing
can't be done, Lnwe, or Wolf, or F.urss
or whatever his name may be, seems to
have eyes in his tail, for it is a simple fact
that no sheep can show the least symptom
of a disposition to tranSgress the bounds
that that dog is not there to interpo>e bis
objections. What does he DO? Bark?
Show his teeth? Growl? Never. He iust>
Looks at the sheep as he runs past, and
Madam Sheep takes the hint. and quietly
walks back to her proper feeding ground.
Are the sheep afraid ofhim? They do not
seem to be. Trey simply appear to I'M
derstand his office. and to have the great
est possible respect for him personally
He is too wise a dog to buster. and knows
we'll enough that the best way to main
tain his authority is to be dignitiel. He
conducts himself like wel-regulatel po
lice officer. and the sheep Know that he
won't trouble them if they obey the laws.
should think the sheep We're Just a little
less intelligent than the dog He undelstad-
his business and they undcr> tand the limit
Of their privileges.
If the shepherd desires at any time to
change he feeding place. he calls up both
the d"gs-ln S me quiz way makes known
his will to then-holds little sheep talk
and sets off in advance toward the NV
ground. There i something almost mill
tarv about the movement The general
in chief leads-thc flock 70 lows and the
two lieutenants course up and down tn.
lines to keep order in the ranks and to
prevent trarglinr. There i no fuss about
1t, no outcry, no suli, n ruth # sheep this
. way, or that way. If they had plans Of
their own. and meant to break loose if
possible; but AL i done in perfect quiet
nr-> The sheep seem 10 know what the
shepherd m ans, :l.d to follow him wilin.-
". or. ii there i he least spirit Of in>ubor
dnation anywhere. the Two lieutcnan,>
speedily pat an end to il.
The shepherd never leaves hi ,hccpcX-
It crpt at nj lit after they have been care
r fully folded, a good shepherd never
p sleeps while his flock i in the field. All
s day. long. cold OF lot, rain or shine. with
t {, patience thtt seems really wonlrrful. he
:. is among his Sheep watching over them.
Ct and caring in every possible Way fnr thei'
Is welfare and comfort. OF course. be and
: they become very we'll Acquitted with
: each other. An old hephrrd once, told me
n there was not a sheep in all lis flock that
i he would not know ii h. should find it 4
e hundred miles away. He said too, that
II his sheep knew him. and would follow him
: anywhere. while even tie deg- could not
' make them follow 4 stranger. He told
J.. Ia, "a l,.,
e flock. new shepherd would have troubl,.
I enough at fist But ne said they woIll
' soon learn. if they were wrll-trrate,. No
:" 81, cp viii ordinarily run from the shrp-
II herd. and they are quite willing. for ths.
p most part. ~ let him handle them iust
a. he rl,a-es. viii not affirm that sheep
e understand what their shepherds say I"
II them, but have often heard shepherds
II talking to their sheep lust 4 if they sup
n posed the sheep understood. ana | am BY
II 10 means certain they did not. If any Of
l. his sheep are sex. or lime, or injured in
.e any way, the shepherd nurses them. II
: here are lambs, he rt1~ special attention
II 20 their wants, and often literally carries
II he feeble ones : in his bosom.
OF There is no emf to the things that nigh;
Is say about shepherds, hut my letter i ret
1. ling t. be- too long already. HE whole
Wp l Goes 't It4l li-lI .tl'tiltI Il4t- lt'l
q Of Gods wttchful and tender care for H.
- people. 80 beautiful ana p"lf,.c, A. thi- Of
Il The shepherd. David WIS a shepherd in
: hi earlier days. and he could thin. Of
IL nothing trucr or b it"r 10 ~tv t. Gud tn.,n
III what hr wrote in ne twtniv-thr,l psalm
l. " The Lord i my shepherds: | shall not
q want. He makcth me To lie down in green
a pastures; He lealcth me beside tll,. Sill
p waters: He rr>torcth my soul He le:,deth
IN me in right paths for lis names sthr.
|" Yea. tho lgh walk through the valley If
II he shadow Of DEATH will fear 10 yil.for
p thou art with me, thy roi ana thy tiff
y comfort me-" And read top. my dear
II children. what the blessed Savior ~ly> about
II himself in tn tenth chapter of Johns Cos
u pei.
| have often thought when have seen
N 4 shepherd watching OVER hi lock. of the
: unhappy condition If sheep that have no
= such kind care. taken of demonstrating
Z sheep that have no shepherd. How much
e worse i the condition Of human creatures
Y that are a~trav and lost from God, Til"
l. Lord Jesus Christ j. come t. seek and I"
y save >uch. and he calls himself tho GOOD
1t shepherd thlt givc;h hi- life for tn.
II Sheep" Now | want each child that reads
2 this letter. to 1t still littl, while and ask
sc himself. or herself Am a wandrin =
II sheep a~tr;,v. an! lost from God, or have
: heard the calling If the yo"l shepherd.
Is md Il" belong To his ti,ck? -Pn>Juryi
N .ilr0cGtt.