The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-04-05

geese, barking dogs, and my two bed
fellows snoring m accompaniment, In
tho morning, or ratlier in tho night, at
half'past three, l was aroused from
shearing sheep by tho man behind me
rolling over me and standing on tho
floor. When l was ablO to speak, I said {;
Who's sick 4"
No reply.
where's the fire n
No foolin', young man," was tho
gruff reply. "You'd better bo tumbltn'
out, or you will miss your breakfast"
During this speech the speaker was
jumping hurhoaly into his pants and
boots,
"Well, you are hungrier than I ever
was, although I've often been in need Of
q square meal. But think l would
have to bo pretty bad of before l would
hurry as YOU do"
But, ere had finished, my audience
was half way down stairs. Irose, and
leisurely put on my clothes and went
down stairs, guided by a piecc Of tallow
candle sputtering in nm old dirty lantern.
When l landed in the kitchen | found
tho farmer, his son, and two hired men
standing before n bench, on which wns
about half a dozen lanterns similar to the
onein my bedchamber. IwasRstonished.
Could 1t be possible that those dirty lan-
terms were productions OF the farm
" Here Is your lantern, young feller, "
said the "boss, as 1 heard tho two mon
call him.
l took the proffered production, and
in solemn silence we marched through
tho back door in single file, and wended
our way in tho direction OF the barn;
the boss taking the lead, tho two hired
men next, and the author gallantly
bringing up the rear.
/ thought this a strange wny Of going
to breakfast, but said nothing. / wRs
not yet thoroughly awake, and, rs wo
wore thus marching along, l fell into q
sort Of doZe, aud dreamed / wns on n
railroal 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. Ihad struck the man next in
front OF me on tho nose, and strange as
il may seem, he was without doubt
dreaming tho same thing rs was,
thinking himself n conductor also; for
ho turned toward mo and said something.
I cnnll not tell wlOtler IL ynB uAll
aboard" or not; anyhow, he swung his
lantern in such way that it struck my
head, and the lantern was smashed to
atoms.
track I"
Ho made some remark about uncoup-
ling me, but as I was no hand to debate,
1 turned and followed my train, while
my brother conductor went back to the
station 10 procure another lantern and
return on the next trnin.
| will not relate whnt transpircd while
at the barn, but let tho reader guess We
did something by saying, after twohours
work we returned to breakfast, which
consisted chiefly OF cold turnips and
fat salt pork; with nothing TO drink but
black coffee without sugar or milk.
When breakfast was over we again re-
paired to the barn-tliis timo to shear
sheep. They were Rll huddled together
in n small pom near the barn, where they
Ind been put the night previous. The
boss and / got into tho pon for tho pur-
pose Of catching and handling out to the
two men, who were to carry them into
tho barn.
On getting in 1 was cautioned to look
out for the old ram. But was not
afraid; l determined not TO catch the old
nm, and thus romnin unhurt. But, alas!
for human nature, how sadly was de-
ceiyed. For wonder my first attempt
to catch q siclly looking lamb was q
success. I picked him up in triumph,
and started to where the man was in
waiting, but on the WY my burden bo-
came restiye. So I put it down in the
centre Of the pom, and stopped fondly
over it to rost myself. was thus stand.
ing over tho helpless sheep, when ayoicc
called out:
uLook ous for the raml'
The next thing knew 1 was flying
through the air over tho fence. / Istruck
tho ground, faco downward, Of course.
Presently arose, and, finding no bones
broken, struck out into tho open country
beyond. The flrmer laughed, the hired
mon ditto, the slleep bleRted, the dogs
barl,ed, and I-well, never mind that.
Before was out OF hearing, tho
farmer made some remark about paying
for meals and lodging; but, without
needing his plaintiyo appeal, l rushed
bravely onward, vowing never to look on
a Granger again.