Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-06-11
NO. "a.


The life of n shepherd-or sheep .herder,
in the vernacular-in California is no sine
cure. During the greater part of the year
in fact, mt all times except ''ambing" and
when engaged at the home ranch, at the mo
mentous cpochs of 'shearng' and dipping
the shepherd lives as solitary life as that
of any early Christian hermit in the wilds of
Sinai or the Nubiau desert. He is relegated
to the company Of his sheep, and his dog
if he has one, for some sheep owners will not
permit the use of dogs They are his only
associates Of the animal world as the days and
weeks speed on Once a week perhaps, the
man who carries the rations around to the va
rious camps may chat with him for n minute
or two. il he has time; but more frequently
will not see him at all, leaving the GRUB" at
the camp, while the shepherd may be two or
three miles away with his band. Once in
while. too, the boss" or major-domo, may
ride round generally when he is least ex-
pectrd-to catch him mapping, to give him
orders about changing his feed, or to look in
to the condition of the flock, as the case may
be, But, apart from these casualties, the
shepherd is, so far as human intercourse il
concerned, as completely alone as If he were
in solitary confinement in penitentary. The
nearer the man approaches the brute in ma
turo, the better fitted is hc for this business
aud perhaps the best shepherds of all are
MeXicans or native Californians. The home
of Californian shepherd is a cabin, some
times made Of rough boards, sometimes of
redwood shakes about twelve feet by eight,
supplied, in regions where wood is plentiful,
with Il rude stone fireplace, or n small sheet
iron cooking stove. Sometimes merely
tent is provided, and the herder does his
cooking as he can, outside. During the sum
mer this latter class of domicile is not unpleas-
ant, that is if it can be pitched under the
shade of "a tree but woe to the luckless herd
er who is compelled to camp in tent upon
the bare Californian plains beneath nearly
vertical sun! Ills cabin is provided with
small deal table, a stool or two, some shelves
on the wal, and bunk made of deal boards
attached to one of the walls; and if he is in
luck, or has "boss" who has little respect
for his help-which the bosses" rarely have
"A stove or fireplace. The floor of the cabin
is usually literally ground floor though
instances of shepherds huts being built with
plank flooring are getting more common in
the case of recent erections His cooking
utensils consist of a cofee-p pot, baking pan,
frying pan and goblet his dishes are usually
limited to tin plate, cup, knife, fork and
spoon. The ratons of shepherd consist of
Il sack of -four, bag of beans a sack of pO-
tatoes, some coffee, tea, sugar, salt. etc, with
either the privilege of killing sheep when
out of meat, or the allowance of quarter Of
mutton killed at the home ranch, and pack
ed round by the 'packer'-as the man who
brings round rations TO the camps is called
once week. This is supposed to be the
most niggard estimate in the way of rations,
but We have known cases where even this
poor supply has been suffered to fall short
through the niggardliness of bosses" or the
neglect of packers; and where the poor
herder has been reduced to the single articles
of beans and salt, together, of course, with
the mutton it was always in his power 10 sup
ply himself with. -CaAJ1rHidn.