The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-04-21
Bruce and Old Sleepy.

Many years ago, spent few weeks
with some friends who lived upon q
large milk-farm in the State of New
York. They made a great many pounds
of butter every day, and packed it in
firkins for market, So much churning
could not be done. by hand, and, as
working by steam was not common then,
they were obliged to employ dogs, and
sometimes sheep.
was q huge churn. the handle of which
was attached to large barrel made of
Stats, in such a way, that, when the bar
When the dairy-maid was ready to
churn, she would lock Bruce, their
great dog, into this barrel, and say to
him, "Go on, Bruce" If he went on.
at every step he turned the barrel. The
faster the barrel turned, the faster the
churn-handle moved up and down. and
the sooner the butter came.
Bruce did not like this kind of work;
and who of us would? He often tried
TO shirk it by running away; but when
John. the farmers son. perceived this
trick, he took care to secure the dog
over night The farmer and his son
were very good to their animals: SO, in
order that Bruce might rest, they se-
lected a sheep to perform part of the
labor. This sheep, though quite young,
was never called by any other name
than "Sheepy."
The dog and the sheep took turns in
the churning thus: Bruce worked
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays;
Old Sleepy worked the other three
days of the six. On Tuesday, Thurs
day and Saturday mornings, Old
Sleepy could never be found without
much hunting. The other three morn
the house, nibbling the grass near the
doorstep.
So John was obliged to drive her
into an inclosure, and there confine her
for the night, previous to her churn-
ing, as it took too much time to find
her in the morning.
On Monday evening, Bruce, having
done his days work, was lying on q
rug in the sitting-room. where the
farmers children and myself were
having quiet game of tsCome, dye
comeF' At eight o'clock, Priscilla and
John: as if with one thought, started
up from the game with the words,
HAS any one shut up Old SheepyP"
No one knew, So of John ran to get
the animal, but soon returned. not able
to find her.
"No matter" said Priscilla, Bruce
has had an easy time to-day. Wen
put him on tomorrow; for we never
had more cream ready than now"
Bruce pricked up his ears, as if to say.
Catch me churning Old Sheepy's but
teri"
When bedtime came, Priscilla said,
| 81 will not let old Bruce out tonight. /
will put him in the wash-room." Pris-
ella didn't quite know Bruce, if she
thought he was simple enough to be
caught mapping after hearing that. He
got out, no one knew how; and there
was nothing to be done but to wait pa
tiently till morning.
Bruce had no idea of allowing Old
Sleepy to get clear of her task. At
midnight terrible barking and bleat.
ing and growing and scampering were
heard some little distance from the
house. John went out to see what the
noise was about He found that Bruce
had spied Old Sleepy in her hiding
place. had routed her out and driven
her into the inclosure; but, as he could
not bar the gate. he stood guard
against the opening, and was barking
loudly to awaken the household.
As soon as John appeared upon the
scene, Bruce returned to his rug as il
nothing had happened.
When Old Sleepy was marched into
the barrel the next morning, you ought
to have seen Bruce strutting about the
basement! If Old Sleepy slackened
her pace at all, Bruce would growl; il
she didn't mind that, he would bark,
and would not stop until he had sue
ceeded in calling the dairy-maid to
threaten Old Sleepy with the whip.
Priscilla and John thought these little
acts of the dog very wise; but 1 think
q sheep that could tell the days of the
week, as this one was able to do, and
knew enough to run away the night
before her turn came, was just as wise
as the dog.
The family were loud in their praise
of Bruce. however, and, as q reward for
his shrewdness. talked of relieving him
from further work as soon as they could
succeed in training another sheep. s
left the farmhouse before this took
place: so cannot say how Bruce bore
his laurels. But, if had had my way,
would have rewarded Old Sleepy. too.
Nursery.