Sharp County record., 1881-05-26
The Wise Dog and the Cunning Sba,

Many years ago. l spent few wee,
with some friends who lived upm'
large milk-farm in the State Of N,
York. They made a great many poupi
OF butter every day, and packed M
frkins for market, So much ehunir
could not be done by hand, and !
working by steam was not commonbs
they were obliged to employ dogs q.
sometimes sheep.
In the basement Of the farm.bOr,
was a huge churn. the handle of VIII
was attached to a large barrel made
stats, in such way, that, when the b.
rel revolved, the churn was work.
When the dairy-maid was ready !
churn, she would lock Bruce. M
great dog, into this barrel, and a7.
him, go on, Bruce If he went a
at every step he turned the barrel n
faster the barrel turned, the faster d
chUrn-handle moved up and down. q
the sooner the butter came.
Bruce did not like this kind Of vm'
and who of us would2 He often til
to shirk it by running away; but Fhsl
John, the farmers son, perceived Il
trick, he took care to secure the z
over night. The farmer and his q
were very good to their animals 50, ,
order that Bruce might rest, they !
lected a sheep to perform part Of 4
labor. This sheep, though quite yOu'
was never called by any other nE'
than "Sheepy."
The dog and the sheep took turns !
the churning thus: Bruce wOfbl
Mondays, Wednesdays and FridT !
Old Sleepy worked the other th'o
days of the six. On Tuesday, TIM
day and Saturday mornings, q
Sleepy could never be found witiGl
much hunting. The other three mon
ings she would leisurely wander n'
the house, nibbling the grass near ,
doorstep. I,
So John was obliged to drive q
into an inclOsure, and there cOnflne =
for the night, previous to her chri,.
ing, as it took too much time to Z !
her in the morning.
On Monday evening, Bruce, hsT-l'
done his days work, was lying G,,
rug in the sitting-room, where =
farmers children and myself W
having quiet game of "Come, q,
Gomez At eight o clock, Priscilla 3
John, as if with one thought, star,
up from the game with the vr,,,
HAS any one shut up Old Sheep !
No one knew. So of John ran to 7
the animal, but soon returned, moi {, :
to find her. p y
mo matter" said Priscilla, "Bru
has had an easy time to-day. Vi'
put him on tomorrow; for we nsi'
had more cream ready than no'ls
Bruce pricked up his ears, as if to .
Catch me churning Old Sheepy'Ne -
teri .. 7
When bedtime came, Priscilla Sh
81 will not let old Bruce out to-nlggl' u u
will put him in the wash-room." ~
ella didn't quite know Bruce d u
thought he was simple enough 70 !, =
caught mapping after hearing that y y
got out, no one knew how; and us,i
was nothing to be done but to wall q
tiently till morning. y
Bruce had no idea OF allowing 7. :
Sleepy to get clear of her task 20 =
midnight a terrible barking and ODa
ing and growing and scampering W. 4
heard some little distance froI 4 Z
house. John went out to see VIVA! = "
noise was about. He found that 5l u.
had spied Old Sleepy in her nlas Iaas
place, had routed her out and u,S
her into the inclosure; but, as ne o'o -
not bar the gate, he stood ~
against the opening, and was Oai'1 = q
loudly to awaken the household.
As soon as John appeared upon :
scene, Bruce returned to his rug
nothing had happened. l., 4
When Old Sleepy was marchea Is E
the barrel the next morning, you NJ T.
to have seen Bruce strutting aool. y +
basement! If Old Sleepy slacSgIl
her pace at all, Bruce would gV%,da W.
she didn't mind that, he wouiu ~g ,,v
and would not stop until he haG y 4
ceeded in calling the dairy-m%iss :, y
threaten Old Sleepy with the wn,F r. =
Priscilla and John thought theieGsY 7,
acts of the dog very wise; but lgp ! 2
a sheep that could tell the days !" 6,A q
week, as this one was able TO. W. ~ y
knew enough to run away the T. :
before her turn came, was JuS'~ - =
as the dog. I'd :
The family were loud in their ~
of Bruce, however, and, as a rewa,i = Z
his shrewdness, talked OF relieving h, . !;
from further work as soon astnel " = :.
succeed in training another sheyE, .Ij;ln, -
| left the farmhouse before Ins -
place: so | cannot say how bruUe ~ =
his laurels. But, if l had had u! -, -
| would have rewarded Old Sheep p =
Nursery. ~
8 tbe brn
Although Yazoo is one OF tne Ne