The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-08-10
EXPERIENCES OF A COLO s.
RADIO SHEEP RANCH.

There has been a good deal of poetry
written about sheep-heTding and sheep
but the facts often have little poetry
about them. The following experience
of a young shepherd in Colorado Is
quantity told, and may operate as a
warming to venturesOme youths who
wish to become shepherds on the western.
plains. He writes:
Il had a cousin out in Colorado. n
sheep faneher, and he wrote to me and
offered me $l5 month and board in
summer, and $25 in winter, to go out to
his ranch and herd sheep. He said it
would be enjoyment to do that kind OF
work. Maybe he would call it enjoy
ment-strange enjoyment, should say.
Before got through with it 1 thought
would rather have good board and no
$15 per month.
When l first went to my Cousins
ranch, | thought it was fine place, but
soon found out when he sent me fifty
miles out to the sheep ranch. Fifteen
dollars and board! You ought to have
seen the meat. took a slice of it about
a foot long, and tried to cut it with a
sharp knife-mind you, we did all our
own cOoking-and couldn't eat that meat
at all; then l took it by either side with
both hands, and, sitting ON the little
round stool, tried to tear 1t. Well, 1
braced both feet, and tugged with all
my might, until my hands slipped off,
then over L went backwards, all in a
heap:
''Then that man out there! There
was only one beside myself. Why, that
man, he had hair clean down his back,
| and l was afraid of him, and couldn't
sleep the first night for watching him,
for fear he would give me one. He asked
me why couldn't sleep, and told him
| was watching the sheep; but it was
i him I kanninor M fOr
he had two rows of cartridges clear round
his belt, and was afraid some of them
might go off in the night and hit me.
THAT long hair! Why, asked the
fellow how old he was one day, and he
said: DO you mean to insult meP' L
thought he must be hundred years old
from the length of his hair.
"Then the sleeping! Why, we lay
right down among the sheep, with straw
in bag on plank for bed. The dog,
and US, and sheep all slept together, and
l could put out my hand on one side and
| touch the sheep, and on the other and
touch the dog; but you bet didn't touch
the dog for fear the beast would bite
me. And believe that man was lousy,
and had rather sleep with the sheep
than him.
| you see l wasn't armed, and the
other fellow had two big revolvers stick
| ing out of his belt; and didn't dare say
much, for every time 1 said word he
would look down at his belt full of cart
ridges.
He asked me one day If was afraid
of anything, and said: Never you mind,
I'll protect YOU Protect nOthingl 1
was more afraid of him and his two
rows of cartridges than was of any
thing else. What was 1 to do if he took
a notion to give me One,' out there fifty
miles from civilization?
"Then the cOokingI-the way we cut
our beef! When l went there the meat
was lying on the floor in the corner of
the shanty, and two or three sheep lying
on it. Fifteen dollars a month and
bOard-I should say bOardl And when
we went to cut the meat we took an ak
with an edge about as wide as your
finger, and pounded it off. Then when
we took piece of that meat, about an
inch thick, and commenced to fry it in
the top of the skillet, as though it was
alive. That was board for you, and
cook your own meals!
"They say tending sheep on the ranch
is fun. Well, maybe 1T is, but it wasn't
any fun to lie down at night in shanty,
when, If there was little snow storm,
the snow would fall all over you.
81 gave it up as bad job the second
day, and jumped on a wagon to ride
down to the house. When started away
the other herder wanted to know if
was ever going to come back; and told
him that had found another job, but
didn't tell him all thought about sheep
aherding, for remembered that had no
revolver with me.
"That was in April; and he said: You
ought to stay here until shearing time;
then the fun commences They shear
the sheep about this time in June or
July; but I'd have been dead if 1 had
staid until now. No, sir-no shearing
for me! That meat, and sleeping with
the dog and sheep, were enough for me
without staying until shearing time.
Why, that night 1 lay on my back and
looked at the stars and wondered if
should ever see York State again. Shear
ing was no object to me; 1 had had
enough of sheep raising in Colorado
without helping that dirty man hold
them to have their wool cut off.
"Why, for six months after that
could see nothing but sheep, whether
was asleep or awake; they swan before
my eyes the whole time"