Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-24
THE SHEPHERD.

On one of my excursions, riding
through the blue gum forests (of Aus
tralia), says Joseph Jefferson in the Cen
tury, l had galloped about twenty miles
from the home station; dismounting
from the horse, | sat down to rest and
take lunch. A large flock of cocka-
toos, those beautiful white parrots with
yellow crests, came circling around and
lit in the trees overhead. | was watch
ing the curious maneuvers of these birds
as they were chattering and hopping
about among the limbs, when they
stopped suddenly as if alarmed. Some
thing was evidently approaching of
which they were in dread They set up
an awful scream, and with a tremendous
dutter spread their white wings and
sailed away. just at this moment large
black collie dog came bounding out CT
the bushes and suddenly stopped
IN front OF me. For a moment
| was startled. The dog paused
and eyed me keenly, then coming
slowly up walked round me, and at last
approached and licked my hand which |
had held out to him. In moment
more he bounded away leaving me as
tonished at his strange conduct. l had
never seen a dog act in so singular
manner, and was wondering what it
could mean, when a sharp, joyful bark
warned me that he was returning; and
sure enough, he had come back wagging
his tail and followed by a tall, gaunt
figure of a man thinly clad, barefooted,
and with a wide brimmed, frayed straw
hat on his head. He was about fifty years
of age, and as he removed his hat and
made me well hammered, dignifed bow,
| could see that, though he was undoubt-
eddy shepherd, he had once been gen
tleman who had seen better days. As he
stood bareheaded before me the wind
blew his long, thin, sandy hair about his
brow, and he regarded me with a strange,
far off look in his eyes, as if | had been
miles away. [ met several shepherds af-
ter this, and noticed that same strained
expression. They live so much alone,
somstimes being three and four months
without seeing a human being, that they
form this habit by looking over the
plains, hoping that they may catch sight
of some one to relieve the awful monot-
ony of their lonely lives. "Thank God
God bless you, sir. l hope you are
quite WE'LL" he said. There was not
much expression in the mans face al
most fancied that he looked like a sheep,
but there was enough to prove that he
was glad to see me; and would have
been to see any one else, for the matter
of that. "Sit down, my friend, and
have some lunch with me, said l.
"Thank you, wilt" said he. "WelI,
Jack, you are right, quite right; you al
ways are, old boy" This was said to
the dog, who never once took his eye off
his master, but stood in front of him,
waggiDg his affectionate tail, that ex-
pressed as much love for the poor, tat
tered, wasted shepherd as it could have
done had he been an emperor in purple
robes. "Yes, always right and true, eh,
old boy2" The dog answered by licking
the shepherds hand and rubbing his
head against his masters legs.
al knew you were here" said he.
''You knew l was here2 How could you
tell that? What do you mean2' "Ob,
when | say that mean that | knew it
was a friend, or at least not an enemy;
and Jack knew, if didn't. About an
hour ago, the dog began to get uneasy
He ran about shifting the air and giving
little short barks; then ali of sudden
he broke away and left me- | thought
he was on the lookout for something
strange, SO Just sat down among the
sheep and waited for him. Presently he
came back quite pleased at what
he had discovered; then he gave some
more of those little short banks
and ran off toward you and
back again; then wagged his tail impa-
tiently. He could not have spoken
palmer if he had been Christian. The
loving beast knows the lonely life lead,
and how yearn sometimes for human
face to look at. That's why he went on
so-God bless him. tn be shame for
us to live in the other world if Jack don't
so there. Look at him now; can't you
see in his face that he knows that | have
been talking about him2-and every word
I've said, for the matter of that, | be
lieve." And, sure enough, the look in
the dogs face was almost human.
The man now sat down quietly beside
lac, and ate sparingly and rather me
chanically of the lunch, always sharing
his morsel with Jack, took upa flask
of whisky, and, pouring out some of it
into cup, offered my guest drink
His eyes beamed with a longing look as
he saw the liquor, and, turning on me a
strange, frightened look, said mo.
none of that for me. Put it away, please;
| don't like the sight of it.
1t now dawned upon me that my friend
was retired drunkard, who had come
out to this lonely part Of the world to
avoid temptation. | had heard that there
were many such in Australia, and that
the shepherds life was chosen as being
the most isolated one that could be
found. rose to take my departure,
when he put his hand gently on my arm,
and with an appealing look said, ''You
won't 20 home tonight, will your It's
too late. wish you'd stay in my hut to-
night, it's so long sirce I've seen hu-
man face--over three months now. A
man only comes once in great while to
bring provisions, and that's nil we see
of humanity from one years end to
another. Do stay tonight, won't youl"
I'D like to oblige you, replied, "but
they'll be uneasy about me at the home
station. l must be twenty miles from
there now, and it will be long after dark
before | get back, even at smart gal
lop." but are you sure You know the
wayl You might get lost, said he.
"0h, no, I've only to keep on the banks
of the Murray, and I'm all right
The poor fellow hung his head, look
ing the picture Of despair We'll,
said /, "I'll stay" He frightened up Mt
this How far is your hut from here
] asked s'Not mile, l assure you.