St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-29
How 10 Jefferson's Dead Wife
Saved Him From Strong
Temptation.
He Finds a Hermit Victim Of
the Drink Habit in the
Wilderness.
Pathetic Story Of the Solitary
Shepherd and His Affee-
tionate Dog.
Strikingly Sad Tale Of a
Struggle With Appetite
Ending in Triumph.

On one Of my excursions in tire
bush in 1861, riding through the blue
gum forests, 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 cockatooS, those Beautiful white par
rots with yellow creSts came circling
around and lit In the trees overhead. /
was watching the curious maneuvers of
these birds as they were chattering and
hopping about among the limbs, when
they stopped suddenly as if alarmed.
Something was evidently approaching
of which they were in dread. They
set up an awful scream, and with a
tremendous flutter spread their white
wings and sailed away. Just at this
moment large black cOlly dog came
bounding out of the bushes and sud
denly 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 APP
preached and licked my hand, which l
had held out to him. In amoment more he
bounded away, leaving NE astonished
at his strange conduct. l had never
seen dog act in SO singular manner,
and was wondering what it could mean,
when asharp. joyful bark warned me
that he was returning, and, sure enough,
he had come back wagging his tail and
followed by tall, gaunt figure of
a man thinly clad, barefooted. and
with 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-mannered, digni-
fed bow, could see that, though Il e
was undoubtedly shepherd, he had
once been a gentleman who had
seen better days. AS he stood
bare-headed 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 it l
had been miles away. l met several
shepherds after this, and noticed that
same strained expression. They live
so much alone. sometimes be-
ing three or four months with
out seeing 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
monotony of their lonely lives. "Thank
God! God bless you, sir! I hope you
are quite well,' he said. There was
not much expression in the mans
face. 1 almost fancied that he
was enough to prove that he
was glad to. see me; and would have
been glad to see any one else, for the
matter of that. "Sit down, my friend,
and have some lunch with me-" said |.
"Thank you, WILL" said he. "Well,
Jack, you are right, quite right:
you always are, old boy" This
was said to the dog. who never
once took his eye off his master, but
stood in front of him wagging his
affectionate tail, that expressed as much
love for the poor. tattered, wasted
shepherd as it could have done had he
been an emperor in purple robes.
Eyes. always right and true, eh, old
boy?" The dog answered by licking
the shepherds hand and rubbing his
headagainst his masters legs.
Il knew you we're here" said he.
sYou knew was here? How could you
tell that? What do you mean?" 80,
when say that mean that [ knew it
was friend or at least not an enemy;
and Jack knew, if l didn't. About an
hour ago the dog began to get uneasy.
little short barks; then all of sudden
he broke away and left me. l 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 towards you and back again; then
wagged his tail impatiently. He could
not have spoken palmer if he had been
Christian. The loving beast knows
the lonely life lead, and how 1 yearn
sometimes for a human face to look at.
That's why he went on so-God bless
him! It'll be shame for us to live in
the other world if Jack don't go there.
Look at him now; can't you see in his
face that he knows that | have heen
talking about him?--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
me and ate sparingly and rather mechan-
| ically of the lunch, always sharing his
whisky, and pouring out some of it into
a cup, offered my guest drink. His
| eyes beamed with longing look as he
saw the liquor, and, turning OH me q
strange, frightened look. said: mo,
none of that for me. Put 1t 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 go
back tonight, will you? It's too late.
1 wish you'd stay in my hut tonight, it's
so long since Pve seen human face
over three months now. A man only
comes once in great while to bring
provisions, and that's all we see OF
| humanity from one years end to
| another. Do stay tonight, won't you?'
"I'd like to oblige you," l replied, '.but
they'll be uneasy about me at the home
| station. must be twenty miles from
| there now, and it will be long after
dark before l get back, even at a smart
gallop." 'But are you sure you
know the way?--you might get lost
| said he. SO, no; Pve only to keep on
the banks of the Murray and Pm all
| right"
The poor fellow hung his head, look
| ing the picture of despair. "Well,"
said +, "I'll stay" He frightened up
| at this. ''HOW far is your hut from
here?" I asked. "Not a mile, assure
| YOU" So he started off at good pace,
fearing | might change my mind, | sup
pose. The dog bounded ahead, barking
away, and followed on horseback. We
soon came upon his charge-a large
flock of sheep. AS they heard the dogs
bark the stupid creatures pricked up
their ears and looked surprised, Just as
if they had never heard it before; then
they took to their heels and gallOped off,
with the dog in full pursuit, running
| first in front, and then at the side,
as some stray wether showed a
/ disposition to rebel, then circling
round and round till he got the fold just
where he wanted them. He now went
in and out among the sneep as though
giving orders that they were to put up
for the night. They seemed quite tC
understand him, SO they quietly lay
/ down in little family groups. By this
time he had reached the hut, and the
dog came up wagging his tail, as much
| nc tn cav. tsTt,S all right. there's none