Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-02-17

"When 1 stopped, not knowing which
way to go, the dog caught me by the
leg and pulled me on again.
"We went around the bank until we
came up against high cut bank.
Feeling my way along the base of this,
heard faint call: e.
" 'Shep, shep! come, old Shep, and
warm me.
II rushed forward as the dog
answered with bark of delight, and
found Nellie standing fat up against
the bank, still on guard, though nearly
dead with cold.
"Oh, how happy was when Iclasped
my darling in my arms, and how glad
she was Her first words were:
'Oh, father, would have been dead
and all the sheep lost if it had not been
for dear old Shep. 1t was he that drove
them in that sheltered place"
II turned to look for the dog, but he
was gone, and the next moment I saw
him in the middle of the bunch of
crowding sheep, dashing at them on all
sides, to prevent them from crushing
together. He was doing more than a
half dozen men could in the same
place.
81 spoke to him encouragingly, for I
felt very grateful But l could not
wait. ! must get Nellie home.
Leaving Shep to watch the sheep, l
took her in my arms and l crawled
back up the hill. could see i'm the
distance the blazing fire of the wood
pile, and made straight tor 1t.
when / got to the cabin with my
burden, wife was up and dressed, sick
as she was. She had hot drinks and
clothes ready, and l left her to take
care of the child, while at once struck
out again for the sheep.
1.-THE great piles of blazing logs at
the cabin lighted up the whole land
scape and made beacon that would
guide me on my return.
81 found the band in the same place
that had left them; they were quiet
and had ceased walking.
II saw no signs of the dog. Could it
be that, after his faithfulness, he had
given up and left his guard? l did not
believe it. called to him, and was
answered by bark from the center Of
the band; he was in their very midst,
and had by his efforts kept them from
milling.
THE next trouble would be to get
them started for home.
"Sheep are the most stubborn ami
mails in the world. Shep and worked
for hours to get the band headed for
home, but they would not leave the
shelter and face the strong wind.
81 knew if l could getc"eeo5ff them
started, they, IF ie ut all follow in the
pale I nad made to the cabin. caught
an old eve and dragged her out of the
bunch along the path few feet, and
then called Shep to me, and made him
hold her by the ear while l went into
the band and drove a few more out
1.-THE bah! bah! of the old eve at
tracted the attention of the others, and
they started to go to her. then called
Shep to let her go, and she led them
on the path toward home, while Shep
and I drove up the tagging ones in the
rear
Suddenly l thought Of the bridge
being swept away, and knew if the
sheep tried to go down the steep bank
to cross the creek they would pile up
in the narrow gorge, and the first ones
be crushed to death by those following.
''To prevent this, l went on ahead OF
the band with the dog, and posted him
at the broken bridge to prevent them
crossing, while went on over to the
ranch to get some planks to make a
temporary bridge.
"The last saw of old Shep he was
walking along the bank in front of the
crowding sheep, barking and swapping
at them and holding them back better
than half-dozen herders could
"The sheep were mad to get to thei,
sheds, and were bound to cross the
bridge as they had always been in the
, habit of doing. The stupid creatures
kept crowding to the edge of the bank,
despite all the efforts of Shep to drive
. them back.
the sign for all to follow. In mo-
ment thousand were in the narrow
= gorge between the banks, and they
kept coming until enough were piled
up to make bridge of their car cases
: over which all the others passed.
= "Old Shep had fought them on the
, very edge, and was carried over with
/ the avalanche, and even in the creek
tried to force them back, but was soor
crushed beneath the mass.
1.-THE next day we took out of The
, gorge sixty-three dead sheep, and be
meath them we found the body of the
faithful dog that had as truly died or
duty as the greatest soldier in history
"The little stone, you see, is mari
of affection of which we are proud
. and which has perhaps recalled tt
y many man kind thought and ap
probation of our unselfish dumb frient
the dog.
"For my wife, my child aud myself,
:, we will ever hold in loving remem
4 brance the noblest of his species-olt
Shep, Power, in Golden Days
d White House Butter.
All sorts Of things are expected O.
: the presidents wife, as is true also O