The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-27
OLD SHEP.
The Pathetic Story Of q Faithful
Shepherd Dog.


one evening at the sheep ranch of Joel
Weideman, on Spring creek, in Meagher
county.
Joel was known as the sheep king Of
the county, which was the same as say
ing that he was rich and prosperous,
and the owner of large herds Of sheep;
but he had another title among the
rarchers that was still more honorable
to him: it was Honest Joel"
Now the reason tell you this is that
am going to ask you to believe story
that might seem improbable, if you did
not know that the man who told it to
me bore a very high reputation Tor YER
acity among his neighbors-
The evening l was at the ranch was
most delightful ore. I was sitting on
the verandah OF their great log house,
enjoying the landscape and chatting
with Joel and his wife and his charm
ing daughter Nellie, when my eye was
attracted by a singular object in such
a place.
II was shaft Of shining white mar
BILE, four feet high, standing on the
edge Of the bank of the rapid cree
that flows through the ranch. So much
was my curiosity excited, that rather
abruptly excused myself to my hostess
and sauntered over to the spot to ascer-
tain what it could be.
When reached the small monument
for such it was-I was not greatly en-
lighteDed as to what it COMMUNICATED.
On it's face, halfway up, was chiseied
the head of hepherd dog; under the
head were the words: "Died on Duty"
and across the base in large letters
was the single word, ''Shep."
When l returned to the veranda, /
asked my host TO whom the stone was
erected
IL answered, with evident emotion:
cit is the grave of the noblest fellow
that ever lived"
WAS he relative of yours?' asked.
No, no! No relation; but the best
friend ever had. l might not have
had a cent to-day, were it not for old
Shep. But he did nlorU than that-he
saved the life Of my daughter Nellie
here, and he died in trying to save my
property. Lie was only d dog; but he
had better sense and a kinder heart
than most any man I ever kew.
''You would like to hear the story,
and will tell you it, though it is pain
full for Us to recall to our minds one of
the most terrible experiences we have
known in our lives, which have been
unusually filed wish hardship.
when ] took up this land, nearly
twenty years ago, was very poor, and
had to take band OF sheep to care for.
getting oDe-half the increase from the
owner for my work.
In the course OF few years, my
share gave me enough to start herd of
three thousand head at the time when
this incident happened l was COM
PEELED to keep man to herd the sheep,
while / did lhe work about the ranch.
One day in February my herder
quit me without any notice, and / was
left IN an awkward predicsment.
My wife was sick in bed, and there
was no one about 20 herd the sheep
while I went to the village to look up
another man.
81 hardly knew what to do, for the
sheep could not be kept in the corral
TO starvs while l was away, nor could
/ turn them loose on the prairie, to be
lost or eaten by coyOtes. Ny wife and
were discussing the question, when nv
little girl Nellie, who was then ten years
old, elm bed up on my knees and said:
Father, it's going to be nice
weather tomorrow, and Shep and l
can take care of the sheep for one day
just as well as any man, can't we,
Shep?
And our old dog answered with a
bark and wag of his big, bushy tail,
that those we're his sentiments
I'VE had brought the dog up from q
pup, and we all thought nearly as much
OF him as though he was a child. Shep-
herd dogs are usually very intelligent
animals, but this one seemed to pos
sess mind almost human in reasoning
powers. In the management of sheep
he certainly knew more than any herd
er ! ever saw.
That night he stood looking at
Nellie and then at me-almost talking
and seeming to ask me 70 trust him
20 take care of little Nell and nv sheep
pretty nigh all had in the world.
1t was risky thing TO do az that
season, when storms come up very sud
denly; but prospects for fair weather
were excellent, and let them coax me
into a promise 70 think about il.
AT daylight Nellie was at nv bed
side for NV answer. while the dor.
equally interested. stood with his fore
feet On the edge OF the bed.
Looking oct Of the window I saw
the sun was shining and al indicated q
clear day. so rave nv permission.
soon little Nell had her breakfast.
got on her wraps, put on a big pair o.
herman socks Of mine over her shoes,
and she and Shep started FOR the corral
a1d let out the sheep just ike sle was
an GA herder. Then l mounted nv
poay and started for town. twenty
niles away. The last thing saw was
little Nellie, with her long, golden hair
blowing IN the breeze. Juggling up Won
ler hlI with the sheep aaead Of hr-.
aad Old Saep jumping At her side iazs
Is happy - lie coCl. be.
! went or 70 town and PIT mp ct CID
Sol Days hotcl l-a was starting >
COX bout Tor q hc-5c-. when incomes
Roberts, Tho cc1st table. ana Summoned
re for g lUrvLar for a s-.-l ,s ter-,
,isce AZ two O'Clock En- the afternoon.
Il tried 10 ezSiOsu % asssl what 81