The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-05
THE SHEEPHERDER
Sketch of the Individual
AS He Is.
NOT ONE OF THE POETIC KIND
lie Is Rough and Ready, Shrewd
at His Business, but Not With.
out a f1eart.

shaved, dirty ana SlOucHy. lie is all tDtS
and more, but on nearer view that which
strikes one most is the way in which he
harmoniZes with his surroundings. With
out being aware of it the sheepherder imi-
tates the movements of the animals about
him. When he lies down he falls naturally
into attitudes more or less suggestive of
those of his sheep and dogs. When still
he is very still and hints of the immoya-
bleness of the surrounding rocks, and on
meeting with something little out Of the
common betrays the startled feeling which
causes the sheep to jump and run when
disturbed. The curiously inquiring gaze
with which he greets visitor differs in TO
observable way from that of his dog.
His apparel carries the IDEA of harmony
still further. 1t IS usually Of brown can
vas which time aud weather have modified
to a shade which is rather well described
by the term mud col0r, and his hat, for
merry white and of cowboy style, has ac-
cummodatingly taken on the same general
tint. Even his face lends itself in hue so
completely TO the general tone that it is
sometimes pulling TO tell just where
sheepherder ends and natural scenery
begins.
But little acquaintance with him re-
pressionless face only means that lie is
not in the habit of putting thought into
words, not that he does not think, and
furthermore proves that he is not the half
cracked, loony or half-witted creature
that he has been represented; also that
his capabilities and his good qualities have
scarcely received the respect they deserve.
To be sure he is none too reverent; a man
who owns sheep. no master how much of
a capitalist he may be, is just another
sheepmau, and the herder looks upon him
self as an equal, or pretty nearly so, for
was not his boss probably heTder at one
time? And might not he be a rival sheep
owner In a few years? The habit his
employer has of eating with a good appe-
Iite from the same pots and kettles as the
herder, and getting free invitation to
lend a hand in doing chores, does not con-
duce to the development OF reveren tial
feeling. When visiting camp the boss
shares the herder's bed of blankets and
sheepskins, with a dog for pillow, and
is expected to be grateful for the privilege,
and in case he is not he will be requested
to bring his own bed next time, with
good deal Of vigOr.
To the sheepherder the man who sup
plies him with the necessaries of life and
moves his camp is amptender. The rams
of his flock are just plain, ordinary bucks,
and the tieck band. and he himself in
variably a sheepherder, and should one
happen to call him shepherd he slightly
resents it, thinking the word a sort of in
direct apology for the derOgatory ideas
shows lack Of appreciation of apologies
by responding promptly with the question,
What's the matter with sheepherder any,
how?'
1t may be surprise to those who have
imoibed freely OF the popular ideas on the
subject of sheeDherding to know that
there is considerable skill to be attained
even 10 this humble occupation. Many a
man starting out filled to overfn wing
with the opinion that any fool can herd
sheep, and expecting to meander along,
listen to the song of the meadow lark, rest
when weary under the shadow of giant
sagebrush and peruse the columns Of an old
paper he may have showed in his pocket
before starting, will have his ideas on the
fool question enlarged, while acquiring
knowledge of the value Of high points. the
beauties of close herding in springtime, the
dexterity required in heading leaders, the
skill IN working up trailers and in gaining
a slight conception OF the amount OF sug-
gestions TO be conveyed to the average
sheep by the rock-shying process.
1t is this class Of men who furnish ma
teTlal for stories. and VINO get handed
down 10 undying fame as heroes of simple
dialogue, similar to the following: Il
thought | hired you TO herd my Sheep" is
what the indignant and irale employer
says. well, Pm ready to go on herding
but you'll have 20 give me some more
sheep" is now the famous reply.
That he is lazy sort of fellow is one
of the more common Illusions concerning
the shepherd that is destroyed by little
knowledge of his duties. He travels miles
every day over the toughest of ground, aud
on reaching camp in the evening must
cook supper, gather wood, feed his dogs,
perhaps kill and dress a sheep, and in fact
has a regular round of duties, which are
quite sufficient to keep him busy until bed
tune. In winter he bears without muir
muir hardShipS OF which to think would
cause most men to shIver. He often passes
a week without being dry or warm, never
eats but twice day, and then only or the
simplest fare. He has been known to live
month without complaint on crackers
and sleeps milk, and be took his milk in
the same way the lambs do theirs. At
night his rest is broken by coyotes and
eats" (Which is his name for lynx attack
ing his band, and in stormy weather he
must often do double duty. AS a herder
told his camptender, Its an alI-daY job,
an all-night job. and Sunday job to
boot" But a true sheepherder is much
of a philosopher, and everything is en-
dured in a joculaT matter-Of-cOurse way,
as though life were circus and he was
having his turn in playing the clown.
The notion that he is a weakly sort and
lacking in spirit is another hallucinatIon
regarding the sheepherder that will not
stand the test of experience. Indeed, if a
man have quarrelsOme disposition and
is inclined to encourage il, sheep camp
is a good place for him TO frequent. Par
tlcularly is it desirable that he should
a tendency 10 kick things out of his road,
for shepherd dogs are affectionate, and
look on man as friend, and are apt to
give a man of the kicking kind OppOr-
tunity to exercise his talent. the shep-
herd can be safely relied upon TO accom-
modate man of this sort, should he have
the effrontery to kick the shepherds dog,
and the remark That's my dog" will be
heard in a tone that is to say the least
wonderfully suggestive.
1t is difficult 10 describe the peculiar in
Election and emphasis that the Sheepherder
gets into these three words. but the effect on
the klekeT's mind is queer. He is no longer
sure that dog means SIM pie dog. II he is
unacquainted with the herder's habit of
carrying knife Of superior size and quail
ity, and OF style peculiar to shepherd
ers, and of his skill in manipulating the
same, he may consider himself lucky
should he discover in time that those three
letters do not spell sheepherder's dog at
any rate. In case of this kind the shep-
herd fights TO win, and win he generally
does, and his conscience troubles him net
jot as to how he gains the victory. In
shepherds' parlance, "a man who won't
fight for his dog amt worth poisoning"
and, 10 one familiar with his use Of the
strychnine bottle, this is sufficiently ex-
pressiVe.
Few understand what a dog is to a shep-
herd. He is sometimes trained to make
int fl \