The Republican journal., 1903-02-19

pushed her about a quarter OF mile to
pen, dropped her into it and sat
down and thought of the man who told
me sheep herding was good job.
The dog is very essential factor in
sheep herding. They are very intelli-
gent animals and many stories are told
of their sagacity They are used to
drive and send around the sheep in or
der to turn them in any direction the
herder may desire. The following story
was told me of dog owned in the cen
tral part of the State. A herder had
turned his sheep and was allowing them
to feed towards the corrall, he remain
ing in the rear of the band. He noticed
they were feeding toward the ranch
quite rapidly, and gaining the summit
of a nearby hill could see the leaders
nearly a mile away. He desired to stop
Z! them, and yet not bunch them up, So he
| told the dog to go and head them off,
| The dog started down the side of the
| band, looking back occasionally Tor the
signal from his master, and then con-
| tinued on until he had passed beyond
| the leaders He was far beyond the
sound of his masters voice, yet he knew
| he had gone as far as he ought, and so
stopped and looked back as though to
| say, ''Well what noW?' The herder
simply walked back and forth behind
| his band and the dog following his
masters motions did the same in front.
| The sheep raised their heads, gazed a
moment and quietly turned and fed
! back toward the rear. After a time. at
a signal, the dog circled around the band
and returned to the side Of his master,
looking up and wagging his tail as
though to say, there | am master, all
ready for another trip
| have said that herders are rather
| looked down upon. There are reasons
for this \ large part of them are ad-
| dicted to the use of intoxicants and
elbow in their money almost as soon as
earned. One herder employed short
time on the ranch where | now am at
present, at one time drew his years
pay, $500, and started for town. In
lust five days he was broke and had
to borrow money to get some tobacco.
| Another came to town the night of the
Sd Of July, and when the sum rose on
the morning of the 5th he was short
| 81 POO from his roll. Then there is the
question of cleanliness. They do their
own washing when it is done and as
for bathing WELL perhaps they do, but L
would venture to say that the majority
were like the Old farmer who ''hadn
been in swimming since he was boy.
There are, however. some very nice men
among the sheep herders, but they
naturally are obliged to cast their lot
with others Of the same vocation until
they are able financially to do better.
| But even though the sheep herder be
| lowly, though he may not be socially
success. it is through his watchtul and
untiring care that you, kind readers, are
able to have the soft warm woolens we
all like so we'll; and sometimes, when
seated by your cozy fire discussing the
merits or dement's OF certain of these
fabrics, give thought to the lonely
herder with his dog, out among the
hills, thinking perhaps of home and
loved ones, of a fond old mother, dear
wife and babies, or the girl he left be-
hind him, now probably going with ''the
other fellow" Though isolated and
alone, he yet forms one of this great
plan of creation, and by the faithful
discharge of his duties merits the com
mendation of his fellowmen
| CHESTER B. PATTERSON.