Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-07-03

From the Philadelphia Public Led
ger.-~Mammal mammal Stop the
carriage! | want to get out and see
the pity shee2l" Stately James on
the fror.t box, is signaled to drew the
rein and the vehicle comes to a stop.
Baby alights. and. escorted by the
nurse, patters across the lawn. On,
ooh: big sheep!" he calls, pausing
within 10 feet of d 200-pounder. DO
you like sheep, ray boy?" asked
Dronzed little nan, who is the care
taker of the flock. Ooh. ooh; big
sheep,' repeats the baby. the vene-
mence of his expression making up
he lacks in vocabulary.
Such incidents are quite common
along Belmont drive. Il think that
the sheep are more popular with the
children than any other feature or
the park" says Superintendent Jesse
R. yogdes. of Paramount park. Rich
and poor seem to derive equal pleas
ure in looking at them"
The present flock was introduced
three years ago, at the suggestion of
Col. A. Loudon Snowden. They are
pure-bred Shropshires. imported by
the late William L. Elkins for his
Folly farm or York road, and bought
froIu him by the park commission. All
are Shropshire except 1 "Greeney,'
and therein lies story. About a
year ago, Greeney" escaped from
ooxcar on the railroad and wandered
into the park. She was captured by
small boy, who took her to his home
on Fifty-second street, greatly to the
annoyance of his parents. A few
days later Robert Nelson, the old
caretaker of the Paramount flock, re-
celyed word tat one of his sheep
was being lodged on FIfty-secono
street. 4 sent Robert, my assistant
over to look at her." said Nelson.
and he returns and says, She's "A
beauty, but she's none of ours So
| thought the matter was settled. But
three days later, continued Nelson,
I receives another message. It
says, Come and take that sheep.
Wei, l goes, and finds the people
very anxious to get rid of her, b.
cause, You know, sheep amt the
very easiest thing to keep in a five
tootby-hve backyard. Don't you want
her?' says l. Take her away says
the man of the house. Well" says l.
Is that your little girl over there's?
1t is says ne. So walks over and
gives the little girl so cents. It was
the least tnink | could do l thought.
And brings Greeney' over here
Hey. Greeney' my pet; it's true, amt
it?" 'Ba-a-aa-a,7 comments Greeney,
looking up at him.
OF all that flock of SO sheep and
lambkins, 'Greeney' is the most ar
fectionate. In the yard she is ever at
her masters Rnee, and out on the
range she frequently fingers near
him. Nelson often sits with his
feet resting upon her body, and she
loves to have him do this. Her eyes
are beautiful, and also inquisitive
While the writer was talking with the
care ,taker, the sheep regarded him
with the keenest scrutiny. Some
people says that sheep don't know
nothing" said Nelson, but lawzee
me, they ought to care for ,em as
I'm doing. Sheep is just like children.
fhey know what they want, and they
pes teraround till they gets it"
Nelson is native of Belfast, Ire
land de has been employed in the
park Is years, and for the last three
years has had charge of the sheep.
He is short in stature, and wears a
round cap with vizor. From the top
buttonhole of his old coat hangs a
piece of string with the keys of the
sheep barn on the end of it. His as
sistant Robert Hopkins, Is also an
Irishman from Tyrone county, Mis-
ter Reporter. He has seen 30 years
of service as gardner and assistant
in Fairmount park. I'VE treat EN-
with kindness" says Nelson, refer
ring to his flock Us the best way
to treat anybody.
ne Sneep Darn is a long and rain
err narrow stone building, off to the
northwest of Belmount mansion, near
the entrance of the Speedway In 1t
are II box stalls, for the sheep when
sick, and two storm sheds for their
protection in inclement weather. For
the greater part of the time the sheep
are kept in the adjoining yard, the
moor of which is covered with straw
in the winter and early spring season,
giving the animals warmth.
cold never affects 'em though,
said Nelson. They la outside there
alongside those rails when It's zero,
not minding it bit It's splendid
coats they have. Indeed, the weather
is harder on us than 1t is on the
sheep"
Willie" is one of he most enter
prising lambs of the flock. He Is par
ticularly energetic in the morning.
and will butt Nelson's leg if break
fast is not served as promptly as he
believes it ought to be. Willie also
keeps a sharp eye on his fellows AZ
meal time, and if one appears to be
eating more than his share. he pronp
~ hutts him n,lt of the circle aroIlrl "A