Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01

signal for her to cease Then he brought his
arm down and briskly slapped his thigh.
Katie understood.
Sending Off the Dog
WHEN the sheep were grazing too far up
w the valley, or were getting too scattered
away out of sight he would send Katie, to turn
them and round them up: Here Katie"
would wave his arm, indicating the direction.
GO way round them, Katie,-way round!"
Off would dash Katie in headlong run, dis
appearing amid the timber or round a hill
But all along her course we would see the sheep
scuttling in from outlying points, and
threes and Fights and tens of them, old and
young,-until the herd was compact once more
Presently, perhaps opposite to us, there would
be Katie, standing and gazing for further in
structions. The herder would slap his thigh
and signal her in
One might talk to Katie just as to human
being. Now, Katie" would instruct the
herder, Il want you to herd the sheep from
that rim rock yonder to the timber. Don't
let them stray outside"
Yes. Katie understood. She sat and watched
the sheep. The herder went to sleep. Katie
made an occasional circuit, and if any sheep
were found beyond the rim rock, or in the tim
Der, they were sent scurrying back.
Or the herder would say, Katie, there's
lamb there l want to catch; but we'll let the
eve alone"
Once Katie knew which lamb it was, she
would pay attention to no other, nor would
she pay attention to its mother the eve.
That one lamb in bunch of thousand other
lambs, she would stick to unerringly, until
with her assistance the herder had caught it.
Monopolized Affection
INTELLIGENT and lovable as Katie was,
! and much as she solicited it, was not al
lowed to pet her.
I'D rather you'd cuff her when she comes
near you +" said the herder
This seems strange; for with most men it is,
Love me, love my dog: but the herder
explained that he wanted his dog attached to
him only. They were alone together, and it
was necessary that Katie mind him absolutely,
and be his second self, with thoughts for no
other person. A dog like Katie is extremely
sensitive; cross word will cut her to the
heart. To strike sheep dog is sometimes to
lose its friendship forever, and even to drive it
away to other quarters. 1t is this sensitive
ness that marks acute intelligence.
Were | to be kind to Katie after he had
scolded her. l might break the harmony that
existed between her and her master, and work
injury without meaning to. So, although it
paid no compliments to Katie in her hearing
and did not suffer her to snuggle up against
me, and never patted her; and, astonished
and hurt, she came to the conclusion that her
master was the only person for her, after all
But how he loved her! They were alone to-
tent by night, out there on the great western
range He fed her the best that his menu
produced. He talked to her, and she to him.
And he put his arms about her silky neck and
kissed her, and she kissed him back
Why don't you have another dog to help
herr" l asked once when she was particularly
footsore at the close of a hard day.
NO" he replied. We sheep herders have
saying, One dog is good dog; two dogs are
half a dog; three dogs are no dog at ALL Katie
and I do the worl. cant Kafie2p