SHEEP. 73 



My little fellow, the bailiff's son, who acts under 

 his father's direction in charge of the flock, has been 

 at me for several days to allow him to exhibit some 

 ewes at the approaching district agricultural show. 

 Having but a few, I am averse to exhibiting females, 

 as the extra feeding requisite to make them catch 

 the judge's eye, if it does not kill them, is very apt 

 to spoil their reproductive powers. But I do not 

 like to damp the spirit of the boy ; a spirit which, 

 encouraged and directed, may some day stand me in 

 good stead ; so, after premising that I shall allow no 

 petting, no privilege beyond a piece of extra good 

 pasture with fetlock-deep clover and sweet herbage 

 appropriated to their use, I allow him to summon the 

 flock. To sheep-dogs there is an objection for driving 

 ewes ; as when they are heavy with lamb, the least 

 fright may cause abortion. A few days' drill will 

 accustom them to come to any peculiar whistle, or 

 the clapping of the hands, as Eastern slaves do. 

 Only let them be driven up gently once or twice to 

 where you stand by a gate leading into a fresh 

 pasture, or where you have spread for them the re- 

 ward of a few bundles of vetches, if in summer- 

 time, or of ivy — of which they are especially fond 

 — if in winter, they will in a few days recognise 

 the signal, and start up to follow the first sound 

 of it. 



How many a pleasant hour I have spent about 

 sunset in May, book in hand, upon a favourite bank 

 beneath the fragrant blossom-laden branches of a 

 twisted crab, watching the gentle creatures as they 

 strayed about to feed : the lambs larking in bundles, 



