My First Summer 



days we read of. The California sheep- 

 owner is in haste to get rich, and often does, 

 now that pasturage costs nothing, while the 

 climate is so favorable that no winter food 

 supply, shelter-pens, or barns are required. 

 Therefore large flocks may be kept at slight 

 expense, and large profits realized, the money 

 invested doubling, it is claimed, every other 

 year. This quickly acquired wealth usually 

 creates desire for more. Then indeed the 

 wool is drawn close down over the poor 

 fellow's eyes, dimming or shutting out al- 

 most everything worth seeing. 



As for the shepherd, his case is still worse, 

 especially in winter when he lives alone in 

 a cabin. For, though stimulated at times by 

 hopes of one day owning a flock and getting 

 rich like his boss, he at the same time is 

 likely to be degraded by the life he leads, and 

 seldom reaches the dignity or advantage 

 or disadvantage of ownership. The degra- 

 dation in his case has for cause one not far 

 to seek. He is solitary most of the year, and 



[ 30 ] 



