THE OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG. 



BY WILLIAM WADE. 



is more promising for the future position of 

 dogs of actual usefulness than the recent revival 

 of interest in this breed. They are not handsome 

 dogs, by any means; and that such uncompromisingly 

 ugly customers are becoming fashionable, demonstrates 

 that real value for practical purposes is being recognized. 

 They are one of the oldest of breeds, and certainly with- 

 out a superior in value as farm -working dogs; yet they 

 were so neglected for many years that the breed was almost 

 lost. 



That they are a very old breed is shown by references 

 to them by early English writers. G. R. Jesse quotes from 

 the "Passionate Pilgrim : " 



My curtail dog that wont to have play'd, 

 Plays not at all, but seems afraid. 



And from " Merry Wives of Windsor: " 



Hope is a curtail dog in some affairs. 



In Drayton, Tenth Eclogue, these exquisite lines occur: 



He called his dog (that sometimes had the praise) 

 Whitefoot, well known to all that keep the plain, 



That many a wolf had worried in his days 

 A better cur there never followed swain; 



Which, though as he his master's sorrows knew, 



Wagg'd his cut tail his wretched plight to rue. 



Poor cur, quoth he, and him therewith did stroke, 



Go to our cote and there thyself repose; 

 Thou with thine age my heart with sorrow broke. 



Begone ere death my restless eyes do close; 

 The time is come thou must thy master leave, 

 Whom this vile world shall never more deceive. 



(515) 



