66 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



hurdles made of slender rods of iron or oak, seven feet 

 long, and so close together that the lambs cannot 

 escape, nor dogs enter. By the side of this fold he 

 places a movable, weather-tight hut, in which, with his 

 dogs, he passes the night, keeping a fire burning near 

 the hut to scare away the wild dogs. He has also to 

 watch against a more crafty foe in the escaped convict, 

 whose retreat in the interior of the country is said to 

 be usually well stored with mutton stolen from the 

 different folds. 



Nearer home we may also find many dangers con- 

 nected with the shepherd's life. In the mountain dis- 

 tricts of Scotland, both shepherds and sheep are some- 

 times overwhelmed in violent snow-storms ; or if only 

 a small portion of the flock suffers, yet the efforts made 

 by the shepherds to recover them are attended with 

 much danger. It is pleasing to know that in those 

 stormy districts of the north, shepherds, feeling how 

 entirely their lives are in the hand of the Almighty, are 

 mostly men of piety and prayer, and are remarkable for 

 their simple dependence and trust in God. 



The English shepherd has reason to be thankful for 

 a quieter and less dangerous life than many of his 

 fellows ; but before we speak of his duties, let us 

 consider awhile the history and habits of the creatures 

 he has to manage. . 



In many parts of the world wild sheep still exist ; and 

 if we wish to know the natural character of the sheep, 

 we must look to them for it, because our flocks are now 

 so completely subdued to the service of men, that they 

 do not give a fair specimen of the natural disposition 

 and habits of the animal. These wild sheep, then, are 

 much more spirited creatures than the sheep we have to 

 deal with. They are provided with horns, from two to 

 six in number, and they know how to use them to the 

 best advantage against an enemy. They also know how 

 to get food and shelter at all seasons. When the snow 

 covers the ground, they scratch it up with their feet ; in 



