54 fiAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



for surely in so fair a business transaction, it is perfectly proper and 

 just, to have a due regard to the quid-j^ro-quo. As is well known, 

 law-books are always bound in leather, of a peculiar complexion call- 

 ed " law sheep," which, perhaps, may account for the startling fact 

 that all well-read lawyers are so proverbially expert in the art of 

 ^'fleecing" their clients, and in fact all who become involved in the 

 " glorious uncertainties " of a lawsuit. 



It is related of an eminent statesman, that once in a debate in con- 

 gress on a bill for the protection of woolen manufacturers, he stated 

 as his reason for opposing the measure, that he " hated a sheep and 

 would any time get off his horse and go a hundred yards out of his 

 way to kick a sheep /" Truly there is no accounting for tastes. 

 Now, we sir, are of diametncally the opposite taste. We would, 

 and have many a time, alighted and gone an equal distance out of our 

 way, to caress a sheep. We love those domestic sounds, the bleat- 

 ing of sheep, from the tremulous bass of the venerable wether, to the 

 shrill and plaintive treble of the little lambs ; and often have we 

 gazed with admiration on that peculiar, bland, amiable expression of 

 their eyes which originated the world-wide expression — casting 

 sheep^s eyes, and though no friends of " blacklegs" and '■''gambling" 

 in general, we frankly confess to a tender regard for witnessing the 

 innocent and playful gambolling of the little lambkins. 



Before closing we would gladly offer to farmers, some facts in re- 

 gard to improved breeds of sheep to operate as a further inducement 

 to them to enter with more spirit into the the business of sheep-rais- 

 ing, but here again we must confess to our ignorance generally, of 

 this part of our subject, only we still have ^. feeling recollection that 

 once on a time, it was in the " dim and distant past,'" as we were idly 

 ramhVmg in the fields, our course lay through a neighboring pasture, 

 and after quietly surmounting the fence, we were suddenly made 

 aware of a flock of sheep as quietly grazing there. We were calmly 

 pursuing our way all unmolesting and unsuspectingly, when, without 

 any ifs and with only a single butt, Ave were violently attacked in 

 our rear and immediately overthrown, put to a total rout ! Bvit re- 

 covering our perpendicular as soon as circumstances would admit, we, 

 as the sailors say, "hove to to repair damages," when we had abun- 

 dant opportunity to mark the distinguishing points of the ybe by 

 whom we had been so signallj^ defeated, and we are prepared to af- 

 firm that if not a genuine specimen of the battering ram of the An- 

 cients, he was to say the least, a most notable cross between that 

 species and our native stock, (and we have more than one reason for 

 deeming it a " a cross," for certainly he was the Grossest animal 

 we have ever encountered !) This defeat, however painful and hu- 

 miliating, was of essential service to us ; for ever after, during our 

 college days, no temptation was sufficient, not even that of ripe Ava- 

 ter-mellons, or Avhite " square shag barks," to di'aAV ixs from the path 



