SHEEP AND SHEARING. 281 



When sheep were allowed to roam over the commons, 

 the annual shearing was looked forward to by young 

 and old with as much pleasure, and was as enthusias- 

 tically celebrated by the islanders, as the great national 

 holiday of July 4. But alas! those good old days 

 when Blind Frank and Barney Gould, with their 

 " Tew I can't and tew I ken," fiddled and danced for 

 the amusement of the people, can never be recalled. 

 The compiler here drops a tear over those departed 

 days, but at the same time gives a sigh of satisfac- 

 tion when he remembers that the annual fleecing is 

 still carried on, though in a different way. 



By reference to the article on agriculture, it will be 

 seen that one of our most practical farmers believes 

 that sheep can again be raised here with profit. 

 From an article furnished the compiler by Mr. Albert 

 Easton, some interesting facts are gathered in relation 

 to sheep-raising in former years. 



There were at times from seven to ten thousand 

 sheep suffered to roam over the commons, giving 

 their owners wool for the manufacture of yarn and 

 cloth, — which was of course made at home, — and also 

 giving them a little surplus from the sale of extra 

 wool and mutton. At the proper seasons of the year, 

 the flocks were gathered at the shear-pens in the 

 vicinity of Washing and Gibbs Ponds, the eastern and 

 western flocks being driven to their respective places. 

 About 1823 or 1824 this system of dividing the sheep, 

 and having them washed and shorn at places far dis- 

 tant from each other, was changed, and a track of 

 " common and undivided land " consisting of about five 

 hundred acres was enclosed in the vicinity of Mia- 



