"The Sheepfold here Pours out its fleecy tenants o'er the glebe. THE life of a shepherd is naturally looked upon as one of peace and contentment. If you go abroad in the early morning, and see him leading forth his bleating flock, his eye brightened with cheerfulness, his cheek ruddy with health: if you hear his clear whistle mingling with the song of the lark, and nearly as joyous; and see with what humble affectionate looks he is followed by his faithful dog, you have a picture of country life that is very pleasant to look upon. And if you join company with the shepherd, and get him to talk about his sheep, you soon find that they are to him as his own family; that he has many a story to tell about them, and that he can point out one and another, and talk of their wanderings, or escapes, or diseases, just as a parent would tell of the illnesses and recovery of his children. He has also many things to say about his dog. Perhaps he will speak of his parentage, and go back to describe the qualities of his race; or he will give you some striking instance of the sagacity of the faithful animal now at his heels; the keen glance of the dog, meanwhile, making you doubt whether he is not conscious of being the subject of your conversation. All this gives you a favourable idea of the shepherd's condition. If the shepherd's life is not a happy one, it must be his own fault. Brought up to manage sheep from his infancy, he is trusted as a person who understands his work; he knows what that work is; and he is, perhaps, more "his own master" than any other servant on the farm. He spends the greater part of his time in the open air, in healthy and delightful spots; no one interferes with him, or finds fault with him; no one can justly have an ill word to say of him; for a shepherd, when he performs his duty, is a diligent, sober, kindhearted man, more disposed to make peace than to raise quarrels, and too much taken up with his duties as the manager of a large flock, to join in the bickerings of his more discontented neighbours. The office of a shepherd is one which in ancient times was not considered unworthy the most eminent persons. The people of Israel had large flocks and herds, and their principal employment was to tend them. Many of the early patriarchs led a shepherd's life, and David, King of Israel, was taken from the sheepfolds to become the ruler of a great nation. The qualities necessary for a good shepherd were necessary for a good king: he SPANISH SHEPHERDS. 63 must lead his flock in the right way; see that their wants are provided for; protect them from their enemies; always desire their welfare, and be ready to expose himself to danger and difficulty for their sake. But the highest honour ever put upon the shepherd's life, was when our Lord and Saviour chose the character of a shepherd to describe his love and pity for mankind, saying, "I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John x. 14, 15, 16.) The shepherd's life in this country is a much easier one than in some other parts of the world, where the flocks are obliged to be taken long journeys every spring and autumn, in order to give them shelter and food. In Spain, where the celebrated Merino flocks are bred, there are ten millions of sheep to be led, twice in the year to a great distance in search of pasture, or of a warmer climate. Forty or fifty thousand shepherds guide these sheep in their wanderings, and travel with them many hundred miles. Those shepherds have a very hard life, compared with ours; but they are so much attached to their flocks that they would not leave them, even if they could get better pay and less work elsewhere. As many as thirty thousand dogs accompany the flocks in their wanderings, and put up with hard fare like their masters. The Spanish shepherds live chiefly on bread seasoned with oil or grease; and though they sometimes procure mutton from their old or diseased sheep, it is not their favourite food. Their dress is a jacket and breeches of black sheep-skin; a red silken sash tied round the waist; long leather gaiters; a slouched hat; a staff with an iron point, and a manta, or brown blanket slung over the left shoulder. When they have reached their journey's end, they build themselves rude huts, living generally a single life. Large flocks are managed by several shepherds, and that everything may be done with regularity, one of the most experienced is set over the rest. The times of their wanderings are in May and September, and the whole journey is the same which has been taken for ages. The sheep know the way as well as their masters; and a free passage is granted to them through pastures, villages, &c., where the inhabitants are obliged to leave an opening for them, at least ninety paces wide. The shepherds, on their part, have to leave them as quickly as possible, that they may not do unnecessary damage, and that they may reach certain resting places where they find an open space and good pasture. In some parts of France the shepherds live a similar life. More than a hundred thousand sheep graze on the plains of Arles in winter; but as the spring approaches, they show the greatest eagerness to set off towards the mountains bordering on Italy; and if not watched, they will escape and be lost. The shepherds set out in May for these mountains, driving their sheep in troops of from ten to forty thousand. To every thousand sheep three shepherds are allowed; each of whom has his dog, and in the middle of the flock a troop of asses carrying baggage. A chief shepherd is chosen, by the general consent of his companions, to direct the march, to deal out the daily share of provisions, and to listen to the complaints of farmers, when damage is done upon the road. The shepherds' dogs are assisted in a remarkable way by goats, in the task of keeping these large flocks in order. The goats are specially trained for the purpose, and have bells round their necks. They are kept in perfect discipline by the shepherds, and show great intelligence in the performance of their task. They halt or proceed by word of command, and at the close of each day's march, they come to the centre of the flock, and wait there until the morning, when, having received |