FAT SHEEP FOR HEAVY FLEECE.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 305, 20 March 1878, Page 4

FAT SHEEP FOR HEAVY FLEECE.

upon by one of Cupid’s votaries, who, enamored of a buxom landlady, “fair,’ fat, and forty,” possessed withal of a goodly share' of worldly, wealth, had, with the view of keeping up constant communication, availed himself of its services. The gentleman, sitting in his private apartments a few doors off from his adored one, would, whilst indulging in the fragrant aroma of his Havanna, whisper words of sympathy intended for her car into the little cup attatched to the wire, which the wire forthwith transported in modified dulcet notes, to the lady sitting in the little bar parlor of her hotel. Sweet were the sounds which reached her ear, whilst a glass of brandy and water might be indulged in without perilling the uninterrupted flow of courtship. So far Love was triumphant, and all went “merry as a marriage bell;” till one day “the boys ” got hold of the instrument, and the would-be benedict, congratulating himself upon the benign fitness of tilings, was startled from the complacent tenor of his mind by the unusual and jealous doubts conveyed in the message. To telephone back was the work of, an instant.' “Darling, ’how can you doubt “ You have basely betrayed me,” came the response in a strangely familiar voice. “ Why ! what have I done ?” “ You hav’nt paid for your liquor bill, and if you think you can come that game with me any longer you are mistaken.” “ Gracious, Heavens !” exclaimed the gentleman, “ this is too, too horrible !” Then into the mute car of the pickled salmon-tin which formed the drum of the instrument, he breathed a pitable talc of his sorrowing love—ofhis bright and once happy aspiration—of his undying devotion, and his determination to remain constant to the object of his adoration to the bitter end, whilst bis constant prayer should be ” He was interrupted by accents stern and wild—“ Dry up yon old fool and go to bye-bye.” Then ensued an awkward silence. Hoiror-struck for some moments, the gentleman remained Speechless ; but at last, recovering from his surprise, he applied his indignant tongue io vent Lis ire. Softly the words came along the wire, softly murmured now, “My love.” “Go to Jericho,” replied -the gentleman, retiring as he spoke to his brandy and water. The die was cast; the mischief done. It was to hisJadored one he had vouchsafed the answer. She who had but a moment before arrived at her usual trysting place, withdrew offended, and thus the telephone, the latest offspring of science, has, in one instance, parted two fond and loving hearts.

This is a question by.no means decided as yet. Several eminent authorities.are known to hold quite antagonistic opinions on the subject. A. writex- in the Country Gentleman says that there is much said about ewes being too fat to breed well. In his twenty years’ experience he has never seen anything that led him to think so, provided the flesh was put on with good pasture during the summer, and a few roots with hay in the winter. The fatter sheep become under such circumstances the more valuable they are. Thera is no time in the year when it pays better to feed a small allowance of grain daily than in the autumn after the food gets frozen, and it is not necessary to bring the flock to the barn. It is an old saying l that ‘ Sheep well Novembered are half wintered.’ Keep the ewes fat, and the lambs will be fat, and the fleece will be heavy. All ewes that, with good care, will not raise a lamb and shear four pounds of washed wool, should be sold. Pie asserts that he has in his flock ewes that shear nine pounds and raise a pair of twins, and it costs no more to keep one than a sheep that shears but three pounds. Ticks must be kept out of the lock ; they are the worst enemies of the sheep. If they are not killed they will destroy the sheep, and for killing them he advocates an application of tobacco juice.