"I'm ready, Pa.   Let's go round up the sheep."  

"Walter, if you don't need me, I'm going to start making pies for the sheep shearers dinner tomorrow." said Ma.  

"Go ahead, Margie.   Freddy and I can get the sheep in.   We'll take Tootz.   She'll be a good help too."  

"Freddy, here's a bottle of warm milk for Sluggo.   You might as well feed him now," said Ma as she handed Freddy the bottle of milk.  

Freddy pulled on his knee high boots and yellow hooded slicker.   He grabbed the bottle of milk and headed out the back door.   He whistled and Tootz, his Border Collie, came running up to him.  

"Hey Tootz, you wanna help Pa and me herd the sheep into the barn?"  

Tootz wiggled her whole body and wagged her tail.   She loved herding sheep, as her breed of dog was used for just that very purpose.  

Pa came out the back door and he, Freddy and Tootz headed out to the field in back of the big barn.  

Pa called to the sheep.   "Ca-day, Ca-day," and the sheep turned and started walking up the lane toward them.  

Tootz ran out to meet the sheep and followed along behind them.   If a sheep tried to break away from the flock and go back to the field, Tootz ran up beside her and barked and the sheep fell back in line with the others.  

"Let's put the ewes over in that pen on the west side of the barn," said Pa as he pointed with his hand.  

"Are we gonna let the lambs go with their mother's?" asked Freddy.   "Or do you want me to catch them and carry them over to the other pen?"  

"Just let the lambs go with their mothers.   They need to be able to get their milk and the sheep shearers can work around them when they come to get the ewes to shear them"  

With Tootz help, it wasn't long until all thirty sheep were safely in the dry barn.   Pa grabbed a big pail of oats and spread them out in the feeding trough that ran along the whole side of the west pen.