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Once there lived a shepherdess, fair of face and strong of will. She tended her flock well, but as happens with every flock they strayed far among the hills and tested her patience full sore. She wished for a companion to help her, a fine dog or a fine man, whichever needed the least upkeep.
Now in her village lived a calm, sturdy fellow called Herring. He preferred music to farming, but he did have by his side a most lovely sheepdog. The shepherdess sought out young Herring and asked for the dog, claiming the animal deserved a better life out with the sheep.
"And what do you offer in exchange for my lovely dog?" asked Herring.
"Ah..., your choice of my best lamb, prepared as you like, ready for your enjoyment?" the shepherdess offered.
Herring shook his head, a twinkle in his eyes. "That will never do, for I have embraced the life of the vegan. Your hand in marriage would be a far finer prize".
The shepherdess was torn between
her need for controlling her flock and her desire for an unfettered life. "I
implore you Herring," she begged. "Allow me another option."
The fellow was moved by the woman's words and nodded. "Very well. Take this dog and use her- but she will only be called by this special whistle." Herring handed her the strange whistle and firmly declared, " If you cannot master the calls you must return to me and pledge your hand."
The shepherdess reluctantly agreed, never doubting her ability to work the dog- with or without the small, half-moon shaped piece of metal she placed on a cord around her neck.
So she took the dog out to the flock and bid it to move around the sheep and bring them in. The dog ignored her words. The shepherdess seized the whistle and blew and blew and not a sound came forth. Still the dog ignored her. The shepherdess tried the better part of an afternoon to bring sound from the whistle but to no avail. The sheep strayed away, the dog slept and the shepherdess raged in a quite unbecoming fashion.
She returned to the village, with the dog and a heavy heart, to keep her agreement with Herring, for she was a women of her word.
"Alas", she sadly admitted to the man. " I cannot use the whistle. My sheep are gone and now my life is about to change- no doubt for the worse."
Herring appraised her with his gaze, placed the whistle to his lips and blew several bright, clear notes. The dog flanked well to the left, disappeared for a spell and then returned at a steady pace with the sheep leading the way. The shepherdess was delighted yet perplexed.
"How is it that you, a man of soft hands and no head for livestock, are able to use this whistle and command this dog?" she demanded.
"Yes, well, it's all in the lips," Herring replied. "You just put them together and blow." With that he kissed the hand of the shepherdess and pledged himself her willing companion for life.
The shepherdess was so moved by the gesture that she agreed to the partnership. And Herring, having no desire to work with the sheep, taught the sheperdess the secret of the whistle. In return for this great gift, the shepherdess gave his name* to her farm.
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*Herring: a small FISH commonly found in the waters of the Atlantic.
Although the couple lived long ago and far away, they were practical
enough to realize that 'FishWhistle' was far less awkward than 'HerringWhistle';
besides, it worked better for their webpage.
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