Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-05-16
agricultural,
Breaking Steers.


dy," as the farmers say,-that Is, used to
the yoke, and willing 10 draw cart or
sled. But if allowed TO run wild till
they are two, three, or four years Old
then breaking them is a rough and some
times dangerous business.
Breaking the steers Is commonly LETT
70 the TOYS, at least that was the custom
in the ueighborhood where the writer lived
when Young. And We thought 1t good
sport 70 break the calves and yearhngs.
We had light ycSes and bows. with MN
iature staples and rings; and IN the WIN
ter We would hitch the little fellows 10
small sledS, and draw loads Of wood from
the woods to the farmhouse door,
4 few weeks Of such practice viii make
yoke Of calves Is handy as Old oxen.
AS, unlike some children, they did not
readily forget their lessons, we had the
steers, BY the time they were two years
old. well broken and ft TO work alone.
But l remember one striking exception
to this general rule. One winter after
noon q wolf came out Of the woods, and
seeing the cattle in the barn-yard, stole
up TO the bars and howlci Immediately
the cattle were in great commo,ion; they
snoyted, baw.ed, and ran about the yard.
The WOLF. in @ few moments. leapcd
over the bars, bu; as the cattle rushed TO
gore him, he pruien,ly leapcd back again.
The ugly brute, being hungry, hung about
the ward, bowling, and occasionally Jump
ing over the fence Each time he was
promptly driven ont by charge Of the
enraged cattle.
We boys were AZ school, and cur grand
father had gone 20 the village. Grand-
mother saw the wolf and his strange an
ties but did not dare 90 20 olt from the
house 20 drive him away. After be re-
manned near the cattle for half an hour
or more, the creature went OF.
Now j, SO happened that a. the calves
the next spr.u- were born with Wild and
skittish natures The old folks said It
was because the wolf frightened the cat
tie. BE that as It may, we never could
make those calves d0ci,e like ether calves.
The least strange movement would fright
ca them; and whca, in july, wc turned
them out TO pasture, three OF the five took
10 the woods. and We did not see them
again till after Thanksgiving.
The morning after the first snow came
lney made me" appearance '' a lA'SDO" y"
ABOUT q u'''v non 'n. 'O~S.' IL 'ooS a.
"c me" ~Nd o'yS % '"' u, ='''O, 'O'N ~
run 'hoSe caves IOWA ana SCI 'uo'n 'l'O
the barn.
y two oil The iaIee calves were steers
and looked alike II "as DECIDED 20 A,el
them together as pair Despite 'he'I
rorso iaie through 'ae summer '''J "'I'
Fem'IN1''y large strong caves oU' '"'S
"''e ''e WORST creatures .. '-N' '.'.' o. =,
~ ''c .''" "e ''.' "~'' '"-' "'.'''
A''A al ever 'eNs "-o " -A' g,--Dd mem. p.
ana ID was dangerous 10 o"e s a'-''' 10 '''
OF sHNe 'n,N.
lne Niaies passed without .-f e''emt T.
IN 10 Dle-N ''e'' steers To- in' lo>e- y. W g
were on! TOO s.ad 20 le' 'Aeln a.o"e. lac
Only way "e were a'.e TO Keep uo1i .A
'0- pasture curing '-e summer was T.!
putting great iW'-i'''Sea 'poAe'S q"
10, al' 80 ,1-' 'a,y ''1.H not Jump '"'
''.-''' We "'"'! S.oNe % '"o'" -
those We" steers
iney were Ieit Tree until 'oe winter
'N-' 'uey were 'nree years C.'' 'n'U sr@DI-
latAeI determined 10 nave them OrONeh'
lake week boys be >aid 10 Us
but try Your best TO get them 80 they
can De used
l distinctly remember 'hc oI'sa' feo,
Tuary morning mat ny cousin george ana az,
AIS' u'e1 10 yoAe the animals ne
secured ,I,.-, Two =, T' our 20! 1elsnoCf'' ->eI
"Iouf ana lom El|AiuS' 10 ne'P Us
anu a.'eE Sn-Ip 'us>.e' Eo' iAIso oA-
yoke on the steers
Immediately tney broke away ran
IOUl~ anu 'VuHu tAe o@In'y~iu' anu l.
nAi'J '0iu'@ Tue YOKE 80 '"'' 'Ae Vi 'Ne'n
va ", '1'o"I LOW
'" al .e.s'n s~inou oCuuO' o' 'neIu'
Ala ,1en Win q roy ana a o.s sOAu s''cA
H-NS u ~ t-oH sue y. ING DOW " 'O{ III
'front.' ana o'y behind e@eH Win s'ed
st@Ae' We grove item out Of tae y4To anu
Ai'ched them 10 q heavy Wood-slet.
Once IN the road they were Obliged to
20 straight ahead, as tue snow on eaca
sue vas 4o-' zee, ueeP' 80 tnS' .neF coulu
no. 'uIn OU' without 'ounueI'ns mo II
al Over.
DAt tA-F "t-.l- LOT 70 -lc-A44l w ltA