Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-03-25

taking pictures for four or five weeks.
All of us had our s'tintypes" taken. The
photographer boarded at Mr.. Bachel-
der's, and ALI was with him in his studio
a good deal, and told US boys that he
was learning the art himself. What
this had to do with an exhibition of
matched steers, leave the reader to
surmise further on.
One night, just at sunset, about q
fortnight before the day set for the fair,
George and called at Alf's to look at
Job and Guard, as we had often done
before. He was not at all like Willis
Murch, for he delighted to show us
what his steers could do. That night
be yoked them and put them through
all his steer tactics.
"Its no use, ALL" George said to
him. "Those are good steers, but
there's that black star of Guards. You
can't quite call 'em matched not hand
somely.''
"Wal, I know" said ALI, "that's
against 'em. But may be able to bet
ter 'em yet. I've been inquiring, and
I've heard of steer in Princeton, which
they say is marked almost just like
Guard. I'm going there tomorrow to
see if it's true, and if it is I'm bound to
have that steer"
els he as big as yours?'' George
asked.
tOf counsel can't tell till see him."
said ALI; "but hear he is good
steer.''
We were surprised, but did not be-
lieve that ALT would find the steer to
match Guard in fact, we did not be-
lieve there was another steer in the State
like him.
The next day and the next, ALI was
gone with his steers; where, we did not
know. Three OF four days after this, he
sent message asking us to come and
see his new steer. We were, of course,
so anxious and interested that we hurried
to the Corners that very night. ALI had
the cattle tied in the barn, but turned
them out at once. First, Guard came in
to tie yard, then the new steer followed.
Our eyes, of course, were bent on the
latter, and at first sight our hearts sank
and we lost all hope of winning the
premium. The new steer, which ALI
said he had got in Princeton, had a
black star and black patch on its side
exactly like those of Guards. We could
scarcely believe our eyes. ALI was in
high spirits, and told us at great length
about his swapping, etc. AS the yoke
stood now, the steers were completely
matched; and it was an odd and very
remarkable match, too.
"This new steers name is Buck
ALI said, "but I'm going to call him
Job, like the other, I've got SO used to
that name.'
"But will you have time to train
him?'' we asked. "It's only eight days
till fair day"
"I don't know, hardly" replied ALI.
I" But he is pretty well 'broke,' now,
and shall do my best with him.
We went home discouraged. "The
premium is lost for u.s." George said.
But it certainly seems something
strange that both the star on the head
and the black patch on the new steers
side are exactly like those on Guards"
Fair-day came, and at three O'Clock
in the afternoon the trained steers were
exhibited and viewed by the committee.
Besides ours, there were at least % other
yokes. Consequently, there was but
brief time for each yoke to show work
ing qualities. Willis Murch got little
chance to exhibit his "circus steers" as
they were nicknamed.
The committee went twice to look at
our Star and Golden, but at length
agreed fully to give the prize to ALT
In fact, every body won
dered at the curiously exact manner in
which Job and Guard were matched, in
three colors, white, red and black. ALI
had plenty of offers for them that day
from stock fanciers; and before night
be sold them to man from another
county for the large sum of ninety-five
dollars
While we were attending the winter
school in the following December, there
was rumor that the man to whom ALT
had sold his steers had been to see him,
and that he claimed there "was some
thing wrong" about them. ALI laughed
when the rumor was spoken Of to him,
and said the man claimed that one of
them was not sound, but he couldn't
prove any thing.
ALI was young man of more than
ordinary ability aud business tact. From
the time he was II years old till after
he became of age he dealt in horses,
often owning three or four, and leaving
the humber details of farming and
steer-breaking to us duller boys. His
was to buy promising colts of
The farmers in the back towns, and after
them for the race-course, or
IL