The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-28
A YOKE AND A JOKE.

town in the big wagon to meet the after
neon express train on the Kansas Pacific
railroad and bring home Bruce and Jer-
rvs cousin, Effie, who was coming alone
all the way from Kansas City to visit
them. Bruce and Jerry We're left alone
on the claim to look after things.
Bruce was fifteen; not very large of
his age, but active and strong. Jerry
was only two years younger than Bruce,
but he was dwarfed by an affection Of
the spine, which kept him bent over like
q hunchback.
When he was very small he was
thrown from horse. The accident con-
tracted some of the spinal muscles, and
it appeared that he was doomed to go
through life with the humiliating ap-
pearance of having a chronic case of
collie.
Bruce and Jerry were great friends,
which is not always the case with broth
ers. This was not due to the fact that
other boys We're few in that thinly set
tied Kansas district; they were really
very fond of each other.
All the morning, after their father
and mother left, Bruce was very busy
making small yoke, modelled after the
one that was used on Tom and Red, the
oxen they had brought with them when
they emigrated from Indiana.
Jerry sat on the framework Of the
grindstone in front of the cabin and
watched Bruce at his work with much
interest. The yoke was now about COM
pleted and the young mechanic was
very proud of his workmanship.
"It's dandy an no mistake" he re-
marked, with satisfaction. "We'1l have
some fun, Jerry. I've been thinkin for
a long time that the calves are big
enough to break, an there's no time like
the present. Won't it be a joke on pa
and ma, thought"
"W'at'll be joker" asked Jerry.
'Why, to break Bell an Nancy while
they're gone. Won't they be s'prised to
find us driving 'em around like Tom an
Red? Won't it be joke, thought"
"Um," Jerry assented.
After the pie had all been washed
down with a cup of milk, Bruce shout
dered the yoke and led the way to the
COW pen, where the meek eyed little heif-
ers were lying in the sun.
Nancy and Bell were not in the least
wild, for the boys had made pets of them,
so there was no difficulty in approaching
them. They were pretty animals; Bell
was ''spot," of red and white, and
Nancy was deep red.
.'Well, girlies," Bruce merrily saluted
the heifers, chow do you find yourselves
this fine, large day? Nice day, isn't it,
incest in the neighborhood. Get up,
now, and act your prettiest; there's
company comm, and we want you to
show off. Tie the string around Nancy's
neck, Jerry"
While Jerry obeyed this instruction
Bruce secured Bell, and then the heifers
were led out of the COW lot to little old
cart that stood by the front yard fence.
"An we'll take Effie a-ridin along by
the cornfield, an let her see the big tas-
sells. I'll tell you what we'll do, Jerry,
we'll go down the road an meet pa an
ma, an we'll bring Fife home in our
wagon. How's thatY'
"First rate" said the little cripple"
"Well, it's DONE" Bruce announced
presently. "Let's eat our pie first, and
then well yoke 'em up"
They had been too busy to notice that
twas past noon, but now hunger re-
minded them that their mother had left
for each of them "a big hunk of pie"
Very soon they were seated on the door
step, munching their dinner.
This plan of yoking up the calves
would have been instantly condemned
by the father had he been at home, for,
in the first place, the heifers We're too
young, and in the second place, they
were intended for mich COWS and not
for beasts of burden, but it did not oc-
cur to the boys that he would object
The little animals were docile and
tractable enough; indeed, they were pro-
vokingly slow and sleepy in their move
ments.
you'll get walked up very soon"
Bruce remarked, half angry that Nancy
would not ''stand around"
1t took some time to get them yoked
satisfactorily to the cart, but at last
Bruce announced that the arrangements
for the start were complete. Jerry stood
on one side, next to Bell, and Bruce on
the other, by the side of Nancy.
"Get up, Bell" called Jerry.
Both boys slapped the TANKS of the
heifers vigorously, and they moved on a
few PAGES, in mild eyed wonder at this
new situation. Still they evidently
thought this a new way of petting them,
and that it was all right.
The boys laughed delightfully."-.
They're jest as easy goin as old Tom
and Red," Bruce declared. sect up,
Nancy Get up, Bellp'
There was some backing on the part of
the team, and mild inclination to turn
around and inspect the arrangements,
but the boys, urging them on, succeeded
in getting them to advance few more
PAGES.
'We'n get in an ride" Bruce decided
They'll go better if they are talked to
from behind"
He got stick and sharpened the end
of it for a goad and then the two clam
bered into tho cart. Once more the
driving process was begun.
Move along now. Nancyl Get ahead
there, Bell! Amt this fun though, JerryY