Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-06-19
NAUTICAL OXEN.

man. He had settled in the southern
part OF Kansas. where he lived us an
immigrant from New Hampshire and
he brought his Yankee sharpness with
him, bat as he dealt fair and attended
TO his own business, he passed. The
only member of the family beside Job
and his wife was Ike, nephew whom
job had taken TO bring up. as he had
no children OF his own. Ike was a
typical New England boy about fifteen
years old. He had been brought up in
one of the coast villages of Maine,
and had great love for the sea.
Job, like the majority OF Yankee
farmers. was a firm believer in cattle,
and did most OF his work with oxen.
One day he said to Ike: like, if
You'll take that pair of yearling steers
and break them to work you can have
them"
In his Western home Ike never for
got the far-of ocean. 1t had been the
one hope OF his life to be sailor but
his being sent West had destroyed it.
When his uncle gave him the steers
TO break, the idea came to him that
though he could never expect to tread
the deck Of his own ship. he could use
ship phrases in the education of his
oxen, and thus always be reminded of
his old home beside the sea. TINS it
was that Jack and Billy We're educated
to work. "broken" totally ignorant of
the usual commands by which oxen are
managed. Gee" and "haw." git
UP" and whoa" had no meaning for
them whatever. 1t was haul away"
and port, " add 'starboard" and ''be-
lay" Stern all'' was back. The oxen
grew and waXed strong, and his uncle
often remarked that he never saw
team that could do more work than
those oxen and Ike. No one but Ike
ever thought of handling them.
The nearest neighbor TO the Haines'
was Deacon Merwin. good man and
pillar of the church. The good deacon
saw that likes yoke of oxen were good
workers. and desire came over him
TO possess them. He offered u buy
them several times but job always
said that they belonged to Ike and
were not for sale. The deacon asked
Ike if he would sell them, but met with
such an indignant refusal that he felt
angered, but did not give up the idea
OF possessing the cattle. Finally he
went to Job and said:
"Neighbor Haines. If them cattle
IL work good every way, I'll give you
two hundred dollars for 'em. They're
too much property for a boy like Ike
to have, and it is apt TO create in him
a bad sperrit and makes him feel
above his elders"
well, don't know, deacon. The
boy sets deal by them cattle. and a
promise is a promise. l gave them TO
him il he would break 'em, and he
has, SO I'm bound TO keep my part. ="
That's all true enough, Neighbor
Haines, but likes only boy; and then
remember, two hundred dollars amt
offered evey day for a yoke of cattle.
Why not sell me these and give him
another pair TO break; that 'ud do
Jist as we'll.
The deacon's two hundred dollars
and persuasions finally weakened Jobs
scruples and he gave in. The deacon
was to try them. and If they worked
al right was 10 have them. How TO
tell Ike what he had done was poser
to his uncle. His aunt declared il "a
downright mean piece Of business and
told Job plainly what she thought OF
him. 1t was finally decided not TO say
anything TO Ike until after the sale had
been made and the cattle gone. In
order that Ike might not be on hand to
see his pets sold, he was given a holt
day and sent to spend the day at Il
neighbours couple OF miles away.
where there was IA boy of his age who
was a sort of IA chum OF his.
The next morning Ike was Oft bright
and early. and the deacon was on hand
shortly after. 1t would not be fair TO
Job 20 say that he did not have any
nisgivings. He would have backed
out OF the bargain at the least chance,
and he really hoped that the deacon
would not be satisfied with them. The
oxen were brought out and yoked to
the cart without difficulty. though the
deacon remarked that they did seem
"kinder stoopid." job and the deacon
climbed up into the cart.
bcc up
The oxen turned their eyes around
inquiringly. Gee up there" repeated
job; but they did not move hoof
That don't appear like good break
ing" remarked the deacon.
They're both all right replied
job. Come. gee up there!" at the
same time he gave each prod with
the goad. In response to the prodding
OF cattle walked off toward the open
gate, in which direction their heads
happened TO be turned. job did not
want them TO go in the road. so he
shouted out, "Hoy! hoyl" TO turn them
around; but the oxen had no idea what
"hoy" meant and so kept going
straight ahead. job shouted louder
and struck Billy with the goad. They
quickened their gait into n trot and
turned out into the road. Then Job
shout, "Whoal whoaw but they did not
mind that either.