The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-06-04

to see 'em! I'll never forgit oxen, not
the longest day I ever live, I won't;
specially them oxen what Ezekial
used to own. I might come to forgit
my name, s'pose, but kin never for
git them oxen, never. Ezekial raised
'em himself, and broke 'em in with his
own hands; and if ever any man
knowed how to break in oxen it was
Ezezial Meeks, if I, do say it. They
was known fur and near, was them
oxen, and there Want another yoke
in the whole country could compare
with 'em at pullin. It was move or
break with 'em, and it was most
gently move; but once seen 'em split
a yoke and walk right outen it when
they was hitched to tree at noonin'
hour. 1t was wonderful the strength
they did have. But they long ago went
the way Of all flesh, the same as poor
Ezekial himself, and I doubt if any
body recollects 'em now but me.
'When Ezekial Meeks first began to
pay attention to me, them oxen was
just in their prime, and Ezekial was
just turned of age. / we'll recOllect my
father saying that if 'Zeke Meeks had
as much thunder an lightning in him
as them oxen had, he was no fittin'
match for me; and it was his opinion
that he had. He WAS rather posed to
our marryin, rather was, and when
finally Ezekial popped the question,
and told him was willin' if he could
get fathers consent, father he came
right down fiat with a big No!
''That was in the spring, when farm
in work was a-comin' on with rush,
and that was the last seen Of Ezekial
for a good while. But, bless you! l
didn't feel bit worried, for at our
partin' Ezekial he just allowed we'd
best wait a little, so I was sure t
would be all right. He went home,
Ezekial did, and went to work, and in
q little while we heard he'd bought the
farm next his fathers, and was settin'
up for himself. Father, he allowed as
he'd never pay for it in the world; but
one Of the neighbors said Ezekial al
lowed as them oxen had pulled every
thing he'd ever hitched 'em to yet, and
he reckoned they could pull the mort
gage often that farm. So EZekial and
his oxen they set to work; and you
might say the whole township got up
onto the fence to watch 'em. The next
fall, fother set about mOvin' his barn.
You see, it faced the north, and father
he thought it would be sight better
to have it face the south. So 'Lias
Brown he lent his oxen fur a day, and
what with fathers yoke, too, they
thought they'd have no trouble. Father
hadn't said so-he was too spunky for
that--but me and mother knowed well
enough he'd liked to have had Ezekials
yoke the worst way. Well, they got
the barn around all right, all but about
a quarter turn, and there it stuck.
They tried and tried, but it was no
use, and at last 'Lias he allowed it
couldn't be got round no further
'thout more help.
elf was you, SQUIRE says he, I'd
go over and get 'Zeke Meeks' yoke
Ono says father, L won't do it, not
if T hat to let the old barn stand right
here'> :.
"'You can't git 'ary other yoke
'ithin six miles, says 'Lias.
"'Then we won't move it anuther
eench, says father. But he didn't
quite mean that, for the barn had to be
set straight, now the work was begun;
so, after a good deal of blowin' and
stormin' around, father he finally sets
off to get Ezekial and them oxen.
'Zeke,' says father, my barn is
stuck SOS we can't bulge it, and I
want you to come over with them oxen
of yourn and help pull it around
Square Runson,' says Ezekial,
slow and easy like, kin have Keziah?
meanin' me. ''Cause if I can't says
he, my oxen can't move your barn.
BY dad! says father-and that was
as good as bond in blood with him
by dad! 'Zeke Meeks,' says he, If
them oxen of yourn kin move my barn
alone, you kin have Keziah.'
g Then they'll move it, square, says
Ezekial, If it amt took root s
$50 Ezekial he came over and with
his oxen, with the biggest yoke and
the strongest chain he had, and he
hitched 'em fast to corner of the old
barn.
me and mother we went out to look
on, and l did hope and pray that them
oxen would do themselves proud. Well,
Ezekial he made sure everything was
all right, and then he took his place
at the head Of his yoke, with his CAD
in hand, and gave the word for them
oxen to start. Then them oxen leaned
ford till they had the chain drawed
tight, and they bent to and pulled. La
sakes! how they did pull! I kin see
'em this minute. They just dug in their
hoofs, and bent their backs, and strain
ed every narve, and I really do believe
my heart stopped beatin' 'twixt nv
hopes and my fears. 'Hoyv says Eze-
kial, hoy! and he touched em with
his CAD. And then how they did pull!
, Their eyes bulged out, their tails
Strengthened out like pump handles.
and you could fairly hear their bones
a-crackin'.
My hopes was beginnin' to sink, fur
the old barn didn't bulge; but didn't
know what them oxen could do. sHoyv
says Nzekial again, 'hoyy They was
pullin' together like they was one crit
ter, lot giyin' hairs breadth Of slack,
and somethin' begun to creak 'HoyY
says Ezekial, just once more, and that
time told the story. Them oxen seem
ed to double right up; their noses
touched the ground; they fairly groan-
ed; and reckon that pull would have
been the last of 'em, but the creakin'
suddenly growed louder, and then the
old barn gave a lurch, and them oxen
walked away with it.