Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-08-22
>.>~.e.~.~.~.&.<.>.>'~'~'~'s
|, IKE'S OXEN :
} Haw He Trained Them Nautic- y
, ally and what Happened =
. In Consequence. o

Among his neighbors Job Iiaines
was considered Il pretty fair sort 81
man. lie had settled 10 little town
IN the southern part % Kansas, where
he lived rs an immigrant from New
Hampshire. and he brought his Ian
kee sharpness with him. but as he
dealt fair and attended 20 hts own
business be passed. The only member
Of the family besides Job and bis wife
was Ike. a nephew whom Job had TAX
en- 10 bring %. as be had no children
Of his own. Ike was a typical New
England boy about hftccn years old.
lie had been brought up IN one Of the
coast villages 81 Maine and had great
love for the SEA.
Job like the majority OF Yankee
farmers. was nrm believer In cattle
and dld most OF bis work with oxen.
One day he said TO Ike. Ike II youn
take that pair of yearling steers and
break them 10 work. YOU can have
them" Ike was exceedingly well pleas
ed al that and at once assumed charge
OF his new possessions. II ever pair
81 young oxen were well taken care OF.
they were. He groomed them as care
fully ms the horses. 30 that their sleek
coats shone as glossy as SIX. and he
was so kind with them that they were
as gentle as sheep He named them
Jack and Billy.
In his western home Ike never forgot
the faroff ocean. II had been the one
hope Of his life 10 BE- n sailor. but bis
being sent west had destroyed H.
When his uncle gave him the steers TO
break. the idea came 20 him that
though he could never expect 10 tread
the deck o. his own ship he could use
ship phrases In the education OF his
oxen aud thus always be reminded OF
his own home beside the sea Thus Il
was that Jack and Billy were educat-
ed 20 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 II was haul away"
and port" and "starboard" and be
lay" stern all" was back. The oxen
grew and waxed strong. and his uncle
often remarked that he never saw a
team that could do more work than
those oxen and Ike. No one hut Ike ev-
er thought of handling them.
The nearest neighbor To the Haines'
was Deacon Merwin. a good man and
pillar OF the church. The good deacon
saw that Ikes yoke Of oxen were
workers. and a desire came over him
10 possess them. He offered TO buy
them several times but Job always
said that they belonged 20 Ike and
were not for sale. The deacon asked
Ike II be would sell them. but met
with such an indignant refusal that he
felt angcred. but did not give up the
Idea Of possessing the cattle. Finally
he went 70 Job and said
"Neigkbor Haines. II them cattle'll
work good every way I'll give you
/ 800 for 'em. They're too much prop
erty for a boy like Ike TO have. and IL
IL apt 10 create In him a bad sperrit
and make him feel above his elders"
well don't know. deacon. The boy
sets deal by them cattle. and a prom
ise Is a promise. gave them to him
II be would break 'em. and he has, 20
I'm bound 10 keep my part"
That's all true enough. NelghbOr
Haines. but likes only boy. and then.
remember. 500 aln't offered every day
for yoke Of cattle. Why not sell me
these and give him another pair 70
break: that I'D do him jIst rs wellT'
The deacon's 500 and persuasions
finally weakened Jobs scruples, and
he gave In. The deacon was TO try
them. and II they worked all right
was 20 have them for SfoD How TO
tell Ike what he had done was a poser
10 his uncle. His aunt declared IL
downright mean piece Of business and
told Job plainly what she thought OF
him.
II was finally decided not 20 sLy
anything 10 lie until after the sale had
been made and the cattle gone. In or
der that Ike might not be on hand TO
see his pets sold he was given a holi-
day and sent TO spend the day az a
neighbours. a couple Of miles away.
where there was a boy OF bis age who
was a sort Of chum OF his.
The next morning Ike WIS OF bright
and early. and the deacon was on
hand shortly after. IL would not be
fair 20 Job 20 say that he did not have
any mlsgivings. He would have back
ed out OF the bargain az the least
chance. and be really hoped that the
deacon would not be satisfied with
them. The oxen were brought out and
yoked 20 the cart without difficulty.
though the deacon remarked that they
did seem kinder stoopid." Job and
the deacon climbed up into the cart
Gee up
The oxen turned their big eyes round
inqulringly Gee up. thereT' repeated
job. But they did not move a hOof.
THAT don't appear like good break
Ing" remarked the deacon.
They're broke all right" replies
Job. Come. gee up. there" At the
same time he gave each a prod with
the goad. In response 20 the proddine
the cattle walked OF toward the open
gate. In which direction their heads
happened 10 be turned. job did not