The Elbert County tribune., 1902-11-13

ms 1ankee sharpness with him. but rs he
dealt fair and attended to his own bust
ness he passed. The only member OF the
family besides Job and his wife was Ike.
nephew whom Job had taken 10 bring
up. as he had no children OF his own.
Ike was typical New England boy about
ffteen years cd. He had been brought
up In one OF the coast villages of Maine
and had a great love for the sea
Job. IKE the majority OF Yankee farm;
ers, wns a firm believer In cattle and did
most OF his work with oxen. one day
he said to Ike. Ike. II you'n take that
pair of yearling steers and break them
to work, you can have them Ike was
exceedingly well pleased at that and
at once assumed charge OF his new pos
sessions. II ever a pair o. young oxen
were well taken care of, they were. He
groomed them as carefully as the horses,
so that their sleek coats shone as glossy
silk. and he was so kind with them
that tney were gentle as sheep. He
named them Jack and Billy;
In his Western home Ike never Tor
got the far-on ocean. II had been the
one hope of his life 10 be a sailor. but
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 own home
and Billy were educated 10 work. ''brok-
en-" totally ignorant OF the usual com
%anes a 0Gs by which s 9Hsn gre and Mhos
had no meaning for them whatever. 1t
was haul away and gssrs and ah., ftsT- wa-
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 MerwJn. a good man and a pillar
of the church The good deacon saw thht
Ike's yoke OF oxen were workers, and a
offered 10 buy them several times. but
job always said that they belonged 10
Ike and were not for sale. The deacon
tod I n he would sell them. but met
with such an Indignant refusal that ne
felt angered but did not give up the Idea
of possessing the cattle Finaly ne went
to Job and said:
''Neighbor Haines, II them cattle'n work
good every day I'll give you 800 FOR EN-.
They're too much property for boy IKE
Ike to have. and II is APT 10 create IN
him 6 bad sperrit and make him feel
'Wen. / don't know deacon. The boy
sets deal by them cattle. and a promise
is a promise. ! gave them to MN II ne
would break 'em. and he has SO m
bound to keep my part
That's all true enough. Nelghbor
remember. 800 amt offered every day
for yoke of cattle Why not sell me
that 'ud do him jist as well"
The deacon's 800 and persuasions hnai-
in The deacon was TO try them. and II
they worked all right was to have them
for $500 How to tell H. IKE & What t,is ne ,nni hrd
declared 1t n downright mean piece OF
business and told job plainly whnt she
It was finally decided not to say any
thing 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 holiday and sent 10
miles away. where there was boy Of his
age who sort Of chum Of his
The next morning Ike was OF bright and
after II would not be fair to Job to say
that he did not have any misglylnss. lie
the least chance. and he really hoped that
the deacon would not be satisfied with
yoked to the cart without difficulty. though
the deacon remarked that they did seem
kinder stoopid.' Job and the deacon
eil@esd ilees up. Up into the cart
Tho oxen turned their big eyes round
inquirlngly. Gee up. there!' repeated
Job. But they did not move hoof.
THAT don't appear like good break
ing" remarked the deacon.
9They're broke all right" replied Job.
time he gave each prod with the goad.
enttle en resSnSe walked on OF toward The" the open ZEN
gate. in which direction their heads hap
them to go in the road, so he shouted out,
Hoy, hoyV' TO turn them around; but
the oxen had no idea OF what hoy
job shouted louder. and struck Billy with
the goad. They quickened their gait into
trot and turned out into the road. Then
Job shouted whoa. whoar' But they
did not mind that either.
They don't appear TO be as well broke
as | reckoned on" remarked the deacon
as he stood in the cart and viewed the
proceedings.
They're broke well enough replied
Job. rather nettled. but I'm strange TO
them. Nobody but Ike ever drove them"
well. turn them about" said the deac-
on.
But they paid no heed to any command.
and finally, exasperated. Job struck them
both with the goad. and they started at
the cart went. and both Job and the deac-
on were compelled to hold on the cart
stakes to prevent them being bounced
stop 'eml Stop emit shouted the
deacon y want to get ,!. out @ Whoa!
oxen only tossed their heads and ran
the faster. stop EN-. can't your
Job was downright mad by this timc;;
stop 'em yourself, you old fooli' snapped
he. You know as much how to stop
Wen be chucked out and killed"
shouted the deacon as the cart banged
over stone.
The oxen were now thoroughly fright
ened and running away for fair and both
men were badly scared and holding on
for dear life All at once an idea struck
Job.
Say. deacon. can't you talk some
talk to emf That's what | alters heard
Ike talk to EN- he called out as the
cart bumped along.
brother Haines. such sea talk as ryc
heard amt proper fer a pillar Of the
church 10 repeat, and IN call mectin' on
you fer this II we git out alive. replied
the deacon with as much dignity as he
could assume while holding to the stake.
DO try. deacon!" shouted the terrified
job. "1t may save our lives"
Just then the cart gave fearful
lurch and the deacon banged his head
against the stake he was holding to with
considerable force This made him boil
ing mad In addition to his fear. Splice
the main hracci Shiver my timbersi Pipe
all hands to grcgi" and then. that had
no effect OF the frantic team. Boat
ahoyi'' and then. losing all control of
himself: "Ahoyi Alloy! Drat you.
you blankety blank brutes!" and
the deacon let out such a string Of pro-
family that Job turned a shade or two