Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-08-17

"Oh say. grandpa" said Dicl1ie.
and his head was buried SO deeply in
a big old trunk i'm the barn that only
n pair of sprawly legs and two long
feet hanging on to a nail in the floor
by the toes. and dusty trouser seat
could be seen.
"Oh, say, grandpa. here's two OF
the dandiest pairs OF cows horns with
little brass balls on them. Only three
OF them look as If they had been
broken of. Can 7 have 'em. grandpa2
1 asked first"
Cant l have one pair. grandpa?"
begged a voice from another corner.
then a red-faced boy appeared.
Let me see them" said grandpa
why, they are old Bucks and Brides
horns. No. I guess I'll keep them a
little while longer. Upon my word
I'd forgotten about them.
But boys. 1 can tell you a real
good story about them" he added
When? when grandpa? Now: viii
your" And Dickie swept OF a clean
place on a bench with the sleeve OF
his coat
Wen, suppose we wait until after
supper. Thatll be good time and
can think about il a little"
SO in the early eveuing-the time
for storytelling grandpa sat down
before the fireplace. with a boy on
each side OF him. Each lad had a
stick and jackknifc. whiting.
Wei, TO begin at the beginning"
said grandpa. when 4 was "a little
boy we didn't havo as mSny horses
In our part OF the country as there
are now. But we used oxen. which
are just as strong and sometimes as
swift as horses. Though usually they
are slow. / guess you have not seen
them very often. They are fastened
together by a wooden yoke and driven
BY rein sometimes, but oftener con
trolled by person merely speaking
and cracking "a whip
Father gave me pair OF young
ones. black and white. and said I was
60 train them / was much pleased
and made up my mind that they would
be the best team in the country /
named them Buck and Bride was
always gentle and never abused them.
and soon they grew 20 love me and
NONtQ Nb any Ahlue ANlQ them 10.
"One day ! took them TO be shod.
An OK. you know, has a split hoof.
like a COW. and SO each foot must
have two shoes. That makes eight
shoes TO an OK. doesn't il? / must
tell you how they shoe oxen, as Il
IS very different from shOeiEg a horse.
The OK is first led into a frame about
three feet wide, which is built OF
strong timber, with a ioor in it, Two
heavy poles push up on each side OF
the oxs shoulders. holding him firm:
then two more just back of his horns.
20 which ropes are attached. and
these hold his head and shoulders per-
fectly still. Two broad leather bands.
fastened loosely 10 poles as high as
the Ox's back, are next passed under
his body, and hook on the other side
TO another pole. These poles are
turned around, shortening the bands
until the OK is raised of his feet. The
feet are then ropcd back. hoof up-
wards TO other poles, and tied tightly
so they cannot move. The blacksmith
IS then able TO nail tho shoes on
quickly. without being bothered by the
animals struggles.
Buck and Bride could go so much
better after they had been shod. as
they did not slip In going over the
rough roads. Ice and melting snow
made il very slippery. and one had TO
drive with great care.
"One day, along in April, father
was chopplng with very sharp ak.
and it slipped and cut a cash In his
leg. The blood spurted high and we
both knew that he had cut an artery.
Together We managed TO bind il up
above the 'Wound and stop the blood
flowing. but father was dreadfuIly
weak
you must get me down to DR..
Meads right away" he said So
managed to partly carry him to the
sleigh and wrap blanket around
him. He held the stick with which
we had twisted the bandages around
his leg, and drove. We started pref
ty fast, but ! had good control OF the
oxen, so l didn't care. But just at
a turning point in the road l heard
noise and looked back. Father was
lying with his eyes shut and the
blood was bouring from his leg.
ropped the reins. l was so frightened
I did not know what | was doing and
sprang TO hts side In minute ! had
the bandage tighteend. but | had TO
hold II. The oxen were running very
fast now. and the reins were dragging.
| dared not leave father a second and
could not have got them, anyway. l
called TO Buck ADD B;lde; they tried
TO slackcn. bat ccnld net. Faster and