The hum of voices, the bray of mules, the baa-ing and naa-ing of sheep and goats, kept up a roar to equal surf on a seacoast.
The surf was more pleasant to listen to than all these farm sounds.  
mnli hypothesis: The surf was more pleasant to listen to than all these farm sounds.   premise: The hum of voices, the bray of mules, the baa-ing and naa-ing of sheep and goats, kept up a roar to equal surf on a seacoast.