A MISCHIEF-LOVING OLD OX. 83 



drink at our expense whenever occasion offered. Their 

 curiosity also appears unbounded. They want to know 

 where you have come from, where you are going, your 

 purpose, the amount of money you possess, whether 

 you have a good wife, and the age and sex of all your 

 children, not unfrequently terminating with a desire to 

 learn the price you paid for each individual part of your 

 dress. 



"When we finished breakfast, William came with the 

 news that two splendid after-oxen were waiting for our 

 inspection ; as I really did not then consider myself a 

 good judge, and. Morris relied on me, all purchases we 

 made were very hazardous. I thought to get William's 

 advice, but in this I was deceived ; for the fulsomeness 

 of his praises made me at once consider that he was in 

 the interests of the vendor. Still, he was to drive the 

 beasts for over three hundred miles, and if they could 

 not or would not do the labour he required of them, he 

 would most assuredly be a fool to his own interests to 

 recommend bad cattle. 



Two bullocks which I on this occasion purchased 

 were with me for a long time, and therefore they de- 

 serve a word of description. First came Ackerman, 

 a nigh after-ox, of good outline, but old which fact 

 I did not know then capable of great power when 

 he chose to exert it, but that, I am sorry to say, 

 he did rarely ; in expression he looked at peace with 

 all the world, still never lost a chance to kick any one 

 who carelessly approached him, and was ever prime 

 ringleader in all mischief. The other was Brightman ; 

 he was willing, but lacked power, good-tempered, in- 

 telligent, and desirous of pleasing, The former was 

 mouse-coloured; the latter, red-and- white. After due 



G2 



