82 Old Bays on the Farm 



his brother were at work, "Abe" driving and his 

 brother holding the plough, and the future Great 

 President wanted to change jobs and hold the 

 plough, but his brother objected. The "critters" 

 were slow and lazy when all at once to the sur- 

 prise of the lads the team started off at an amaz- 

 ing pace. Even "Abe" with his long legs could 

 scarcely keep up with the procession. When the 

 end of the furrow was reached "Abe" discovered 

 the cause of the swift movement. Several "bull- 

 dog" flies had settled on the back of the team and 

 were punching holes and pumping up blood as 

 only bulldog flies can. The youthful driver being 

 handy with his whip picked off the flies. 



"And that brother of mine," said "Abe," "was 

 just as mad as a wet hen." 



" 'What did you go and do that for,' said my 

 brother, 'don't you know that those flies were 

 what made those oxen travel?' 



" 'Yes,' I replied, 'but if these critters are go- 

 ing to travel like that I've got to hold at least one 

 of those plough handles.' " 



You see even as a boy "Abe" wanted to be at 

 the helm. 



DEACON JONES, PLOUGHMAN I 



As a conclusion to this sermonette on plough- 

 ing and as a "lastly brethren" argument, here are 

 some verses, and the obliging reader will please 

 sing the second and sixth stanzas: 



