328 Next to the Ground 



while the phrenzy rages — especially if any 

 member of the herd has an old score to pay. 

 Cattle keep their grudges to equal Scotch 

 highlanders. Indeed they have, throughout, 

 long memories, and are apt in many ways. 



Oxen well broken are driven without reins. 

 They go to right or left, turn, back, hold 

 back, or pull, according to the driver's word 

 and the cracking and tickling of his keen 

 black-snake whip. Ox-goads are unknown 

 in the grass country of Tennessee, though 

 they are in scattered use in the mountains. 

 Oxen are slow but mighty — good for every 

 use that requires steady power without speed. 

 Literally they learn to bear the yoke in their 

 youth. An ox running unbroken until three 

 years old would be ill to handle and worse to 

 drive. 



Joe and Dan broke a yoke of oxen every 

 season — sometimes two yoke. Yoke, like 

 couple, requires no plural. As soon as the 

 calves were weaned, late in the fall, they 

 matched two of them, made a light yoke, 

 penned the chosen beasts, fitted the ox bows 

 to their necks, tied their tails lightly but 

 strongly together, so they could not break 

 their necks by trying to face each other, then 

 made a rope fast about their horn, and drove 

 them throughout the Saturday afternoon holi- 

 day. Before loosing the yoke, they stroked 



