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Master Farmer's Oxen
Written and Illustrated by Gloria Nesbitt
Copyright 2004 by Gloria Nesbitt

"Thanks, boys," Master Farmer stated with feeling, as he shut the heavy door on the sturdy old barn for the night. Star, and his teammate, Buck, were different from all the other animals who lived on that hillside farm. Unlike the other farm animals, Master Farmer and his oxen spent their days together.

In the morning, after he fed the chickens, and the sheep, the pig, and both the cats, Master Farmer came to the barn to get Star and Buck. With a kind look in his eyes and a song on his lips, he fed Star and Buck their morning meal. Then he set a carved wooden yoke on their necks, locking it into place with the wooden bows. Master Farmer patted Star's forehead, with it's large white spot, and Buck's solid-colored head. "Giddup, Star," he said, "Giddup, Buck. Let's go to work." And out through the open barn doors they went.

In the evening, as the work for the day was completed, and the little red hens were scratching for one last bug out in the yard, he took them back to the barn, to feed them, and let them rest. He praised them, "Good boy, Star! Good boy, Buck!"

There weren't always oxen on that hillside farm. Several years before, Master Farmer didn't have any oxen. All day long, he worked alone. Then one day, Master Farmer started thinking, "I would sure enjoy having oxen to share my days with!" So he went to visit his friend, Harry, who had calves for sale.

Inside Harry's warm barn, Master Farmer stood, for a long while, watching the calves. He noticed how they looked, how they moved, and how they acted with each other. "Mmm. I think I'll buy this one," Master Farmer murmured, looking at a little red calf, with a white star on his head. "And that one," gazing at matching calf, with a solid colored forehead. After he paid Harry for them, he took them home.

The very next day, Master Farmer began training these calves that he already thought of as his friends and partners. Holding onto the halter rope of the calf with the white spot, he gently pulled, and said, "Giddup Star!" Star pulled back as hard as he could, bawling loudly, his eyes wide, his feet braced, but Master Farmer didn't give up. He kept on coaxing, pulling and tapping Star's rump with a little stick. Finally Star stopped bawling, and moved ahead two steps. "Good boy, Star!" Patting Star's head, he said, "See. All I want you to do is walk with me. Good boy, Star!" Then, once again, he said, "Giddup, Star!" And Star tried to pull away a second time.

And so it went, first with Star, and then with Buck. But because Master Farmer was kind, patient, and firm, by the next day the calves had already learned to be a little less scared. They were also a little better at responding to the command, "Giddup". Master Farmer enjoyed every minute that he spent with Star and Buck. He worked with his new friends every day, and looking forward to the day that they would fully trust him, feeling completely safe following his commands.

Weeks went by, and then months. Star and Buck grew, and learned.

Each spring, the three worked together to cultivate the rich, warm ground in the field.

Each summer, the three worked together to collect heaping mounds of prickly, sweet-scented hay.

Each fall, the three worked together to bring in stacks of dry firewood for the long winter ahead.

Each winter, the three worked together to give lovely, laughter-filled hayrides to Master Farmer's family and friends.

But then, early one summer's morning, as Star and Buck were pulling Master Farmer's hay wagon out to the field, and the swallows were swooping through the sky.

Star turned away from Master Farmer. And then, Buck started to leave too! Startled at his oxen's sudden, unusual behavior, Master Farmer yelled, "Hey, what's got into you guys today? Gee, Star! Gee! GEE! GEE, Buck! Whoa! Whoa! WHOA!!!" But Star and Buck didn't Whoa!

Master Farmer stood and stared, as Star and Buck> raced away across the field, kicking up their heels as they went, the wagon bucking and banging along behind them. Farther and farther, they ran, until over the far hill, they disappeared from sight.

They ran and ran until they came to a crossroads. Then, when Buck tried to turn left, and Star tried to turn right, they suddenly could not move at all!

Unnoticed by the unhappy beasts, a tough looking stranger was walking towards them. "Oxen!" he mused, "I wonder where they came from? Oh well, until I figure it out, am I ever going to put them to work!"

Later that same day, from across a very rocky field, loud, angry words could be heard, and the sound of a whip being used over and over again. "Giddup! GIDDUP, you lazy animals! We have many, many more rocks to move! GIDDUP!"

The next morning, inside the stranger's creaky old barn, Buck woke, and groaned, his body trembled as he stood, his head hanging down. Equally painful sounds came from Star, as he strained against the chain that held him.

Suddenly Star and Buck heard the familiar voice of Master Farmer. "STAR! BUCK!" Buck raised his head, and both oxen began to bawl, loudly and excitedly.

Master Farmer heard their loud bawling, and he recognized the voices of his oxen. Running to them, he rejoiced over them, exclaiming, "Star and Buck! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

He hurried to let the stranger know that these were his oxen, and that he was taking them back. And when he returned to Star and Buck, he stated, "Come on, boys. Step-up, Star. Step-up, Buck. It's time to go home. GIDDUP!"

Later that day, the three worked together to bring in a heaping mound of prickly, sweet-scented hay.

The next spring, as the evening sun was setting, Master Farmer's, "Whoa!" brought the plow to an abrupt stop. He straightened his back, mopped the sweat off his forehead, and turned to look at the long straight rows of freshly turned earth behind him. Turning back to look at his oxen, he smiled, for he saw them contentedly chewing their cud. "Good boy, Star! Good boy, Buck!" And Star and Buck swung their heads around so they could see their friend. Master Farmer unhooked them from the plow, and said, "Good job, boys. Time to go. GIDDUP!"

And together the three companions headed home.

The end.

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Our Farm	Cozy Country Cabin	Mural Mural on the Wall	More Art by Gloria	About the Artist