THE OX AND HIS OWNER.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 11 September 1912, Page 3

THE OX AND HIS OWNER.

Long" ago a man owned a very strong" ox. The owner was so proud of his ox that he boasted to every man that he met about how strong" his ox was. One clay the owner went into a village, and, said to the men there: "I j vwill pay forfeit of 1000 pieces of silver i if my strong- ox cannot draw a line of 100 waggons.'" The men laughed and said: "Very j well; bring" your ox, and we will tie 100 ! waggons in a line and see your ox ; draw them along." j So the man brought his ox into the i village. A crowd gathered t© see the \ sight. The 100 carts were in line, ! and the strong ox was yoked to the i first waggon. I Then the owner whipped his ox, and • said: "Get up, you wretch! Get along, j you rascal!" j But the ox had never been talked to i in that way, and he stood still. Neither the blows nor the hard names could ! make his move. At last the poor man paid his forfeit, and went sadly home. There he threw himself on his bed and cried: < "Why did that strong" ox act so Many j a time he has moved heavier loads easily. Why did he shame me before all those people " At last he grot up and went about his work. When he went to feed the ox that night, the ox turned to him and said: "Why did you whip me today ? You never whipped me before. Why did you call me 'wretch' and 'rascal ?' You never called me hard names before." Then the man said: "I will never treat you badly again. I am. sorry I whipped you and called you names. I will never do so any more. Forgive me." "Very well," said the ox. "Tomorrow 1 will go into the village and draw the 100 carts for you. You have always been a kitfd master until today. To-morrow you shall gain what you lost." The next morning the owner fed the ox well, and hung a garland of flowers ! about his neck. When they went into . the village the men laughed at the j man again. They said: "Do you come to lose more money?" "To-day I will pay a forfeit of 2,000 pieces of silver if my ox is not strong1 enough to pull 100 carts," said the owner. ' So again the carts were placed in a line, and the ox was yoked to the first. A crowd came to watch again. The owner said: "Good ox, show how strong you are, you fine, fine creature!" He patted him, and at once the ox pulled with all his strength. The cart s moved on until the last cart stood where the first had been. Then the crowd shouted, and they paid back the forfeit the man had lost, saying: "Your ox is the strongest ox we ever saw." And the ox and the man Avent home happy.