IMH 75:2 172

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

1881

Tuesday, February 15th.

And they were at it to-day also. The day was not very cold
but not very much thawing was done. Enough was done though
to make it disagreeable hauling. Alvin and I hauled the re­
mainder of the limbs cut yesterday (one sled-load) then hitched
to the log-sled and hauled the two logs the body of the tree
made. The first or biggest log came near "stalling" the team,
the second one was no trouble. After that we went down to the
creek close to Fowler's line and brought a dry log or water-gate
pole that the creek had washed there. Father was gone from 10
o'clock till two about the vicinity of Fowler's and old Stokely
Stiles The Rev. Mr Moore spent the afternoon and dined with
us. John Fowler was here after the sausage mill for Mr Stiles's
folks this morning.

Teaching note: Before horses became the standard for work animals, the Oxen held forth
as the animal of choice. Oxen have several advantages over horses. First they are stronger
and more powerful. They are also more intelligent which is hard to believe..but true. In this
example, the oxen would never have stalled. Given the command to "go" they will pull until the
command to "whoa" is given. A horse will pull until it cannot move the item, then it will simply stall.