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<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Thanks for the
excerpts of Aunt Charlotte's book. I always enjoy these
stories.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Just last year I
learned (or re-learned, in case my fourth grade teacher is looking down and
reading this <G>) something about oxen.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Somehow for years
I had thought of oxen as being some special breed of cattle, which had longer
horns, were stocky, and strong for pulling wagons. (thank you, Hollywood). After
all, my grandfather's cream cows were Guernseys and holsteins, and our beef
cattle here in Arizona tend to be a cross between Charolais, Brahman, and
Hereford -- so why wouldn't Babe, the Blue Ox, be different
also!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Hmmm, I was at
the Ardenwood Historic farm ( <A
href="http://www.ebparks.org/parks/arden.htm">http://www.ebparks.org/parks/arden.htm</A> )
in Fremont, CA, last year and got to talking to the docents about draft animals.
Seems that "oxen", as used by our rural forebears, were "simply" any breed of
adult castrated bulls who were trained to be draft animals, pulling wagons,
plows, etc. "Steers" on the other hand, were more designed for meat. But,
you can bet the old oxen were eaten when they were no longer useful for
drafting.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Now, my
2ggfather, John Henry Palmer, "drove a herd of cattle to Oregon, losing about
half on the way", but his wagons were pulled by oxen. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Not that this is
the biiig news of the day, but in light of Aunt Charlotte's book, I thought I'd
add this, just in case I am not the only one who "sees" the past through today's
eyes, and misses important information that way.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=156381117-14022005><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Pat (in
Tucson)<BR>Nosco vestri atavi est ingredior intellego vestri ego<BR>(To become
acquainted with your ancestors is to begin to comprehend your self)</FONT>
</DIV></SPAN>
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size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
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