20th Century Tales Forum

Jake and Jim
By John L (Rusty) Smith

My grandpa was a sharecropper,
He lived on a sharecrop farm.
He worked in the fields most of his life,
Raised a family by the strength of his arm.

Most farmers work with a team of mules
Or horses to pull the plow.
Grandpa had only one of each
But they worked together anyhow.

Jake, the horse, worked on the right
Strong but getting on in years.
He was the leader of the team
Like those used by the pioneers.

Jim, the mule, was stronger still
And he worked on the left, you see
Providing the strength of the working team
Following Jakes lead on the doubletree.

They worked together side by side,
Through out most of their times
Pulling the wagons and harrows and such
While my grandpa worked the lines.

Never apart did these two work
They always worked as a team.
Jake on the right to make the turns
And Jim on the left to provide the steam.

One day the years caught up with Jake
He was old and sick and weak.
Grandpa decided to use only Jim
Because of his grand physique.

Jim would not move out of his stall
And leave old Jake there alone.
Grandpa had to pull and tug
To get Jim out on his own.

He led Jim out to the barnyard.
Hitched him up to the rake
But when he tried to make Jim move
He stood like he wasnt awake.

He finally moved but wouldnt go straight,
Though Grandpa pulled hard on the reins
He could not control nor make Jim work
In frustration he unhitched the chains.

He led Jim to the barn and locked the stall
Looked Jim over from stem to stern.
Then walked back into the house
To tell Grandma what he had learned.

This is the reason, he told my Grandma,
That Jim wouldnt leave Jake behind.
They only worked as a team you see,
Because Jim, the mule, was blind.

Sounds like your family learned the values of hard work, and caring.

Fair winds

Micheal

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Fine tale Rusty and well told!!

I hope Ya have a few more to share,

CJ

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A liar will assume you are lying

Much like a successful marriage, team work is key. Thanks for post. We enjoy them. George-CT

It will be recited around campfires and family get togethers. Its hard to recite without choking up near the end! You really got a gift there John!

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Detecting is the study of Humans interaction with topography, the untrustworthyness of pockets, and metals desire to return to the earth from whence it came.