The Lazy Ox

In India the oxen
Are kept to do some work,
But Oscar Ox was lazy
And he tried his best to shirk.

When harnessed to a plough
He walked as slowly as he could
And didn’t do one third as much
As other oxen would.

His Master thought him useless
And one day he said aloud:
“I’ll take this ox to market
To be auctioned to the crowd.
No doubt there’ll be a butcher
Who will cut him up for meat.”

And Oscar, who’d been resting
Quickly stood upon his feet.

All day he worked his hardest
So that he would not be sold,
And ever after that
He behaved as good as gold!

∼ Porter G., Hilda Offen, Pradera, Esme Eve, Alan Jesset, Richard Hooke