Time Was When
FREIGHTERS
Time was when ox and mule teams used to freight along this route. A five-ton truck doesn't look as picturesque but there hasn't been much change in the language of the drivers.
Jerk line skinners were plumb fluent when addressing their teams. They got right earnest and personal. It was spontaneous — no effort about it. When they got strung out they were worth going a long ways to hear. As a matter of fact you didn't have to go a long ways, providing your hearing was normal. Adjectives came natural to them but they did bog down some on names. They had the same one for each of their string.
Those times have gone forever.
Submitted by @timhwang
[Located in the Mile Marker 178 – Jefferson City Rest Area (southbound)]