Class __JEiZ3^ Boolc_J^^ (ioRyriglit N" COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. DUKE DAVIS FLASHLIGHTS FROM MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN By DUKE DAVIS . . . .PUBLISHED BY. . . . THE PENTECOSTAL UNION (Pillar of Fire) Bound Brook, N. J 1911 T^. '- Copyright, 191 1, by The Pentecostal Union. International Copyright Secured. >\ iCI.A2Sl)r»97 INTRODUCTION A few years ago the writer and some co- workers conducted revival services in Mon- tana. Among those who were converted was Duke Davis, the author of this book, who is a nephew of Mrs. Alma White and myself. He afterwards came to the Bible School to prepare for the ministry, and has labored faithfully toward the spread of the Gospel. His famil- iarity with Western cowboy life, together with a facile pen and the illumination of the Spirit have enabled him to write a volume that will doubtless afford pleasure and profit to thou- sands. His descriptions of the bucking bronco, the herds of cattle, the ''round up," the "stampede," and the cowboy himself with his spurs, ''chaps" and inseparable lariat, are full of interest. The book reveals the author's fondness for outdoor life. He enjoyed the liberty of the birds, the sparkle of the mountain streams, the beauty of the open sky with the brightness of noon, the hues of sunset and the serenity of the stars. In addition he has the feelings aiKi instincts of a cowboy and doubtless would INTRODUCTION have spent his life on the plains had not the Lord thrown about him the lasso of Divine grace and commissioned him to preach the Gospel. The book is deeply spiritual. Though not of- a doctrinal character it is both safe and sane. The author has an observing eye and finds "tongues in the trees, books in the run- ning brooks, sermons in stones," and God everywhere. Through these pages there flows a spring of living water; the Christian will be refreshed by it and the sinner may stoop down and drink and live. We trust the book may have a wide circulation and that the Lord will greatly use it to promote his cause and king- dom. C. W. Bridwell. CONTENTS What Might Have Been -----^-13 Personal Experience -------- 21 Riding Broncos ----------40 In Yellowstone Park --------51 How Shall We Escape? --------61 The Western Bronco -------- y2 Training for Service - -------89 Endurance ------------ 102 \Vaters of Life ---------- m The Mountain Lily --------119 Fishing ------------- 125 ''Calves of the Stall^' -------- i^i Thanksgiving Day in Camp ------ 138 Guard the Weak Places - - - - - - - 153 Little Things ----------- 167 Sheep and Their Shepherds ------ 172 A Lucrative Business -------- 182 The Riches of Earth -------- iqi "Wound Up" ----------- 202 CONTENTS They Seek A Country ------ - 212 The Indian ------------ 220 Watch and Pray - -------- 227 Meditation ------------231 The Stampede ----------- 238 A Cold Ride ----------- 250 The Harvest is Past -------- 260 Note — The colortypes in this book, as well as the illus- trations on pages 35, 44, 47, 206, 240, 252 and 256, are repro- ductions of pictures by C M. Russell, the well-known "Cow- boy Artist," and are Copyrighted by the Ridgley Calendar Go. of Great Falls, Montana. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN QUIETLY NESTLED at the foot of a range of hills skirting the Ohio River lies the little town of V , Ky. In the early summer time the heavy green foliage on the hills, dotted here and there with dog- wood blossoms of white, furnishes a pictur- esque background when viewed from a passing boat or from the opposite bank of the river. During the hot, sultry days of summer, little of interest happens to break the quietude of the inhabitants. Perhaps the passing of a squeaky old wagon loaded with lumber, tan bark or hoop-poles from the country district, and drawn by a yoke of oxen, or it may be the whistle of an incoming train occasionally breaks the monotony of those who lazily reclinr in front of their places of business. Just a block from the business center, and separated from the county courthouse prem- ises by a narrow street, is one of the chief livery barns of the city. A large tree with wide extended branches, growing near the 14 FLASHLIGHTS FROM curbing, and just a little to the left of the en- trance furnishes abundant shade for the not too busy proprietor and his assistants, as well as for some half dozen other idlers who have sought a retreat from the burning rays of the sun. The wooden benches and rudely con- structed chairs, by their markings, show too plainly that the penknife had had little mercy upon them. Little piles of shavings from pieces of white pine or sweet-smelling cedar wood lie here and there upon the ground, all betokening the chief occupation of those who gathered there from day to day to pass away the time. Two barefoot boys, some ten or eleven years old, having grown tired of their play down by the river, chance along on their way home. They were boon companions and were seldom separated long at a time. During the school session they attended the same school and occupied a seat together. They engaged in the same games side by side; they fished together and swam together and were growing up as friendly as friends could be. But to-day the tie was to be broken. They, too, welcoming a cool place, take a seat side by side on the curbstone, and instinctively their knives were MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 17 brought from their pockets. Finding them somewhat dull, they proceeded to sharpen them. Presently they engage in some childish dispute, which under favorable environments, would have passed away immediately. But not so here. Just such a place would Satan choose to do something out of the ordinary — in the midst of men sitting around smoking, chewing and swearing. Most wicked men like to see boys fight, and these were no exception. The boys, though at first not sufficiently pro- voked at each other to strike, are urged on until they are striking at each other with their knives, yet in their own hearts it ^yas in a play- ful way, neither thinking that the other was angry. Nevertheless, one of them becomes sud- denly infuriated, and his long, keen knife blade finds its way into a vital spot of him who but a moment before was his chum. The wounded boy is taken to the doctor's office, and after ex- amination, little hope is given for his recovery. However, the wound is dressed and he is car- ried home and placed upon a bed. The pious old preacher, with his Bible, comes and reads and prays, and with an uncertain look upon his face, goes away again. The neighbors come in and walk softly about the room and in muffled tones discuss the case. The doctor makes his 2 i8 FLASHLIGHTS FROM regular visits, and after a course of time the danger point is safely passed and hopes of com- plete restoration are entertained, yet the pa- tient lay for weeks in the summer's heat scarcely able to move. Giving due credit to the attending physi- cian and careful nursing, we dare say, owing to the nature of the wound, that death might have resulted had not that Great Physician, that unseen visitor at every bedside of the sick, been present and mightily manifested His power and love. To return to the place where this deed was perpetrated, let us imagine how easily it might have been avoided had any of the adults present administered a word of rebuke or ad- monition instead of urging the boys to fight. There is a great reward awaiting peacemakers, but they who delight in stirring up strife and contention among others are sure of awful ret- ribution. Let us see what time has wrought in this case, so far as is possible at least. One of the young men present who most delighted in a fight, was afterward seized with a dread dis- ease and after suffering for months, passed out of this life, leaving behind him no evidehce of a victorious death. The boy who used the MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 19 knife became a saloon keeper when grown up. Others who were present continued to chew and smoke and whittle away their lives and have departed this life having accomplished nothing of worth. Still others traveled the same old beaten paths for years and probably never yielded to the entreaties of the Holy Spirit. But was there no peacemaker in evidence on this occasion? A young man serving the county as clerk, just at the opportune moment, emerges from his place of duty. Taking in the situation at a glance, he puts a stop to what might have ended more seriously. Many years passed and he remained at his position of honor. The boy who received the wound, having little restraint placed upon him, lived the way of the world until manhood was reached. He went West and for a number or years min- gled with the hardened men of the plains, but the mighty hand of God, no doubt laid upon him through the prayers of a mother who parted this life when he was but five years of age, still pressed upon him and delivered him from dangerous places. Yet how easily those prayers might have been hindered by his per- sistently pursuing a course opposite to the will 20 FLASHLIGHTS FROM of God. He gave his heart to God and is now a servant of high heaven to pubHsh the salva- tion of peace to a dying world. The above incident might have been avoided by a timely admonition, then again suffering and death might have ensued were it not that the God of mercy is deeply interested in the affairs of men on earth. '] MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 21 PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OUR READERS who have never come in close touch with Hfe in the far West no doubt have their opinions and ideas, based on what they have read and heard, as to the character of cowboys and their manner of living. It is likely that you have set them down as a class of rough young men, given wholly to revelry and wickedness and void of true gentlemanly qualities and Christian prin- ciples. It is true that in frontier days many wicked deeds were perpetrated by some of these men of the range. Their drunken sprees and unexpected rides through towns shooting right and left, causing a general stampede of the inhabitants, is a matter of history. But aside from these undesirable traits and waves of reckless enthusiasrii, and under their rough exterior, many of them were found with hearts true and loyal to their fellowmen and full of S3mipathy for the weak and helpless. It is the demon of drink that makes men cruel and unreasonable in their demeanor. We have known cowboys, who, when sober, were quiet, congenial and agreeable companions, 22 FLASHLIGHTS FROM but when under the influence of intoxicants were transformed into mad men, and would want to fight, shoot, and in every way possible give vent to their feelings. The life of a cowboy is fascinating and when once entered upon by the young man is usually pursued until disabled by accident or the long-continued riding incapacitates him for such a strenuous occupation. Most cow- boys become hardened in sin and often drift beyond the reach of the Gospel. However, we have known some of them to become truly converted, have their wild and reckless natures subdued and become workers in the Lord's vine3^ard to preach deliverance to others who are bound by the chains of sin." But such in- stances are rare. In fact, there be few from any walk of life who choose the narrow^ way and bear the reproach of the cross. It was in the spring of 1896, when a youth in my teens, I left my quiet Kentucky home in Lewis County and started west. My destination was a stock ranch in the Grass- hopper Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana. On arriving at Dillon I visited a few days at the home of relatives. The ranch to which I wished to go was thirty-five miles distant, and as there was no regular conveyance to MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 23 that section of the country, arrangements were made to ride over with a stockman who Hved on beyond and was then in town with a four- horse team purchasing supphes for his ranch. This trip out to the ranch was my first intro- duction to western ways. However, I had read and heard considerable and was pretty well acquainted with things in general. I took a seat beside the driver and owner of the team and in the course of an hour's drive we had left the muddy roads of the valley and had reached a stretch of prairie land, and were making toward a range of mountains some fifteen or twenty miles away. In the meantime Mr. W , who had im- bibed freely of the forbidden beverage while in town and along the way, was becoming somewhat drowsy and, turning the lines over to me, sought a place for repose in the back part of the wagon where one of his hired men also lay. It required most of the latter's time and strength to manage a rope to which were attached five or six half-broke horses. In the West they have a singular way of leading broncos. They tie the halter of one horse se- curely to the tail of another, and so on, until four or five may be strung out together. As these horses were not well broke to lead they 24 FLASHLIGHTS FROM would frequently get to pulling back which would cause the most vigorous kicking on the part of the horse in front. At such times there would be two or three sets of heels flying in the air, while as many horses would be pull- ing back with all their might trying to keep their heads out of reach. Fortunately for the horses that were being kicked at, their ropes were long enough to enable them to keep their heads at a safe distance. This was all great amusement for a boy from the East, and though our thirty-five mile ride was over des- ert waste and rugged mountains, the trip did not seem long, and before nightfall I had reached my aunt's stock ranch. Here I stayed for a year working with horses and cat- tle, helping with the harvesting of the hay crop and in the meantime learned something about riding, throwing a lariat, etc. It is needless to say I soon became very much attached to the free, open life of the plains and had no desire to return east. In the winter of 1898 I concluded to get a little more schooling and entered the State Normal School at Dillon which had just begun its first term. But by spring the desire for outdoor life was stronger than the inclination to sit within the walls of a school building and MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 27 I soon found myself back on the ranch. Years went by and though I was of a reHgious disposition and had attended church and Sunday-school most of my life, the world was getting a strong hold on me and I was growing up pretty much as other young men, so far as having any serious thought about serving God was concerned. Like myriads of church members I knew not by experience what it means to be converted and was in dark- ness as to the truth of spiritual things. I had united with the Methodist Church and when living in, or near town always availed myself of the opportunity of attending religious services. Yet I had never ceased from sin or surren- dered my life to do the whole will of God, a thing which all must do in order to reach heaven. Nevertheless, I was often under convic- tion for my inconsistent life, and at such times would make an effort in my own strength to cease to do evil and learn to do well, but I saw too clearly that in myself I was a miserable failure, even though I succeeded in breaking away from many things that were question- able. But no matter how hard I tried, I could make myself no better in God's sight and was made to mourn my sad condition. I 28 FLASHLIGHTS FROM cried for deliverance, but it seems there was a reserve on my part, consequently I did not re- ceive the divine help I sought. Then too, I needed some living examples of God's true people to show me the way. The church serv- ices I had been in the habit of attending were of a superficial character. There was little or none of the power of God manifest in them. E'.mpty forms and ritualism are not calculated to help the sinner on to God. Such a service suits Satan's purpose very well for deceiving souls and easing the way down to perdition, but it takes infinitely more than this to cause men tc» fear and tremble because of their sins and to cry, ''What must I do to be saved." However, the Lord had His hand upon me and changed the order of things. Some evan- gelists came to town who had pulled away from dead ecclesiasticisms and had tarried until "endued with power from on high." Like a noted preacher of former years, they preached an "uttermost salvation for the right- eous and endless damnation for the wicked." Though living three miles from town at the time, I attended the special services regularly and soon found myself at the altar praying for salvation. I yielded to God and received the witness that I was His child. I received some MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 29 wonderful touches on my soul and at times was very happy, but the carnal nature soon mani- fested itself and I often found myself strug- gling for the mastery over things that had for- merly predominated in my life. At the time of my conversion I felt a strong call to give up worldly ambition and to enter fully into prep- aration for the Lord's work, but I failed to make the struggle at that time and continued for two years or more to labor for the things that perish. But I was a changed man ever after my conversion, and though I lost some of the joy and peace from my soul, the foolish pleasures of the world had lost their charm for me and I realized that nothing short of God's blessing could ever completely satisfy. It was in the spring of 1904 that I took the position of foreman for the Herd- ing Association. This company was com- posed of four influential men, two or three of whom were old pioneers, and their cattle numbered some ten thousand head. Each of them owned ranches in Horse Prairie Valley, but they had company ranches fifty miles away in Big Hole Basin. Here they grazed their cattle in the summer time, trailing them back and forth in the spring and fall. Their cattle were allowed to drift toward the Basin in the so FLASHLIGHTS FROM spring before the round-up was started and the ranchers along the way considered it some- what of an intrusion for the cattle to graze over land adjacent to their ranches and were annoyed no little by their own cattle drifting with the large herd and straying away. As a result of these conditions there was more or less strife between the stockmen; and the ranchmen along the way, as well as those living in the Basin, thought the only way to even things up was to appropriate a "Mav- erick" or beef steer occasionally from the Com- pany herd. It is said of some of them that they never killed one of their own cattle, but seemed to think they were doing a good deed if they could get away with a ''Horse Prairie" animal. Of course the butchering was done under cover and the branded hides destroyed to avoid detection. Though their deeds were well known to many, it was difficult to prove a case against the offenders and but an occa- sional one was prosecuted. Howbeit some who had warrants issued against them skipped the country and remained away rather than return and stand the chance of proving them- selves of being innocent. Hence the country in one way and another was gradually being rid of the ''cattle rustlers." MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 31 A portrayal of the character, and a rec- ord of the deeds of the various foremen the Company had had in their employ dur- ing the fifteen or twenty years previous to this time we daresay would make inter- esting reading. Though many of them distinguished themselves as being pretty well acquainted with the cattle business, and were expert at riding and throwing the rope, we failed to ever hear of one who was noted for his piety, and more than one found his way to the state prison as a result of his dishonest deeds. It is with most cowboys as it is with people everywhere, religion is a sec- ondary matter, or to be more precise, no mat- ter at all. Yet there are exceptions to all rules, and such is the power of the Gospel that it reaches men from every walk of life, even searches them out from the remote corners of the earth and transforms them and makes them to reflect the image of the immac- ulate One. Not a few of the Company's foremen were a sad disappointment to them. Though hired to look after the interests of the Company, many of them were in league with the un- scrupulous ranchers and butchers and co-oper- ated witli them in getting away with beeves 1,2 FLASHLIGHTS FROM and unbranded calves from the Company herd. But all such were soon found out and their wicked devices brought to an end. Men often succeed for a time in covering up their evil tracks, and some things are never brought to light in this world, but, ''Be sure your sin will find you out." If not in this life it will stand out in all its hideousness at the Judgment and before the assembled multitudes. We have heard of a stockman in the West who was once driving a herd of cattle to market. In passing another's ranch a stray cow got in among his cattle which he drove off to market and sold. Years went by and this same man was a seeker after God at the altar of prayer, but as he prayed a white cow was ever before Inm and refused to be removed. But as he was deeply in earnest to find peace to his soul he kept seeking until the Spirit prompted him to go back to the man whose cow he had driven off. After confessing his deed and paying for the stolen cow he had no further trouble. No doubt some stockmen would have a great herd looming up before them should they begin to pray for salvation. A rancher living in the vicinity of the cow camp had killed an animal belonging to the Company. He had cut the green hide into MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 33 strips and used it in strengthening one of his hay racks. The cowboy in charge of the herd at that time, having occasion to borrow a hay wagon went to this neighbor and was given the one on which the rawhide had been used so freely. Being somewhat suspicious, he re- moved the strips of hide, placed them together and traced out one of the Company brands. Thus did one man's sin find him out, though he no doubt thought it was covered forever, but it was not even hid from the eyes of man, let alone the all-seeing eye of God. A visitor at a neighboring ranch one day observed a hide lying near which contained two large, round holes, one on each side where the brands had been. By way of a jest he re- marked, "You must have shot that one with a cannon." Of course the man had nothing to say, his guilt was too obvious. Though having been associated with such men as the foregoing describes and surrounded with environments that were conducive to lawlessness, there was not the least temptation to be a party to a dishonest deed — this partic- ular trait of evil was not in my make-up, yet ir the sight of God I was no less a sinner than many of those who openly violated the laws of the land. I felt at times like a fugitive from 3 34 FLASHLIGHTS FROM justice, a Jonah fleeing from duty, and my con- demnation was no doubt greater than those of my associates who were out and out sinners and law breakers. I observed the moral law outwardly, but at this time I was a backslider and without the peace of the Lord in my soul. Other cowboys thought it strange when I did not become angry and swear when things went wrong and diat I did not smoke or play cards. Though having once been addicted to these habits 1 had long since gained the mas- tery over them and Satan seldom tempted me with these things. While this was much to be thankful for, I was not satisfied. The work in which I was engaged had a strong attach- ment for me and I was reluctant to give it up, yet I knew the Lord was calling me to work in His vine}ard, inasmuch as I could not get rid of the thought scarcely for an hour dur- ing the day. There were times that sleep went from my eyes and I would lie through the long hours of night pondering the question of giving up to God. I was fearful lest I should grieve the Spirit away and that the Lord woukl let trouble come upon me. In mounting or riding fractious horses forebodings of evil were ever before me. Instances of cowbovs who had MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 37 had their hmbs crushed by horses faUing on them would frequently come to mind as warn- ings, and something would say that I might be the next one should I fail to obey the voice of the Lord, but He in mercy kept me from injury, though having been thrown from bron- cos several times, as well as to have them stum- ble and fall when going at a rapid rate across country. It is not an uncommon thing for horses on the range to fall by striking a badger or gopher hole when going at full speed. They somethings turn complete somersaults and on such occasions it is nothing short of a miracle if the rider escapes injury. I recall an occa- sion when galloping along with three other young men. I was riding in front. My horse went down and the one closest behind, unavoid- ably stumbled over my horse and we all piled up together. Aside from the few scratches the horses received, no damage was done and we rode on, hardly giving a passing remark to such an occurrence. Thus for an indefinite period I halted be- tween two opinions, but before the season's work was over, I had made up my mind to go to the Pillar of Fire Bible School in Denver. The Pillar of Fire paper, which came to my 38 . FLASHLIGHTS FROM camp regularly, ever kept before me my duty to the Lord, and there was no evading the com- mand of Jesus, ''Follow me." I arrived in Denver, February 22, 1905, determined to do the will of the Lord and to seek His kingdom rather than the things of the world. Since that time He has graciously supplied all my needs and wonderfully blest my soul. Furthermore, He has kept me well in body and enabled me to work day after day in His vineyard. As the managing of a large herd of cat- tle involves no little responsibility and the fac- ing of many difficulties, I often felt incapable and concerned as to whether I was performing my duty acceptably or not. At such times I would feel discouraged, and more than once was tempted to resign. But I realized that such a course would only bring disappoint- ment and I determined to stay to the end of the season. Unexpected mix-ups with other cattle, strifes and contentions among the cowboys, the work of branding calves, etc., all bring trials and testings, and it requires coolness and force of wall to endure to the end of a season on the cattle range. However, when the work was over and all the cattle were gathered to their winter quarters and the accounts were MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 39 settled, it was said to me, "You did good work for us this season, and if you have nothing better in view for next season, we should like to have you again," and intimated an increase in wages. I was grateful for the commenda- tion and offer, but I had ah-eady enlisted in the Lord's service and am striving that at the last great day I may hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant: * * enter thou into the joys of thy Lord." 40 FLASHLIGHTS FROM RIDING BRONCOS IT DOES not take a very close study of the accompanying illustrations to convince the reader what has happened. It is a scene that has often been enacted on the western plains. The young man from the city, by some myster- ious meanderings finds himself in a cow camp. When the delicate, though obstreperous youth thus comes in contact with the rough-and-tum- ble, ways of the men of the range, there are sure to be some strange happenings. The lack of knowledge such a one displays of life on the plains furnishes a good opportunity for the cowboys to have some fun. On observing some saddle horses in the cor- ral, he expresses a desire to ride one of them. Cowboys are always quite hospitable when it comes to lending horses to visitors, especially when they have some on hand that seem to be gaited to ragtime music, and manifest their hilarity as soon as mounted by starting across country, taking high rapid and successive jumps, which is often to the discomfiture of the rider, but always a welcome excitement for the on-lookers. Of course all true-spirited west- MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 41 erners always give the new arrival a chance for his life. They look him over and ask him if he can ride. Any one unacquainted with life in a cow camp has little conception of all that this question implies. "Can you ride?" "Oh yes, don't yer know. I have ridden in the cavalry, and have chased foxes across the country in England," etc., is the answer that is often given by the young Englishman. Most anyone can sit on a horse so long as he travels along in a steady and quiet gait, but in cowboy circles this question embraces much more than many of our readers might suppose. It is at least calculated to bring out the fact whether the one interrogated is capable of sad- dling a bronco, mounting him and retaining his seat while the horse is doing his best to unseat him as only a wild horse of the West can do. One who has not experienced the ordeal of sit- ting on a bucking horse, or seen his perform- ances, has little knowledge of how difficult it is for the novice to "stay" even for a jump or two, much more for a few minutes. However, who can, and who cannot, is often proved in the cattle districts of the West, and the tender- foot, who is confident of his ability to ride, is promptly provided an opportunity for estab- lishing the truth of his assertions. So a horse 42 FLASHLIGHTS FROM is brought forth and saddled. Though he stands very quiet while being saddled and mounted, the would-be rider is no sooner on his back than the performance begins. Those hardy men of the range fully know what will happen. They have already had visions of a horse with bowed head, jumping stiff-legged across the prairie, with the panic-stricken youth dangling from the horn of the saddle, while the air seems to be laden with flying buttons, caps, eyeglasses, kodaks, etc. Nevertheless, they play their part well, and give the unsus- pecting equestrian no reason to suppose they are "putting up a game on him.'' Judging from his position on the ground we conclude tliat he did not ride far, but we dare say he had an excellent opportunity for testing the atmos- phere in the upper regions, and had he been in possession of his right mind, he would doubt- less have imagined himself taking a flight in one of the modern aeroplanes. This little episode with its illustrations is presented here because of the very important spiritual lessons it impresses upon our mind. That Bible character who was especially famed for his wisdom, and who was acquainted with every phase of life, seemingly, handed down to us that true saying: "Pride goeth before H O O I Q W H W W H O O t— I H < H I— I ;?; a W H MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 45 destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Had the young man in the picture come in a humble way, acknowledging his inability to ride, he would never have been given a "bad horse." But he came with a confidence in himself to do things, having never learned how. He needed to be humbled — he needed to find out his own weakness. A bucking bronco and two able instructors were the instruments to bring it about. It was a rough process, but one that never fails to work. We dare say he was a much humbler and wiser "boy afterward, and was greatly profited by the experience. Just so do men in pursuing material, or even spiritual ends, meet with reverses. Man's tendency is to become exalted and self-reliant after having attained to a degree of efficiency in any pursuit. Before God can use a person and make of him a vessel unto honor, possess- ing a humble and contrite spirit, it is often necessary for him to suffer failure in order to show him that his dependence must be in God alone. His progress, however, depends largely upon how he treats failure and reverses. Each defeat of one's own strength and plans may be used as a round in the ladder making the next upward step possible, or it may be used as a 46 FLASHLIGHTS FROM round on which to take the backward step lead- ing to destruction. Just as the cowboy of wide experience and long continued practice acquires the ability to ride the most agile and fractious broncos, so may the Christian become so established in the way of truth and righteousness that the most severe shakings that come from the powers of evil will not be able to dislodge him from his strongholds. Another picture, undrawn by any earthly artist, comes to our mind. That most un- tameable of animals — the man of flesh, seeks to be ridden by the spiritual man. But alas, how often the spiritual man is thrown to the ground and trampled under foot, while the carnal man plunges on, wasting mind and body and fur- nishing a spectacle for men and demons to look upon. The first and greatest work of man is to teach his body to serve his soul. If he fails to do this the reverse of the order will be the result and the destruction of both soul and body will be inevitable. While God often employs rigorous meth- ods to discipline His children, He subdues no man by force and against his will. The bronco rider mounts the wild horse, and with quirt and spur, forces him to go wherever he wills. n MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 49 He does not care how high he jumps or how hard he comes down; he retains his seat and rides on. After repeated attempts to free himself from the galhng saddle and the cruel, spurs, the horse is well-nigh exhausted and will try .other ways of getting rid of his burden, such as lying down, etc. But all to no avail, the process is kept up until he is completely subdued and he becomes obedient to the slight- est reining of the rider. Horses of the more fractious and stubborn nature are often injured through the process of breaking by their own struggles or by the unnecessary cruelty with which some riders handle them. God never willingly afflicts one of His chil- dren, but man through the gratification of his own desires, injures himself both soul and body, and if such indulgence is persisted in, the body is soon beyond repair, while the soul becomes clouded in darkness and eventually takes up its abode with the myriads of fallen spirits in pandemonium. It is God's plan to bring man into subjection to His will, but He does it through mercy and the tender wooing of the Holy Spirit, and if a man re- sists those gentle pullings upon the heart- strings, and, like the horse that throws its rider, goes his own way, he will sooner or later 4 50 FLASHLIGHTS FROM find that he has no restraint upon him at all, and God no longer talks to him. We trust that our readers will study these pictures well, for they are true to life, and out of them may be gleaned truths that will save the soul much suffering in this life, and from endless destruction. MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 51 IN YELLOWSTONE PARK YELLOWSTONE PARK was established by the government, March i, 1872. Subsequently a forest reserve was added on the east and south sides. The park proper is about sixty-four miles long from north to south, fifty-four miles wide, and has an area of 3,312 square miles. It is mostly in northwestern Wyoming, with a narrow strip each in Montana and Idaho. -^ ^ * The park is an elevated plateau surrounded by mountains, and has an average elevation of about 7,500 feet above sea level. Large streams of lava have spread over the park, and these have been greatly modified by glacial action and erosion.'' The above facts we glean from a descrip- tive pamphlet issued by one of the leading railroad companies of the Northwest. It is not the purpose of this short sketch to acquaint the reader with the historical facts relative to the park or to attempt to give him even a meager description of this wonderful place of interest. Not only would time and space fail us in such an attempt, but we fear our language 52 FLASHLIGHTS FROM would be inadequate to do justice to this noted place, where God's hand seems to have placed within its boundaries so much to attract and interest the minds of thousands of tourists. The Queen of Sheba had heard much about the glory and magnificence of Solomon's kingdom, but on traveling a long distance to see for herself, she exclaimed, "Behold, the half was not told me." So we find in trying to tell of some of nature's beauty spots, words simply fail us. Perhaps no other place in all the world furnishes such a wide field for nature-study, recreation and delightsome pas- time as Yellowstone Park. Here we find nature at her best. The large stretches of forests, untracked to a large extent by the foot of man, but roamed over by the wild beasts of the field, cause a feeling of loneliness to come over one who is unaccustomed to such sur- roundings. As the visitor from the East alights from the train, perhaps the first thing that brings forth words of praise and admiration are the lofty snow-capped mountains that greet the eye on every side. There seems to be no end to them as the eye follows them for miles and miles. Truly the Creator of heaven and earth did not lack for material in piling up these PULPIT TERRACE MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 55 great heaps of earth and stone. We are re- minded of His magnanimity, His abundant love, mercy and grace, which He so lavishly bestows upon His children. Then the atten- tion is called to the tall and stately pine, fir and spruce trees that cover mountain and valley, again showing the liberality of Him who giveth us all things to enjoy. ''Yellowstone Park is the scenic gem of the Great West." Well might it be called "Wonderland." The startling scenes in nat- ural phenomena that greet one on every hand are awe-inspiring, and memories of them ever linger in the minds of those who are so fortu- nate as to look upon them. Words are power- less when one experiences the overwhelming sensation produced by a first glimpse of its wonders. Its rivers and valleys are among the most beautiful in the world. Among its rari- ties are the wonderful geysers, hot springs, ter- races and the grand canon of the Yellowstone River. There is nothing that men have writ- ten that is adequately descriptive of some of these beautiful scenes of nature-harmony. Here too, is the only place where the pub- lic may see the wild animals in their natural state. The animals evince little timidity, and it is not an uncommon sight, as you drive 56 FLASHLIGHTS FROM along, to see elk or deer slaking their thirst in the stream near by. Or you may see a large bear out in the stream taking his daily bath. The lover of nature may spend days and weeks within the boundaries of this noted place and never tire of its scenery. As he drives along in stage coach the landscape is ever changing. The experiences of each new day bring their charm and impressiveness. From the main road one may take side trips into the wilderness and look upon scenes perhaps never before seen by the eye of man. We have visited "Wonderland," and have made mention, in our weak way of a few of its attractive features, and also present here two views of its scenery, which are by no means its most beautiful spots. In looking upon its scenery, in breathing in the fresh, pure moun- tain air or fishing in its clear rippling streams, we were thankful to God who provided such a place where one may go and be entirely separ- ated from the pomp and pride of modern civi- lization and be alone with God and be sur- rounded by a variety of scenery not found else- where on the earth. But after all how many do we meet from whose hearts no expressions of gratitude come at sight of these things ! Some people only see CLEOPATRA TERRACE MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 59 the baser things of the world, and have eyes that are bhnded to those things that are in- tended to make them think of God and heavenly things. Reader, there is another 'Wonderland," as yet not visited by mortal man, which, for beauty and magnificence, far surpasses any- thing on earth. We are told about it in the word of God. We enter it upon parting this life provided we have so lived as to be qualified to enter its pure and holy precincts. We may, through faith and obedience to God's com- mands, get glimpses of its scenery and breathe the air wafted to us from its heights while so- journing here in this land, and then, if true and faithful unto the end, enter its boundaries to enjoy its realities throughout eternity. At the entrance to the park there are large stone gate- ways attended by men employed by the govern- ment. Here one wishing to enter and make a tour of the park must gain permission before he may do so. He is not questioned as to his character, occupation or anything of the kind, but is simply deprived of his shooting arms and allowed to pursue his course. But how dif- ferent and how stringent are the qualifications for entrance into this other land — the heavenly land ! One may not enter except his heart be 6o FLASHLIGHTS FROM cleansed from all sin that his whole life be in perfect harmony with that which is within. Dear reader, if you would enter the portals of heaven and enjoy throughout eternity those things that ''eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man," forsake sin and follow the Son of God all the way. MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 6i HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE T HE NATURAL tendency of all living organisms is to degenerate or die. We see this evidenced all about us in the vegetable kingdom. Through a process of cultivation, vegetables in a gar- den come to a stage of maturity, pro- duce their fruit and die. If neglected they de- generate or die before their time. In the west- ern states^ where irrigation is necessary to pro- duce a crop, a man prepares the ground and sows the seed. In due time the tender plants shoot up from the earth and attain a height of several inches and the prospects for a good crop are favorable. The natural moisture of the ground and the scant rainfall have been sufficient to give the grain a good start. How- ever, the time arrives for the irrigation to begin. Far up in the mountains, fed by the melting snows of the preceding winter, is a large reservoir. Canals and ditches adequate for conveying the water to the grain field have already been made, but for some reason the owner of the field neglects to turn on the water. The result is, the ground becomes parched un- 62 FLASHLIGHTS FROM der the burning rays of the sun, and the once flourishing grain dies and no crop is produced. Only one thing was responsible, and that was the neglect of the farmer to turn on the water. To ihustrate again. A garden is planted, say with strawberries and roses, and for a number of years is left alone. When we visit it in pro- cess of time we find that it has run to waste. But it is a different process of deterioration from that which took place in the failure to water the grain. The strawberries and roses have not died out, but they have degenerated. The strawberries have become small, and the once large, fragrant rose has lost its size and beauty. The same thing takes place in the case of man. If he neglects himself he becomes a worse man and a lower man. If his body is neglected and not exercised he will become weak and emaciated. If his mind is neglected, it will degenerate. If he neglects his con- science he will run off into sin and lawlessness. Nothing escapes death and decay that is neg- lected. So we see some of the great evils that come as a result of simple neglect, but the neg- lect which brings the most terrible results, is the neglect of the soul. Our text says, ''How MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 65 shall we escape, if we neglect so great salva- tion?" The Scriptures do not take the trouble to answer the question, for it is too obvious. If we neglect the soul with this universal prin- ciple staring us in the face, how shall we escape? There is no escape. Atrophy, de- generation and death are inevitable. Sin destroys the soul. There are sins of commis- sion and there are sins of omission. But the latter class of sins people think little about. The popular impression is that a man must be an open and notorious sinner in order to be lost. That he must be one who has little re- gard for the good in life and has given loose rein to the evil within him. But this scripture settles the question that if a man simply neg- lects his soul he will ultimately be lost. If we could open the door of pandemonium and ask the lost souls how they came to be there the great cry would go up, 'T neglected to care for my soul when the opportunity was offered." Oh, how they would strive to escape torment if they were permitted to live on the earth again! But it is too late now, and they must mourn their fate forever. On a certain railroad in the Rocky Moun- tains, two large cars heavily loaded with coal were left standing at the station of L . For 5 66 FLASHLIGHTS FROM fifty or sixty miles north the track ran down grade. Without any assistance from man, the cars in some way started down the track, and it is needless to say they were soon going at a rapid rate and gaining speed every moment. The operator, on discovering some little time later that they were gone, telegraphed the sta- tion fifty miles distant for the man to turn the switch and run the cars onto a siding, but he got the message just in time to step to the door and see the cars dash by. They continued on their mad career a few miles farther and crashed into an oncoming train, killing the en- gineer and fireman and injuring others. What caused the trouble? Neglect. The trainman that left the cars standing failed to secure the brakes properly, and perhaps nothing more than a gust of wind, or the vibration caused by a passing train was necessary to start them on their road to destruction. But they ran their course and you see the result. Reader, do you know that people are like those cars? Every unconverted sinner is on the down grade and his speed is increasing moment by moment. Before him is destruc- tion. He may not go much farther ere the terrible crash comes and all hopes of his soul's welfare be shattered. It lies within his :m MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 69 power to stop. Had there been a man on the cars he conld have set the brakes and brought them to a standstill, but some other powerful agenc}^ would have been necessary to take them back up the grade. Just so can a man put the brakes on his evil life and stop his downward trend, but that unseen power imparted by the Son of God must be utilized for him to make the great ascent from earth to heaven. Which way are you traveling? The natural man has a bias toward sin, and like that mysterious force called gravitation, it pulls downward. By another force, that of attraction, he may be drawn upward if he sub- mits himself to the will of God. But he who neg- lects, how shall he escape? If a man falls into the sea he is most likely to drown if he has neg- lected to learn to swim. Again, if a man has swallowed poison he has but to neglect taking the antedote and he will die. So man is poi- soned by sin. In this "great salvation" God has provided a remedy for all his ailments, both physical and spiritual. He does not have to blaspheme the name of God or denounce Chris- tianity publicly, or be a great sinner in order to be lost, but simply neglect to make use of the remedy. You may just go on as you have been going from day to day and from week to week. 70 FLASHLIGHTS FROM continue to attend church services, if you please, dress Hke the world and talk like the world, and if you do not some day find yourself in the confines of the eternally lost, then our text means nothing. But it is the word of God. ESCAPE! Why you had as well be- lieve a man would escape death who refuses to breathe or feed his body as for him to escape hell if he neglcts salvation. Some of you have been neglecting for a long time. You realize your lost condition, your downward trend, but you have not stopped. In the distance you see trouble and despair. You are fearful of the future. There are times when you feel resolved to stop short and go to seeking God, but still you neglect. You are neglecting to confess your sins, you are neglecting to make wrongs right, you are neglecting to go to the altar and put yourself on record as a seeker after God. For the sake of your immortal soul and for the sake of friends and loved ones, and for Jesus' sake set- tle this question before it is forever too late. But I hear some of you say, "Some other day," "There is plenty of time," etc. To-day is the day, neglect it and you may never have an- other. Those who are now in the lost world would want but a moment to decide this MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 71 question. How eagerly they would accept the first opportunity to get salvation, but they neg- lected their souls when on earth and how shall you escape their fate ? 7i FLASHLIGHTS FROM THE WESTERN BRONCO THERE is no place where the horse seems more at home than on the range of the Rocky Mountain states. Our picture shows a small band of horses in their semi-wild state in southern Montana. Here among the rolling foothills, feeding upon the succulent buffalo or bunch grass, they become strong, fleet-footed and exceedingly active, insomuch that it is sometimes difficult for man to bring them under control. Even in the winter time when the blizzards are raging and the snows are piling up, they make a good living without the assistance of man, and seem to fear noth- ing, except it be the "horse-wrangler," who may at any time ride up, inspect their brand, give a few piercing yells and start them off on a fifteen or twenty-mile run to the corral. Of course in the more rugged districts and farther back in the mountains, the process of corralling horses is somewhat different. Here they become more afraid of man, and to ap- proach within distance to get a picture like the one following would be exceedingly difficult and would require much strategy.' However^ MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 73 with the different methods of capturing the wild horse, few of them escape the corral or the lariat. There are many sections of coun- try where these horses are so fearful of man that to approach within less than a mile of them is difficult, except it be to come upon them una- wares from behind a hill. Therefore to have any success corralling them it is necessary to have from six to ten well-mounted and expe- rienced horsemen who encircle the section of country frequented by several bands, which may consist of eight to twenty head each. By the time the riders have reached the limit of their circle, some of the horses here and there on the mountains have espied them, and either stand watching, as if contemplating w^hich direction to run, or else they have al- ready made a break for the high and more dis- tant mountains. And it is needless to say that in most every round-up of this kind, some of the bands led by some particular wily and fleet- footed stallion, make good their escape. Those remaining in the circle are closed in upon by the riders and started towards the corral, and by the time the valley or flat is reached, the different bands have come together, and a sin- gle band of 150 to 300 head, and under good control, is the result. 74 FLASHLIGHTS FROM But all this is much easier and quicker told than done. However, there is no greater excitement, or work more fascinating to the young westerner than that of corralling the wild horse. It requires endurance, fearless- ness and horsemanship, and great danger is often involved, but we have seen few cowboys and horse-wranglers who were not always ready to join a horse round-up. From the time the saddle band is driven in from the field in the morning and each rider has selected his mount for the day, there is "something doin'." Some of the saddle horses have perhaps been used but little, and were themselves a short time previous, running wild over the plains, and they have to be las- soed, and maybe have one foot tied up or other advantages taken, in order to get the saddle on them. And when mounted, the chances are many for them to go bucking, rearing and plunging across the prairie, while one or two inexperienced riders may be seen to pick them- selves up from the ground, have their horses re-caught and another attempt made. But it is not long until the riders in small groups of two or four may be seen making their way to- ward the tops of the high ridges some ten or fifteen miles away. Their mounts are spared MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN "jy as much as possible going out and are not rid- den out of a walk, but when the point of closing in upon the wild horses is reached, all is sud- denly changed. The men no longer ride side by side, but separate and dash off in different directions, each bent on gaining control of some fleeing band. Some of the older horses that acted sleepy and worn out coming up the hill and needed urging and spurring then, act dif- ferent now. The same spirit that possesses their riders, seems to animate every fiber of their being, and with champing bit and wide extended nostrils they eagerly join the chase. On they go, up hill and down hill, over stones and sage brush, stopping for nothing, but here and there swerving to one side to avoid a badger hole, the extreme dread of both horse and rider. Occasionally the sharp crack of a six- shooter may be heard and the dust is seen to rise just in front of some fleeing band that seems bent on getting away. This is done to check them and turn their course when the rider finds himself at a disadvantage in head- ing them. It sometimes happens that the fleeing horses are on the opposite side of a deep ravine from the rider and are about to reach some point of advantage along a regular trail that 78 • FLASHLIGHTS FROM has served them in making their escape many- times before. On some occasions the escap- ing horses refuse to turn and will almost run over a rider, and when once past him and on the hill above, they are usually free, so far as that day's round-up is concerned. Here is where the patience of the horse-wrangler is tried, and if the horse leading the escaping band should be one that is especially noted for his bold dashes for liberty, no matter how fine a horse he may be or whose brand he carries, he stands an excellent chance of having his hide pierced with a ball from a six-shooter, if he should happen to be dealing with one who has Httle regard for the life of a beast. But at last the ride is finished and the gate of the strong, high corral closes behind the horses, who go circling around if perchance they might find a weak place that offers a way to liberty. On the outside stand the brave lit- tle saddle horses, with heaving sides and coats white with foam. On the fence are the riders talking over the day's ride and examining the horses within. Next, a fire is kindled in which are placed the branding irons and the process of branding begins. The young colt is ''spot- ted" by the side of its mother, lassoed and thrown and the hot iron is applied to its thigh COWBOY IN CORRAL MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 8i or shoulder, and a mark is left that it carries to the end of life. The horses desired for breaking or to be sold are lassoed and tied up, or separated into another enclosure, and the main band is again set at liberty. But the treatment the colts and others of the band receive in the corral they never for- get and learn to dread the contact with man and his cruel lariat and hot iron until they are eventually broken and conquered and have be- come gentle and obedient. When rightly handled the wildest and most vicious of these horses of the plains be- come most gentle and useful, and for carrying a man day after day, or drawing vehicles, they are unexcelled. Yet there is found an oc- casional one that it seems impossible to rid of his bucking proclivities and such an one- is either turned loose to roam the range at will or is kept about the ranch for the boys to practice on. The appellation "outlaw" is given him, and from henceforth he is regarded with sus- picion. Perhaps every possible means has been employed to tame him and many different ''bronco busters" have tried their methods on him, but all to no avail. With each attempt he probably becomes worse. While such a horse may not be able to unseat his rider, his 6 82 FLASHLIGHTS FROM riders also fail to take all the meanness out of him and have to give it up. It is often the case that such a horse will allow himself to be saddled and mounted with little difficulty and may carry his rider for many miles over the hills without showing a bad spirit, but sud- denly, and on some steep hillside, the spirit of the evil one seems to possess him, and away he goes, bucking and plunging down the hill, and the rider who found it easy to retain his seat while he was bucking on the level ground, now finds that he has to "ride some" if he is so fortunate as to "stay" at all. How well does a horse of this nature re- minds us of people we meet. There are those who cannot be tamed, so to speak, and brought into subjection to the will of God. They re- fuse to have the wild, or carnal nature eradi- cated, and they becpme "outlaws," and are a curse to humanity instead of being a blessing. Yet they were not always so. That coarse, rough-featured man you see yonder, rushing into sin and giving loose rein to evil passions, was once an innocent little boy with flaxen curls and unclouded brow, playing about his mother's knee, and could be guided whitherso- ever she willed. But time went on, young manhood was reached, liberties were taken, MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 83 and soon the restraining hand of mother or father was no longer felt. Conscience, too, was silenced, and the result is a wild and reck- less man, doting over what he calls liberty. But the father-heart of God is touched at such a sad picture and He sends His messen- gers out over the world to bring the wander- ers into His fold. Many are rounded up, as it w^ere, and brought into the congregation of the righteous and the Holy Spirit begins to work on them. God is merciful and of great kindness. He whispers softly to the youth: ''Son give me thine heart.'' H the voice is obeyed, the young man is instructed and be- comes trained in the Christian warfare and goes out as a messenger to wandering ones. But if he resists and refuses to be subdued, like the ''outlaw" bronco on the western plains, he becomes a mere cumberer of the ground, and will sooner or later take the final leap over the terrible precipice. How numerous are such characters in the land to-day. Many of them in religious circles, too, and associated with God's true people. They run well for a time and manifest no ill spirit, but suddenly they take matters in their own hands, throw off all restraint and fly off on a tangent some- where, vainly hoping to retain God's favor 84 FLASHLIGHTS FROM and blessing, but their sad end will be manifest to all, except they become obedient to the will of God. There is another peculiar thing about these ''outlaw" horses. They are often al- lowed to run with a regular saddle band, and having been ridden some and become saddle- marked, they have all the appearance of being regular saddle horses, and one is sometimes saddled and mounted by mistake by some one who may not be able to ride well. The result of course is a fall and possibly an injury. So it is with the rebellious or disobedient person. Though having failed to measure up to God's requirements, he goes on with an empty pro- fession and his forms of religion, and many honest, though unwary souls are deceived thereby. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" People mount the wild horse, as it were, who carries them along very pleasantly for a time, but little do they realize their danger. They are destined to be carried down the steep incline where the jagged rocks of heresies and devil-delusions await to receive them. Thus maimed and crippled, they go through life. Living, yet dead. Dead to the voice of God, to the entreaties of friends and MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 87 loved ones, and to all reason. "Wandering stars" are they, visited by strange hallucina- tions and peculiar visions, and ''to whom is re- served the blackness of darkness forever." Backsliders from God, ''raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame." Oh, the terrible examples of rebellion and disobedience there are on every hand to-day! "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Be- cause thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee." Because of Saul's rebellion, disobedience and stubbornness, God rejected him. His wild and self-chosen course eventually led him to seek aid from one who had a "familiar spirit," a thing he himself had previously denounced, and he had caused to be put to death those who practiced witchcraft. Thus did he, through rebellion and disobedi- ence, still the voice of God to his soul. But his religious nature still craved some manifes- tation of the supernatural. He could not be satisfied without some token from the unseen world, and since God had ceased to talk to him, the spirits from the under world began to oper- ate. The account of his ignominious death is familiar to all. Instance after instance could be cited in 88 FLASHLIGHTS FROM the Bible of where people disobeyed God, and stubbornness and rebellion became the ruling principle in their lives, and they suffered terri- ble consequences. These sad reflections are warnings to us lest we take a similar course. With God's face turned away and His voice no longer heard, the lives of those who have failed to become submissive in His hands, go out in darkness and despair. Reader, look well to thy course lest thou too be found among the fallen at that last great day of reckoning. MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 89 TRAINING FOR SERVICE IN our last chapter we gave a description of a horse round-up on the Western plains, the process of handling them, etc., and dealt especially with the "outlaw," or the horse that never becomes completely subdued. In this chapter we also have something to say of west- ern horses, but rather with those that are trained for special work. However, we hope to impress upon our readers some important spiritual lessons, otherwise we would use our time and this space to some other purpose. The team of six" in our illustration drawing the stage-coach, once roamed at will the range, galloping over the highest moun- tains, defying the fleet-footed pony, and his rider with his cruel lariat. They did not range together, however, but one in this band and an- other in that, and in different sections of the country, and bore brands of various owners. But at last their day comes and they fall vic- tims to the round-up and are brought in from their coveted haunts and put through the pro- cess of breaking. The horse desired for breaking is usually 90 FLASHLIGHTS FROM separated from all others into an enclosure by himself. A man enters the enclosure with a lariat, at sight of which the frightened horse goes circling round the corral. This very act insures his speed}^ capture, for out shoots the lariat, the noose encircles his fore feet, a quick jerk is given and he falls heavily upon his side where he is held until a ''hackamore,'' or halter, is put on him. The foot rope is then removed and he is on his feet almost instantly. Thinking he is again free, he makes a bold dash across the corral, but is brought to a sudden stop by the strong halter rope, a few turns of which have been taken around a sub^ stantial post. After a few^ unsuccessful at- tempts to break away, and with his neck made stiff by the sudden jerks it -has received, he soon learns that it is better to yield and be led about than it is to resist. Would that men in God's school of discipline would act as wisely when chastened for their resistance, as do some of these wild horses. In training men for His service, the Lord throws out His lasso of truth and would gently draw them to himself, but many pull back and ''kick against the pricks," and if they are brought in subjection at all the most strenuous means often have to be resorted to. Saul of MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 93 Tarsus, the proud and learned Pharisee and persecutor of the Christians, at last saw the folly of pulling against God's Spirit, but it was not until he had been stricken to the earth with an exceeding great light from heaven that he realized what he was doing. Saul was a Jew and full of prejudice toward the Christ of Cal- vary and His humble followers, and it was necessary that extraordinary means be em- ployed to convince him of the truth. But in this enlightened age men do not need to wait for such manifestations to reveal the fact that they are pulling against God's Spirit, yet mul- titudes plunge blindly on in their self-chosen courses in the glare of all the light that shines from the sacred page and the lives of holy men and women down the ages. Saul at last had his wild and reckless nature subdued and be- came one of God's most obedient servants, and no other preacher since has been such a bless- ing to the world as he. But to return to our bronco. If we would fit him to be one of a team to draw U. S. mail, and passengers, including irritable women and helpless children, over the Rockies and along roads that overlook precipitous bluffs and deep, yawning canons, we must first take him through a careful course of training and find 94 FLASHLIGHTS FROM out whether he is sufficient for such work. From the corral he is led or forced into the barn and placed in a narrow box stall. Perhaps this is enough for his first day's train- ing and he is left for the morrow, when he is introduced to a set of harness. Though he jumps and snorts and kicks, the buckles and straps are made secure. He is then tied along- side of a good, gentle work horse and led forth to the heavy farm wagon, to which he is gently, though often with difficulty, hitched. When this is accomplished the men take their places in the high spring seat. And expe- rienced drivers they must be, too. Men who have had no experience with broncos would better stand aloof for a while and see how they perform. Before us is the road leading out onto the wide, open prairie. A word is spoken or a slight touch is given the gentle horse and everything is on the move. The bronco rears, plunges and starts across the country at a speed that would leave a city fire wagon an- swering a hurry-up call in the distance. The driver calmly retains his seat, his main object for the present being to steer clear of danger- ous places, such as ravines and ditches, and not caring so much as to how fast he goes. Meanwhile, of course, he is pulling on the lines, MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 97 which, however, has httle effect upon the bronco only as the g-entle horse yields and steers the wagon aright by pulling or pushing against the bronco as the case may be. A few miles and return is considered enough for the first time and the bronco is again put in his stall, but the bit in his mouth has done its work in spite of his running and jumping and the next time he is driven he is more careful how he goes against it. If he is an average horse in point of obedience and aptness for learning, and has shown no particularly bad or stubborn traits, after several drives such as the above, he may be considered safe to hitch to a hay wagon or mowing machine, and when the large hay crop is harvested he is a much changed horse from the one brought in from the range a few weeks before. After a good, long course of general farm and road work, and by careful handling, the stage operator may see fit to purchase him. For use in the heavy freight team a horse need not be so well broken to start with. Here he may try as he may and there will be little fear of his doing any damage by his attempts to run away, since the load behind him may consist of many tons of ore or heavy machinery. Just as these wild horses are taken 7 98 FLASHLIGHTS FROM through various processes and put to different kinds of work before they can be trusted to draw the pleasure carriage or stage coach, so must he whom God wishes to use for a special work submit himself to a rigid discipline and be thoroughly proved before he can be trusted to fill a place of responsibility in His vineyard. Experience has taught the westerner that it would not do to take one of these horses right off the range and hitch him to a light carriage. It would not be worth much after a few miles run over stones and through sage brush. The apostles were taken from their fishing nets and followed close in the steps of Jesus for three years before He left them with the re- sponsibility of preaching the Gospel to all the world. The effect of their lives upon the whole world is proof of the training they re- ceived. God has His school to-day for turn- ing out disciples and it may not necessarily be a modern college or school of oratory, but it is a school of obedience, faith and heart-felt experience. But of all the traits or instincts that are common to the horse of the plains there is one that stands out preeminently above all the rest. And that is his ever-present longing or home- sickness for the place of his birth and the MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 99 haunts where he spent his early years of free- dom. Though he may be kept on the ranch for years and run in the finest meadow, or be kept in the barn and fed on the choicest grain and receive the best of treatment, he has but to see the open gate or the weak place in the fence and he is gone to the far distant mountains to feed upon the sweet grass that grows there and to drink of the cool waters that come roll- ing down the canon. Miles and miles will these horses travel when they break away from the herd in the night-time or escape from the field in which they are kept, that they might re- turn to their native haunts. If their owner knows where they had previously ranged he goes at once to that locality and he is not long in finding them. Men, too, experience a sim- ilar homesickness. Those who have spent years on the plains following the herds and have then gone to the city in the East to live have this feeling come over them at times until they almost abhor the noise and bustle of city life and would gladly flee to the plains. Es- pecially is this feeling most irresistible in the springtime when the lowing of the cattle may be heard as they follow the trail and nibble here and there at the tender grass shooting forth. loo FLASHLIGHTS FROM But we want to speak to our readers about another homesickness which no doubt many of you have experienced. And that is a home- sickness for God. The prodigal son had this homesickness, when in the swine pens his mind reverted to former scenes and he recalled the happy years spent in that home of plenty. Such an intense desire came over him that he immediately arose and tramped the long dis- tance over the dusty road to his father's house, and he was received gladly. You who are a backslider from God can recall the haj^py days and months spent in fellowship with the Lord and His children — when you were led in green pastures and beside still waters in the land of freedom. How you long for those happy days to come again, that the heavenly Father's love may once more be lavished upon you and you receive the kiss of pardon. Ah, but you are bound ! Like the horse encased in his har- ness and held with the bit, you arc bound by the chains of sin and the enemy has a hedge about you to hold you in his service. But thank God, you may be free, ^'ou may again return to your Father's house and join in the music and dancing. But it will take a strenu- ous effort on your part. There may be con- fessions to make and wrongs to set right which MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN lOI will require all the courage you can summon, but God will meet you half way and receive you to himself, and you will again rejoice in the liberty of the children of God. But bear in mind reader, that no matter how intense the desire for God and heavenly things may be, your soul will remain unsatisfied if you refuse to surrender your will to the Lord and fail to walk in His law. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.'' 102 FLASHLIGHTS FROM ENDURANCE ENDURANCE IS ONE of the most neces- sary elements of the Christian charac- ter. To endure unto the end means to be eternally saved. Though a man do exploits and perform many deeds of righteousness, if he fails in the critical moment and does not endure unto the end he will be eternally lost. In the physical man, strength is deter- mined by what he can endure and not by any feat he may be able to perform. He may be able to run swiftly, or to execute many of the exercises in the art of calisthenics in a graceful and dexterous manner, but unless he keeps up those movements of the body that are calcu- lated to produce muscle and hardness, he will remain a weakling and will utterly fail in his efforts to become strong. Such an one may not hope to bear off the laurels in an endurance race, or to make a living w^here he would be compelled to handle a pick and shovel from eight to ten hours a day. In the parable of the sower we have four classes of people represented. In the first in- stance the people allowed Satan to come im- MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 103 mediately and take away the word that was sown in their hearts The second class of hear- ers were those who received the word immedi- ately and with gladness of heart, but having no root within themselves, they endured but for a time. When persecution and affliction came they were offended and gave up the struggle. Then there was the class represented by the seed that was sown among thorns. They too, heard the word, but ''the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word," and their destiny is sealed. How strikingly is the truth of this parable of the sower illustrated in the religious world to-day! In fact, in all ages there have been those who started well, ran swiftly for a time, were a blessing in the world, but like the stony and thorny-ground hearers, they endured but a short time, took a side-track,— one that was a little easier, — drifted with the world and lost their souls. Nevertheless, some fell on good ground and brought forth fruit abundantly, and just as truly will there be a few in this day and age of the world who will hear the word and bring forth fruit unto righteousness and inherit eternal life. To all but make the goal is sad indeed. I04 FLASHLIGHTS FROM Considering material things, the cowboys and cow-horses of the western plains furnish us with some excellent examples of endurance. The cowboy, seated on his wiry little steed, seems to be a permanent fixture so far as the cattle industry of the West is concerned. Nei- ther he nor his mount seem ever to tire of their occupation. Perhaps it is early winter and the large herds of cattle as yet have not been brought in from their summer range. There are thou- sands of them and they must be rounded up, separated and taken to different ranches and fields. To accompHsh this requires men who have been hardened at this kind of work. Stenographers, bookkeepers and professional men would fail here. Men who have been brought up as hot-house plants would shrink from the blizzards and extreme cold to which the plains of the northwest are subject, nor would their untrained bodies with their flabby muscles and wrecked nerves find a happy re- pose on the back of one of these lively, shying broncos. In short many of the cattle would perish out on the cold, snowy mountains were there no experienced men on hand to seek them out and bring them in. Look at the horse! Ofttimes ungainly in WESTERN STOCK SADDLE MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN 107 appearance, but full of grit and animation and capable of carrying his rider through deep snow and up and down hill all day without be- coming exhausted. While he does not pos- sess the beauty and symmetry of form that the Kentucky thoroughbred possesses, the cease- less toil and rough usage that he endures would put the Kentucky horse out of business in a short time. However, it is not everybody in the West who dresses himself in cowboy regalia, and mounts a horse, who is a real cowboy. In Montana we have what are called "sunshine riders,'' These are young men who as yet have not become regular riders — novices at the business. Perhaps it is some one who has not been out from the East long, or whose oc- cupation has been confined to farming or some- thing else. He sees the cowboys riding the broncos and throwing the lasso, and a desire seizes him to do likewise. So when the op- portunity is offered, he selects a fine-looking, high-spirited horse, but one which he has pretty good evidence will not buck. Clad in chaps and spurs, and probably a six-shooter at his belt, his main ambition is to present a strik- ing appearance. He rides along admiring himself, and if it is a bright, sunshiny day, he ]0