4? .'ili:* ^ V .:••- ■\, 4<>^ .ill'. •^^ .^>' .' ^-^-'^l^ NOV \i-h\i CoPYKIGHT, 1917 Sherman, French &> Company g)Qi A.47^507 INTRODUCTION As the East comes to appreciate more sym- pathetically the West and its place in the nation, and as the West becomes more con- scious of itself, the distinctive contributions of the West to the country's development grow in interest to the average man. More than any other influence in recent years, the World's Fair at San Francisco turned the eyes of the people of the Atlantic Coast to the Rocky Mountains and valleys of California. No longer can a New Englander say he has been "out West" when his journey takes him no further than across the Hudson River. He has discovered that there is something worth seeing and knowing about the " big spaces " beyond the Mississippi River as well as in the countries of Europe. And from this time on, especially after travel through the Panama Canal is no longer interrupted by dis- astrous slides, the big West will witness tour- ists in ever increasing numbers. The cattleman has been an important figure INTRODUCTION in making the West habitable. He and his sons folloAved close on the heels of the American explorer and the American soldier. In fact, the courageous cowboy was always found rid- ing shoulder to shoulder with Uncle Sam's cav- alry in ridding the frontier of marauding In- dians, white desperadoes, or other enemies of civilization. About the life of the cowboy, removed as he was from the restraining conventions of so- ciety — a life that required daring and phys- ical skill of a high order — has centered much romantic interest. Chivalric, adventurous, fearless, he has been fitly compared in resource- fulness and courage to the Vikings of the northern seas. From his life of group isolation has evolved something of the clan spirit of Scotland. He has created a robust vernacu- lar; he has developed a body of unique and delightful songs, commemorating his own heroic deeds ; he has created verse devoted to the same theme. In Mr. Walsh's little volume, many of the outstanding characteristics have been faith- fully portrayed. Here we catch some glimpses of the conditions and privations which the cow- boy had to face; we see him at work and at play; we learn something of his wholesome philosophy ; we catch glimpses of his social out- INTRODUCTION look. In this book, written in simple verse, in a style which will appeal to the youngest as well as the most mature minds, we may read the annals of the West wherein the cowboy played his part. To those readers who are at all familiar with the western range life as lived by the cowboy and ranchman, even the swing of the lines as the story unfolds has a tendency to suggest the quiet monotony and oppressive stillness of the unchanging plains, and the com- monplaceness of the dead flat of the boundless prairies. Owen Wister has told the best of all cowboy romances. Poetry, story, and song are yet to be written that will adequately commemorate the work of this most virile of all the pioneers* — the American cowboy. John A. Lomax. The University of Texas, May 25, 1917. PREFACE " Simply told, and every word true," as one old time " cowpuncher " has expressed it, is the only virtue claimed for the pastoral narrative, " Early Days on the Western Range." Nearly a century ago, there lay south and west of the Mississippi River a vast stretch of country now included in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, known as " No Man's Land," where immense and far reaching plains lay in open ranges, with countless thousands of wild buffalo, wild cattle, deer, and antelope, and still wilder men roaming with the changing seasons from valley to valley, mesa to mesa, and divide to divide. The luxuriant grasses; the mild and temperate climate ; the pure and brac- ing atmosphere, as clear as water, as strong as wine; the boundless prairies carpeted with a startling profusion of beautiful wild flowers ; the green and purple mountains in the distance ; the soft and fleecy clouds floating in the azure sky overhead; the verdure-lined pasture lands through which the crystal streams of purest water wound their way to the sea, golden PREFACE threads in the sunlight, ribbons of shining sil- ver in the moonlight ; the bubbling springs in the sylvan dells, fed by the winter snows from the lofty mountain gorges — all these extended an invitation to those romantic spirits of our young American manhood which were irresisti- ble and could not be declined. And hence gradually grew up that great ranching industry of the great Southwest which has so signally flourished since long be- fore railroads offered adequate means of trans- portation. So, also, with this romantic ranch- life came the " cowpuncher," or " cowboy," with his " lariat," " lasso," " riata," or " rope " as it is variously designated ; came the " round-up," " the branding time," " the re- muda," " the cowpuncher's outfit," " the death dealing mill," " the wild stampede," " the drive up the trail," "the bufFalo hunters," "the chuck wagon," " the horse wrangler," " the squatter," "the nester," "the drifter," "the cowboy songs," and the " vernacular of the range." With all these came also that wild, bold, semi-nomadic, semi-chivalrous life of the cattleman co-incident with the settling up of the millions and millions of acres of land, ad- mittedly the most productive and fertile in the known world. For in addition to the great ranges and numberless farms, the very heart PREFACE of this territory is now yielding such commer- cial commodities as coal, oil, gas, sulphur, salt, quick-silver, iron, copper, and mica, with a host of other products, the valuation of which would be fabulous, and to an unskilled account- ant, unbelievable. In this simple story many of the outstanding characteristics of the old time cowpuncher or cowboy have been faithfully portrayed. " Old Uncle Reuben Brown " is mythical in name only, for his counterpart can be seen all over the Western Range. All of the " old-timers " among that rapidly disappearing class of American manhood known as " cowboys " are most lovable and delightful characters, simple in their manners, quaint in their speech, hon- orable in their dealings, and firm and steadfast in their friendships. They speak in the vernacular or dialect of the range, which is not only pleasing, but in many cases very forceful and to the point. Their philosophy of life is very sweet and wholesome. Their humor is most delightful, and their pathos very touching. The cowboy was here yesterday ; he is gone today. He rides in the dim shadows of the historic past — and will never come again. The eloquent story of Uncle Reuben Brown is told in perpetuation of this most virile and interesting life, which PREFACE lives only in the " yesterdays " of the cowboy, mounted upon the " hurricane deck of a cayuse," as he grandly disappears from our civilization. C. C. Walsh. San Angelo, Texas, August 1, 1917. TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS " An' thus we'd drive th' herd along Frum daylight until dark." . . Frontispiece TACING PAGE " When I fust cum out West — A ridin on a ale gray hoss." .... 2 '' Yas, thar wuz lots of buffalo A browsin' on th' range." 8 '' An' brand th' Mav' ricks as tha cum — This made our losses less." 10 " But mostly tha, slept on th' ground In saddle blankets roll'd." 12 '' You talk about Delmonico's Er Rector's swell caff ay! " 14 " Th' cowboys comin' frum th' hills To have a jamboree." 16 " We'd kill a beef 'most ev'ry night — The other feller's brand." ..... 20 '" But every man wuz measured by . . . . How he'd throtv his lariat." ... 24 " Now Durhams an' th' Herefords take Th' place of mangy steers." .... 26 " Then thar's a change in trav-el-un Frum what it ust t'be." SO " Thar wuzn't any steam-cars then To ship our stock by rail." 31 '" We traveled on from day to day — A goin' up th' Trail." 36 FACING PAGE '* Sumtimes we'd ketch a man, you know. While changin' up a brand." .... 38 " We'd try his case before Judge Lynch; Then hang him on a tree." 42 " A teachin* him to ride th' bronchs — He needed lots o' salve." 44 " An' so at night when we'd cum in. We wuz a jolly crew." 48 " Th' boys all sqiiatted 'round th' f,re, A settin' on thair heel." 52 " An' make our way across th' plains Along th' backward trail." 54 " He liv'd upon th' open range. An' lov'd th' great outdoors." .... 62 " Thair palus wuz a blam'd ole shack To shelter frum th' cold." Q6 " Jist let 'em have thair head. An' tha wud sure bring out that steer." . 70 " We never wuz ashamed of 'em In town, er city school." 74 " Th' rattlesnake an' cotton tail Now occupy thair holes." 80 CONTENTS OLD UNCLE REUBEN BROWN p^^j. Old Uncle Reuben Brown 1 UNCLE REUBEN BECOMES REMINISCENT The Buffalo 7 Life on the Open Range 12 How A Man was Judged 16 DoGiEs, Culls and Cutbacks 19 The Passing of the Long Horn .... 24 The Coming of the Automobile .... 29 Going up the Trail 35 Law and Order on the Trail .... 42 Fun on the Trail 44 The Badger Fight 45 The Snipe Hunt 48 The Old-time Cow Boy 52 WOMEN OF THE WESTERN RANGE Mothers and Wives 61 Daughters and Sweethearts .... 68 THE END OF THE TRAIL The End of the Trail 79 OLD UNCLE REUBEN BROWN OLD UNCLE REUBEN BROWN While sitting at my desk today, With nothing much to do, I heard a knock upon my door, And thinking it was you, I said, " Come in ! We're all at home ! " But what was my surprise To see Old Uncle Reuben Brown Step in, with laughing eyes. Old Reuben Brown, whom I have known For lo ! these many years — As good a man as ever lived — Who dries the orphans' tears ; Who has a smile for old and young ; Who lives from day to day In such a way that all he meets Have nothing aught to say But good of him, this noble man, Whom I was glad to see; For when he comes, he always brings A song of cheer for me. There's sunshine in his smiling face — There's music in his voice; And when he takes you by the hand. He makes your soul rej oice. [1] He's not an educated man, As education goes. He's not a social lion bold, With latest " tailored clothes." He'd not impress the proud elite With intellectual poise ; And then he does his charities Without the slightest noise. But when you look into his face. You'll read in every line That truth and honor dwell therein — This noble friend of mine ! There's trusting friendship in his glance; There's kindness in his eye. Abiding faith dwells in his breast. With hopes — that never die. He emigrated to the West Some time in Sixty-nine ; He opened up a little ranch Out on the frontier line ; Pre-empted all the land he could. According to the law ; Recorded here his marks and brands. And lived without eclat. From year to year, as time went on. He saw his land increase. Sometimes he'd buy a " nester " out, And thus insure his peace. [2] 'When I fust cum out West — A ridrn on a ole gray hoss.'' — Page 7 Sometimes a " squatter " he'd induce To leave a " water hole." Sometimes a " drifter " would sell out, And further westward stroll. Until at last, by honest toil, His acres now expand Across a rich and fertile plain Of finest grazing land. His cattle by the thousands roam Across this good man's range. And yet he leads the " simple life " And doesn't think it strange. And so, when he comes into town, He always " happens in," To chat a little while with me. Amid the busy din Of city life and business cares. It's like the breath of spring. To hear the music of his voice — His j oily bantering. " Wall, howdy, John! I jist drapped in. As I was passin' through. To see how you're a gittin' on ; An' how life's usin' you. O' course I knowed your maw an' paw. Way back in Sixty-nine — An' so I jist drapped in a spell, Why, John, you're lookin' fine ! " [3] " Glad to see you, Uncle Reuben ! Glad you came in today. Here, have a match, and light your pipe I know it's made of clay — But somehow, when you come around, And start to tell a joke. It never seems you're talking right Until you ' start a smoke. > ?> Old Uncle Reuben lit his pipe. And sat back in his chair — Then for a while he gazed at me, While blowing rings in air. Contentment shown upon his face, A smile played round his mouth. He was an old time pioneer Who loved the Sunny South. [*] UNCLE REUBEN BECOMES REMINISCENT HE TELLS OF EARLY DAYS ON THE WESTERN RANGE THE BUFFALO " Wall, John, I swan, it beat's th' deuce To see how things do change ; An' when I stop an' gaze aroun', I most fergit th' range. Th' barbed wire fence has blocked th' trail ; We drive no longer through To Kansas like we use to cud — It seems rite funny too. " An' when I think about th' time When I fust cum out West — A ridin' on a ole gray boss That alius stood th' test — It makes th' tears cum to my eyes When I recall that ride. So many of th' boys hav' rid Acrost the Great Dee-vide. " Thar wa'n't no peepul livin' here Whar this ole town now stan's ; But only cattul roamin' wild. An' thievin' Injun bands. Out in this wild an' wooly West White folks lived fur apart — An' thar war sights which I have seen, That almost broke my heart. [7] " Yas, thar wuz lots of buffalo A browsin' on th' range. You never see one of them now, But THEN it wasn't strange To see a awful cloud o' dust A risin' in the sky, An' in a little while you'd see Th' buff'lo goin' by. " An' since you spoke of buffalo — Remember onct, I jing! When we wuz ridin' 'long th' trail We saw a funny thing. Wall! 'twa'n't so very funny though. For we war skeert to death. We saw a millyun buffalo ! That made us hole our breath. " Wall ! p'raps there wa'n't a millyun, quite But 't look't like tha was more; A hundred thousan', anyway. You'd orter heerd 'em roar ! Th' pesky things cum o'er the hills, Acrost th' ole deevide — A show that wuzn't on th' bills — Declar, I lik't t' died. " We didn't know which way to turn ; ' Buck Agar ' held us fast. We huddled up thar in a bunch. While tha went sailin' past, [8] ^^ 5^ l5 I With dust a flyin' through th' sky Long after tha wuz gone. It made my har stan' up on end, An' I jist said: 'Doggone.' " When I cum here in Sixty-nine, This land wuz open range. An' you cud find the buffalo From Toyah to La Grange. Why, I have stood upon th' hills Surroundin' Lipan Flats, An' seen th' herds of buffalo As thick as flyin' gnats. " I've seen 'em cum acrost th' plains In sich treemenjus herds ; So clos't together an' as thick, I hain't got any words With which I kin discribe th' same ; But I'll declare to you That tha wuz wedged too awful tite To let a coyote through. " 0' course their meat wuz good to eat In fact, it wuz first rate. But when we tried to ship it out, It wudn't pay th' freight. We killed 'em mostly fur their hides. But I hav seen th' time When hides wuz corded up like wood. An' wuzn't wuth a dime. [9] " O' course the cow boys hunted them O'er mountain, hill an' plain, An' then at night th' lies tha'd tell About th' number slain. An', John, I tell it fur th' truth, Though you may think it strange, I killed one day jist eighty-six Ole buff'lo on th' range. " An' thar were fellers that I know'd Cud beat that all to smash, Who made thair livin' frum th' hides Which tha wud sell fur cash. These hides were brought to Angelo, An' piled up in th' street Jist like a lot o' corded wood — I never saw th' beat. " An' thar tha staid till tha were sold To leather men up East — Thar must have bin ten thousan' hides, Not less than that at least. But times have chang'd, as all things chang'. An' whar you used to meet Th' buff'lo hunter an' his hides You'll find a nice paved street. " Fur on one Febrooary day 'Long back in Eighty-three, One of them cold blue Northers cum — A drizzlin', sleetin' sea [10] •s ^ ores Of ice wuz form'd upon th' plains, Which kiver'd all th' ground, An' not a single bite o' grass Cud anywhar be found. " Then on that day tha disappear'd. All of a suddint, like. I guess th' time had cum fur them To take thair last long hike. 'Twuz anyway th' last of 'em Out here in Concho-land ; Jist as th' time will cum fur us To seek that Better Land. " An', John, sumtimes when I reflect Upon them passin' herds. Which staid here fur a little while, Ef I jist had th' words To say th' things I'd like t' say While time is clockin' on, Tha'd teach a less'n fur us all To learn before we're gone." [11] LIFE ON THE OPEN RANGE " Our cattul roam'd upon th' plains, We had no fences then — We only went by marks an' brands — We'd lose a few, but when Th' yearly round-ups druv 'em in, We'd kinda sorta guess, An' brand th' Mav'ricks as tha cum — This made our losses less. " We didn't wear no ' broad cloth suits ' Out on this Western range. We didn't live in paluses, An' didn't think it strange. Our millyun-airs liv'd like us all, An' didn't have th' gout Frum sich rich grub we now hear'n of To burn th' stummicks out. " Thair palus wuz a blam'd ole shack To shelter frum th' cold. But mostly tha slept on th' ground In saddle blankets roll'd. Blue sky was all th' coverin' Tha got most of th' year. Thair saddle fur a piller serv'd. With cow boss hobbl'd near. [12] ?& Orcj - " Of ' mainyoo cards,' tha never herd ; Thair ' Bill O' Fare ' wuz thin — A little bacon in a pan, Sum coffee in a tin. Sum ' dog bread ' bak'd upon th' coals, Sumtimes a little * Rye ' — Jist tak'n fur th' stummick's sake — Wuz all we'd ever buy. " Yas, John, an' thar were lots o' times, 'Long in th' airly day, We didn't have a bakin' pan. Now liss'n what I say ! We'd mix our dough out o' th' sack. With taller from a steer, Then work it up in our ole ban's — You needn't look so queer ! " When it got * stifF,' we roll'd it out. An' wropp'd it round a stick ; Then hilt it o'er th' coals to bake, An' cook it dun rite quick. An' while sum one 'uz bakin' bread, Sum other'd brile th' meat, While sum biled cofFy in a can ; Then we'd set down to eat. " You talk about Delmonico's, Er Rector's swell caff ay ! Tha cudn't tech th' feast we had 'Long in that airly day. [13] When we wuz campin' on th' range 'Twuz hunger made th' sauce; An' things we had to eat, you bet, Look'd good without th' gloss. " We'd kill a beef 'most ev'ry night — The other feller's brand. We'd cook it to th' heart's delight — I tell jou it wuz grand ! An' then, when we laid down t' sleep Beneath th' deep blue sky. Our conscience didn't worry us, Ner coyotes howlin' nigh. " But when th' time fur brandin' cum Around each year, you'd see Th' cowboys comin' frum th' hills To have a jamboree. Th' eatin' then could not be beat, No whar in Boston town ; When all th' boys wuz feelin' good. An' no one das't to frown. " Them ' Mountain Oysters ' which wuz served Up in th' grandest style — Bril'd on th' coals, jist steamin' hot — Wud make a lobster smile. An' then, that other dish, by gosh, Thair's nothin' like it, quite; I'll bet I've eat ten gallons of That stew — ' heifer's delight.' [14] " We didn't take no pepsin then To make our food digest. Our stummicks were like ostriches'; An' we did not invest In any patent medicines. Th' doctors all 'ud starve Ef tha depended upon us To git a chanc't t' carve." [15] HOW A MAN WAS JUDGED " Out here we didn't judge a man By dollars in th' bank. We had no time fur * social stan',' Ner what sum called ' high rank.' But every man wuz measured by His honor, grit an' nerve; An' how he'd throw his lariat Out in a triple curve. " An' when we fust cum to th' West, We never did inquire Too clos't about a feller's name He wore back in Ohier. That other name belong'd to him — Why need it worry us ? An' ef he wished to change his brand. We didn't give a cuss. " Now let me say a word rite here — An' mind you what I say — Jist lots o' men that chang'd their names Had seen a better day. An' when tha got an equal chanc't, Out whar th' range wuz free, Tha settled down upon a claim An' prov'd thair peddygree. [16] a 2 a .2 ^ 1 1 orq " I long ago concluded, John, An' hit upon a plan ; That when a man will try to do Th' very best he can. An' thus wipe out th' past o' his'n 'Long with his tother name, We'd best let well enuf alone. An' help him boost th' game. " But when a ' cut back ' cum in camp, We'd soon discover him ; An' ef he didn't soon ' fill up,' Th' boys 'ud ' douse his glim.' We alius tried to keep th' herd Free from ' off color ' stuff ; An' all the ' sweaters ' had to git, Er we 'ud ' call ' thair bluff. Into the camp one night. All full o' * rot gut ' whiskey, an' Tried to pull off a fight. Th' boys jist let 'em have thair way — Until tha pull'd a gun — An' then tha waded into 'em. An' put 'em on th' run. " Tha didn't have th' sand an' grit To stand an' fight like men. But soon tha show'd th' * yaller streak '- An' John, you'd orter ben [17] A layln' thar whar I was bunk'd, An' heard them ' cut backs ' yell ; Our boys clean'd out th' whole shebang, An' give them ' sweaters ' — well ! " I won't say what I's goin' to say — Because sich words don't sound Jist like tha did upon th' Range, Without no wimmern 'round. But somehow we jist had to speak In that emphatik way — An' when we did, tha understood, Jist how th' ground 'ud lay." [18] DOGIES, CULLS AND CUTBACKS " Now, John, you spoke 'bout ' dogie stuff ! ' Wall, that brings back t' me A little reminiscence of Th' life — that used t' be. A ' dogie calf ' is like sum folks That we so often know. Who wander from th' narrer path An' don't knov»^ whar to go. " Remember onc't I own'd a ca'f Who's mother wasn't near, When it cum from th' beddin' ground An' follered off a steer. I tried to stop th' little fool, An' started in a lope To head it off an' turn it back. But hed fergot my rope. " Th' steer run out acrost th' range, That fool ca'f run behind, Until I got plum out o' breath An' said sum things unkind. It hadn't sense enuf to see That steer was not its maw, An' I jist laid rite down an' laff'd A hearty loud ha ! haw ! ! [19] " ' Go it ! you little fool,' I cried, A rollin' of my thumbs — ' He ain't your maw ; you'll find it Out when suckin' time cums.' It never saw its maw agin'. An' so fur want o' milk That ca'f becum a ' dogie runt,' An' tail'd ofF with its ilk. " An' I know lots o' folks today A trailin' off strange gods. A thinkin' tha air somethin' grate, A judgin' by thair nods. Who, when it gits too late to turn Back frum th' life tha'v led, Will wish that tha wuz back at home, A eatin' mother's bread. " An' thar air certain gells today Jist like that dogie ca'f. Who hav'n't got a bit more sense Than stan' aroun' an' lafF At th' cute things sum ' gilded fule ' Will say to lead 'em on — Until too late tha'll wake an' find Thair pride an' honor gone. " Yas, thar's th' ' cutbacks ' an' th' ' culls ' You'll find in every herd — No matter how you grade 'em up — I swan — I pon my word ! [20] ^' S Tha will creep in despite of all Th' care an' pains we take ; Don't make no diff 'rence how we feed — On choicest hay er cake. " I've owned some herds as fine as silk, An' tended 'em with care ; Until I thought I'd never find A ' cull ' er ' cutback ' there. But when I'd make a sale o' 'em, An' cum to cut 'em out. We'd find sum of that ' tailin ' stuff. Without a shadder's doubt. " But we have larn't as time goes on About th' peddygree — That, ' blood will tell ' in cattul herds. As well as fam-bi-lee, That we can raise a thoroughbred As cheap as ' brindle ' stuff — An' ef a few ' cut backs ' creep in, We'U sell 'em quick enuf. " I've also noticed, John, by gosh, An' larn't sum less'ns, too. By watchin' of my growin' herds. Which may sumtimes help you ; An' that is this — er this is that — Which ever way you please — That thair are sumtimes * cutbacks ' in Th' finest peddygrees. [21] " It's not confin'd to stock alone, Not by a jugful, no! But tha air ' folks ' that I've heerd of Who must put on a show. When all at onc't while sailin' high, A thinkin' tha was it. Sum ' cut back ' in thair herd 'ud clip Thair soarin' wings a bit. " But since th' rule of Nature's law Is fix't — im-pla-ca-ble — Jist like th' Medes an' Persians wuz — Ir-rec-on-cil-a-ble — I've got an idee of my own — I think's a first rate plan — Jist do th' best we can fur 'em. An' help 'em ' be a man.' " Then, ef tha don't fill up, an' grow. An' shed thair mangy hair. An' look like decent folks shud look. We hadn't orter care. An' I'll take chances when the Boss '11 tally out His herd. An' prove the marks an' bran's we've made, He won't dispute our word. " I don't keer what the Scientists say About th' ' perfect breed ' Of animals er human kind ; I don't believ' thair creed ; [2^] That we can grow perfectshun here, An' imperfectshuns rid. I've tried it nigh on sixty year — It simply can't be did." [23] THE PASSING OF THE LONG HORN " In airly days we us' t' see The ' long horn ' on th' range. We didn't have much ' blooded ' stock, An' didn't think it strange Fur steers of ev'ry shape an' size Our holdin' bran' to wear. An' THEN we didn't try to show Our big stufF at th' Fair. " But times have changed, since Sixty-nine, An' we have larn't to grow Th' baby beef that you read of, An' see down at th' show. Now Durhams an' th' Herefords take Th' place of mangy steers — Poll'd Angus Cattul drive away Th' dre'd o' hunger's fears. " Th' price o' cattul has improved. As we've improved th' breed, Jist like th' cotton, maize, er com Improves with better seed. An' as we learn from year t' year, How to grade up our herd — By stickin' clost to Nature's law — We git th' cream fur curd. [24] -ft ^ " I don't know whar it's goin' t' stop, But, John, I'll swar to you I'm dumb to gosh ef I can see Whar things is goin' to. We ust t' think eight dollars high Fur cattul on th' range, But now a steer at sixty, nigh. Don't bring enuf o' change. " I've seen th' time you cudn't give A yearlin' calf away — But land o' goshin ! tha will now Bring thirty any day. An' then a cow with suckin' caf Sold well to get fifteen. But now — tha'll bring round seventy. Although tha're lank an' lean. " ' Thar's quite a diff 'r'nce, John, you say ; Thar is that, I'll admit — But thar's a reason fur this change. You cum t' think of it. * High cost o' livin' ' figgers sum. As cattul men all know. An' ef th' price keeps goin' up, Poor folks won't have a show. " Oh, yes, economists will say — Tha alius talk by rule — That money's cheaper than it wuz When we wuz kids at school ; [26] That cows ain't wuth no more today Than back in Sixty-nine — But we know better, don't we, John? Don't eight and one make nine? " A pound o' beef's a pound o' beef Out here in this man's town. An' when it sells at thirty cents, We know 'tain't comin' down. Thar was a time when you cud buy Sir-loin fur seven cents ; Now when it sells fur twenty-five. It's needin' no comments. " An' then look at th' price o' shoes ! Tha're goin' out o' sight. I bought my gell a pare today — I didn't think it rite. But do you know th' price I paid Fur that small pare o' shoes? 'Twas fifteen dollars as I live ! I almost got th' blues. " And when I priced sum fur myself, I went up in the air; Tha wanted seven ninety-five Fur that ole brogan pair. I bought th' shoes, an' put 'em on. An' walked off down th' street A feelin' like a bloomin' fule At every friend I'd meet. [26] " But then when I got back t' hum I tried t' think it out — Wall, after all 'twas not so bad Fur me, a clumsy lout. Fur when I figger'd out th' price I'd jist got fur a steer, Th' price o' shoes was 'bout th' same, Er it cum mighty near. " An' then th' price o' saddles, too, Down at Joe Miller's shop's A heap sight more'n tha ust t' be. An' even razor strops We ust t' buy fer eighty cents Will cost you two whole bucks. That's goin' sum I'd have you know, But what's th' differ'nc'? Shucks! " We're livin' better far today Than back in Sixty-nine, With schools an' churches ever'whar A sowin' seed dee-vine. With men a mendin' of thair ways, Frum what tha ust t' be; An talkin' 'bout that Better Range That after while tha'll see. " I cum t' think of it, by gosh, I'm glad I'm livin' still. To see th' time when flowers bloom In every dale an' hill ; [27] To see our land so prosperous In these last days o' mine's Enuf t' make me glad an' gay — These grander, better times." [28] THE COMING OF THE AUTOMOBILE " Then thar's a change in trav-el-un Frum what it ust t' be. I wonder what th' boys 'ud think If tha'd come back an' see Th' way we're gittin' over ground, Out here upon th' plains? We don't ride like we ust t' did Before we built our lanes. " We tuk sich pride in bronchos then, An' rode to beat th' band. But that's all changed since airly days, Out here in Concho Land. Instead o' drivin' bronchos now. Hitched to a fambly hack. An' goin' fifty mild a day. With jist a little snack " To eat, as we went up th' trail, We go a swifter gait. An' make two hundred mild with ease — Besides, we ride in state ! Th' auto-mo-beel's cum to stay I guess, I must admit. But when th' blam'd thing fust show'd up, I lik't to had a fit. [^9] " Wliat good cud that con-trap-shun be? That's what I'd like t' know ! To any ranchman on th' range? An' how'd he make 'er go ? An' how'd he keep th' cattul frum Stamp-pee-din' to th' hills? An' how on airth'd he ever pay Th' blasted feedin' bills? " I look'd th' creetur over good, An' tried to learn th' way That it cud feed on gas-o-leen Instead o' grain an' hay. An' when th' feller at th' wheel Indooc'd me to git in, An' take a ride acrost th' plains, I smil'd a silly grin. " He pull'd a little lever out ; He push'd another in; An' then th' smoke begin to spout, Amid a awful din Of noise, like startin' of a train, Th' wheels begin to turn — An' then, you orter seen 'er go. An' I, sez I,—' Gol durn 1 ' " I didn't think it cud be dun, But that macheen made tracks Way out acrost th' old deevide. Like roarin' cat-a-racks, [30] >3 8 I Qrcj n, An' in less time than you'd be-leve We'd gone a hundr'd mild, While I jist set an' look'd aroun', An' sumtimes, lafF'd an' smil'd. " Well ! by th' time that we got home That slick tongued motor man Had talk'd me into buyin' it. I'd seen how smooth she ran. Oh! yes, he'd made it clear to me, That I must have th' thing. I'd save a thousan' ever year An' much enjoyment bring. " It was a Hudson Super-Six, Er sum sich name, he said ; An' did th' work of eighty boss, A standin' in th' shed. Yes, we cud round up cattul, too — He said that's whut he'd dun — An' we cud go a huntin' with A rapid fier gun. " Besides that, when our work was dun, The pleasure we cud see, A drivin' through th' naborhood, Er to a ' Spellin' bee.' We'd see th' folks fur miles aroun' — At least that's whut he said — An' we cud always git back home In time t' go to bed. [31] " He tole me it was cheeper far To drive than drive a hoss. That * without hitchin' ' it wood stan', An' I cud be th' boss, An' drive whurever I dum please, An' stop her * quick as wink.' An' so I ups an' bought th' thing — Before I stopt t' think. " I tuk sum lessons frum th' guy On how to run my car. An' then, I wrote him out a check Which he cud cash at par. He hung about a leetle while, An' then lit out fur town ; While I lookt like a bloomin' fule, Whose name was Reuben Brown. " Wall, after I had bought th' car, I sez to me, sez I, * Now, Rube, you'd better hitch 'er up, An' try 'er out a try.' ' I guess I will, by gosh,' sez I ; Then tightn'd up th' reins. And fork'd into th' saddle square, A smoothin' down her manes. " I call'd Jerushy Ann t' cum ; To never mind th' stew. An' git in our new drivin' hack — We'd go a mild er two. [32] So after we had all got in, I let 'er have her head; An' then my wife commenc't t' yell, ' Stop, Rube, you'll kill us dead ! ' " But I rar'd back in that front seat. With both ban's on th' wheel; I druv th' spurs into 'er sides Until I made 'er reel. We headed fur th 'open road, I kept a feedin' juice Until you'd thought ole Satan an' His imps had brok'n loos. " My wife wuz skeert purt nigh t' death ; The children thought it fun, But every time she holler'd, ' Stop,' Th' kids yell'd, ' Let 'er run ! ' Wall, when we got back home at last We sure had frighten'd her. Fur we had gone a hundred miles By that spee-dom-e-ter. " When wife an' I go ridin' out — Fur to put on a show In that new car we bought last June — I wish that you cud go Along with us, an' see th' fun. You'd split your sides t' see Th' way I holler at th' brute. An' say, ' Haw there ! — Now Gee ! ' [33] " I've owned that car about three months. I've larn't to drive 'er too ! An' so Jerushy Ann an' me Driv in here to see you. An' John, I'm tellin' you th' truth, I Hke that car jist fine, An' wouldn't swap it fur th' bronchs I druv in Sixty-nine." [34] GOING UP THE TRAIL " You want to know about ' Th' Trail '? Wall, when I cum to think About them days now past an' gone, I kinda' have to blink To keep th' dew out o' my eyes ; Fur them 'uz times you know Which tried men's souls as well as nerve, When up ' Th' Trail ' we'd go. " I've seen a lot o' hardships, John, In this long life o' mine. I've faced a lot o' dangers, too. Along th' frontier line. I've been a saddle-warmer now Fur nigh on sixty year; An' I know sumthin' of th' life Th' trail men liv'd out here. " Thar wuzn't any steam-cars then To ship our stock by rail; We cudn't take th' water route. So we went up th' Trail. Th' market wuz a long way off. An' many nights we'd lodge Whar dangers lurk'd on every hand, Frum Beeville to Fort Dodge. [35] " Mid cattul thieves an' Injun bands, Mid storms o' sleet an' cold — Fur many weeks, an' sumtimes months In our ole slickers roll'd — We'd camp out on th' open range. An' guard our cattul train. No matter what th' weather wuz. In blindin' snow, er rain. " At night we'd bed th' cattul down, Beleevin' all wuz well — Sum little thing 'ud frighten 'em, Jist what, we cudn't tell — You'd hear a beller, then a roar, No one cud intercede ; Th' whole blam'd herd was on th' run, In one great, wild stampede. " Th' boys struck spurs into their bronchs. Not waitin' fur th' word. An' flank'd th' frenzied leaders in Upon th' flyin' herd. Then more an' more tha press'd 'em back Into a circle bent. Until tha got to millin' round, Whar all thair force wuz spent. " Th' herd kept circlin' round and round, With beds up in th' air ; While clashin' horns and snortin' steers. Sure rais'd a bedlam there. [36] Jist like a rope winds round a reel, Amid a awful din Of noise you'll wanta hear but onct, Tha kep a drawin' in. " Until, at last, th' ' mill ' was form'd, Th' dangers of stampede Wuz thus brought to a sudd'n end. Thar wuz no longer need To keep th' bunch in that close herd, An' many cattul kill, So we commenct to lay our plans Fur to unwound th' ' mill.' " Cowpunchers rode up on th' flank, Then form'd into a wedge. Tha slowly work'd thair way into Th' cattul on th' edge. Then gently turn'd 'em ' tail about ' ; Th' ' mill ' was thus unwound. An' in a little while tha's back Upon thair beddin' ground. " You can't describe th' dangers of A gin-u-wine stampede Of f righten'd cattul on th' Trail ; An' sum hav never seed Th' way tha act when millin' round. But I'm right here to say That men have tri'd to break th' * mill ' Who had thair lives to pay. [37] " Ef tha got caught within th' ' mill ' 'Twas ' good-bye, Lizy Jane ' ; Fur tha'd be ground into a pulp — Both boss an' rider slain. No man caught in that whirlin' mass Cud hope fur to be saved; An' I've seen horse an' rider crush't, While all th' cowboys rav'd. " An' then, again, we'd go fur days Without a single sign Of comin' trouble anywhars ; An' then, we'd all resign Ourselves to fate an' trust to luck, But woe be unto us ! Fur quiet comes before th' storm, An' then we'd swear an' cuss. " Fur it sumtimes has seem'd t' me. Without the slightest cause That any one of us cud find. An' then without a pause, Th' herd commenct to millin' round — I never seed th' beat — While poundin' huffs an' clattr'n horns Wud scare us up complete. " Remember onct, upon th' Trail, When we 'uz short o' men ; A howlin' storm cum up at night — Thar wuz no holdin' pen. [38] Th' lightnin* flash'd, th' thunder roared; Th' beddin' ground wuz soakt ; Th' wind blow'd Hke a hur-ay-cane — Declar', I likt t' croak'd. " Our cattul got to millin' then ; Jist goin' round an' round. The lightnin' play'd upon thair horns All o'er th' beddin' ground. It wuz a fearful sight to see, An' we all helt our breath Until th' storm pass'd over us — We wuz most skeert to death. " An' then th' moon broke through th' clouds, It wuz a splendid sight, As ever I laid eyes upon — That awful stormy night. Th' boys rode round th' frighten'd herd, A singin' soft an' low, Until tha got 'em turn'd around ; Then, got 'em goin' slow. " Thar's sumthin' in the cowboy's song, Long in th' dead o' night When tha ride singin' round th' herd. That makes 'em quit th' fight. Thar's music in thair crooning notes That quiets them o' fear — Thair long, low whissel makes 'em feel Thay've got a friend that's near. [39] " We didn't lose a single hoof ; But you can bet your life, Next momin' when tha got strung out Thar wuzn't any strife Among our herd th' whole day long. Tha'd had thair little spree, So tha wuz glad enuf to rest Beneath sum shady tree. " An' thus we'd drive th' herd along Frum daylight until dark Across th' open mesa land — It wuzn't any lark ! An' then at night we'd strike our camp. An' place our guards about To keep th' herd from roamin' off — An' ef tha did — to shout. " Our * Trail Boss ' wuz a man o' brains ; A gin'ral, tried an' true. Who never shirk'd frum anything Th' whole long journey through. He'd place a man * point on th' left,' A man ' point on th' right.' Another man plac'd ' in the swing,' To keep th' herd frum fright. " And then, with ' flankers on th' right,' An' « flankers on th' left ' ; A man to bring along th' * drags,' So that thar'd be no cleft ; [40] We traveled on from day to day — A goin' up th' Trail. An' ef great dangers we 'ud meet, Our hearts 'ud never quail." [41] LAW AND ORDER ON THE TRAIL " Ole trail men won't tell all tha know, About th' things tha dun When tha 'uz going up th' Trail, Along in Eightj-one. Ner I don't sensure 'em one bit — Fur I was thar myself — An' I know things I wudn't tell Fur all yer gold an' pelf. " Fur in them days we had no law Except th' law of might. An' so, we met things as tha cum, An' did what we thought right. O' course, th' circumstances then Wuz dif-fer-unt frum now; An' we dun lots o' funny things That you might not allow. " Sumtimes we'd ketch a man, you know. While changin' up a brand, Er puttin' marks upon a steer He'd throw'd down in th' sand Which never did belong to him. An' when we did, you see, We'd try his case before Judge Lynch; Then hang him on a tree. [42] " This was th' quickest way fur us To break up gangs like that. An' when th' verdict had been read, It ended all th' chat. Perhaps, ef he'd been tried in court, He might, by chance, cum clear. But when Judge Lynch said, ' You must hang ' — 'Twas alius right — purt near. " Then, ef a sneakin' hoss-thief cum About our camp at night. An' tried to swipe our mounts frum us. We'd surely treat him rite. Th' Vig-il-an-tees — whar wuz tha ? We didn't stop to learn; We'd throw a rope acrost a limb. Then he'd begin to turn. " We'd leave him swingin' on th' tree, An' tell just why he swung. Then, ef sum other hoss-thief seen, He'd maybe not git hung. An', John, I wish to say rite here — Now mind you, what I say — I don't be-leev that even now Thay've found a better way." [43] FUN ON THE TRAIL " You mustn't think frum what I've said We nevur had no fun As we wuz drivin' up th' Trail, When our day's work wuz done. You couldn't hold a cowboy down, Once when his work wuz through; An' so at night when we'd cum in, We wuz a jolly crew. " We alius took a cook along Who would prepare our chuck ; Then if we chanct to miss our snack, Sum one 'ud * pass th' buck.' Th' boys all squatted 'round th' fire, A settin' on thair heel ; An' then when through tha'd sumtimes dance The Ole Virginia Reel. " An' then th' capers tha'd cut up ! Jist like kids out o' school. The games tha play'd, th' songs tha sung. Without a tune 'er rule. But when a tenderfoot blow'd in, Th' gobs o' fun they'd have A teachin' him to ride th' bronchs — He needed lots [44] 1/ * r 1 \ 1 f7W ■ _ \ _ / • r ■ ^ . , ' '■ '"■ ■ \ ■ 5 . . i - '_;' "\; ^ '■ ■■"--. .V,'- ;■/ ' A teachin' him to ride t/i' bronchs — He needed lots o' salve." — Page 44. THE BADGER FIGHT " One time when goin' up th' Trail, Sum greenhorns j ined our bunch ; To learn jist how th' thing wuz did; Tha didn't have a hunch Of anything th' boys 'ud do — Wall, take it straight frum me. That long before a week wuz past We'd had a jubilee. " We 'lowed we'd have a ' badger fight ' — We alius went prepar'd. A brindle bull dog with th' herd Whose snarlin' teeth jist glar'd, Wuz kept chained to a axel tree Fur pulHn' ofF th' stunt ; An' then th' boys 'ud all hike out Upon their Badger Hunt. " Tha alius found one — certain thing — An' brought him in at night. With two long trace chains 'round his neck. Fur ' badgers ' sure will fight ! We made a ring out on th' grass — What awful lies we told — About th' dangers of th' brute — An' who'd th' ' badger ' hold.? [45] " Th' boys wuz bettin' fast an' loose ; Then tha got in a fight About th' one who's goin' to hold The * badger ' good an' tite. At last when no one cud agree, Tha settled it by vote. A tenderfoot frum Yankeedom Wuz chose to be ' th' goat.' " O' course he thought that he was it. An' swelled up like a toad. He never dremp't tha's stringin' him, True cowboy, a la mode. Th' ' badger ' plac'd beneath a tub, Th' bull dog wuz brought out ; Then every cowboy rang'd around To see th' bloody bout. " And then ' Old Bull ' paw'd up th' earth. An' growl'd like a she bear. Th' man from Maine look'd up an' smil'd. As if he didn't care; Then he pranc'd up and yank'd th' chain — Wuz that th' badger growl'd.'^ Jist then th' word cum — ' let 'er go ! ' Good Lordy! how tha howl'd. " Cowpunchers yell'd an' danc'd aroun' Like tha wuz fightin' Sioux, Th' tenderfoot, with chain in han', Wuz mad, plum through an' through. [46] Th' fire flash'd out of his eyes, His face got livid red. But when he saw th' ' badger ' there - * Oh, hell ! ' wuz all he said. " O' course it wuzn't any use In him a gittin' mad. He saw th' joke wuz on him good — So he cool'd down, by dad. Th' cowboys told him that's th' way Tha broke a * greenhorn ' in. Then after while he saw th' pint, An' smil'd a silly grin." [47] THE SNIPE HUNT " 'TwAS not a great while after that, Th' boys, tha all allow'd. That maybe tha'd a snip in' go. So tha made up a crowd To hunt th' snipes one stormy night While tha uz on th' ground, An' walk'd about six mild frum camp Whar plenty cud be found. " At last tha reach'd a dandy spot, Near a big water hole. An' then begin to argify Jist whar tha'd drive th' pole To keep th' bunch frum gittin' lost — Th' night wuz dark as pitch; Fur that wuz 'bout th' only time Tha'd cum out o' th' ditch. " Th' next thing wuz — ' who'd hold th' sack We'd brought to drive 'em in? An' that same greenhorn volunteered — Th' boys begin to grin. Tha show'd him how to hold th' bag — Wide open at th' mouth. Then tha begun to scatter out — Noth -— East — an' West [48] ^^ 2: fli ■ ^ *■?'-'■' ^ ■ ^^sSi^^ ■Up****-' . ^ ^^^ r^^ ^ " Th' man we left to * bag th' game ' Wuz cautioned to keep still, An' not to move until he heerd A whissel on th' hill. Then we all started back fur camp, An' tumbled into bed — So full of lafF we cudn't sleep. But not a word wuz said. " Next mornin' long 'bout four o'clock, As day begin to brake, Th' sky got rosy in th' East, We look'd toward th' lake. An' seen our * bag man ' cumin' in — His empty sack in hand. Then we jumped up and hoUer'd out, * How many snipes d'you land ^ ' " He didn't say a single word. But stood thar like a mule. He saw that he'd been trick'd again — That he had play'd th' fool Th' second time within three days ; An' then he meller'd down, An' in a little while got up An' lit out straight fur town. " We sure did hate to see him go ; He was a nice young man. An' he'd been thar just long enuf To give his cheeks a ' tan.' [49] The boys all holler'd ' Adios ! ' As he put on his coat ; But he jist sulk'd and forked his hoss — He'd know'd he'd been ' Th' Goat.' " Wall, after many days o' toil An' hardships on th' Trail, We reach'd th' place whar we cud ship Our tired herd by rail. An' then th' boys wuz all paid off — Lord, what a jamboree Tha all 'ud have, you never saw, When tha went on a spree. " Tha'd been so long upon th' road. This saddle-warmin' trip, That when tha wuz paid off at last, Tha acted like ' Old Rip.' Thair bronchs wuz worn and tired out. When tied up to th' racks ; An' so tha had to rest an' cure The ' set-fasts ' on thair backs. " Then while thair mounts wuz restin' up, Th' boys tuk in th' town. An' thar war times I didn't know My name wuz Reuben Brown. But all sich things must have an end, An' we must soon ' turn tail,' An' make our way across th' plains Along th' backward trail. [50] " John, sumtlmes when I think about Th' trips that I have made Along th' trail in airly days — I sumtimes am afraid That thar wuz many things we dun We wudn't do today. But times have changed since Eighty-one An' I have larn't to pray. " So, ef we didn't do th' things We orter then have dun, We'll have to blame it on th' times We liv'd in, when we run Our cattul up acrost th' plains. Th' world has chang'd since then. An' we don't have to chase th' durn'd Ole cow thieves frum thair den. " I've no apologies t' make Fur things done in th' past ; I've made my peace with God an' man. An' know it's goin' to last. So I'll take chances when th' Boss Cums to round up an' brand, You'll find my name is tallied in The Herd Book of His Land." [51] THE OLD-TIME COWBOY " Excuse me, John, a little while, Until I've had my say. It seems you've got me started now ; I don't know when I may Cum in and git another chanct To finish up my tale, An' so, I want to tell about The cowboy of th' trail. " Th' cowboy of th' present day. Is dif-fer-unt, you know, Frum whut he wuz in Sixty-nine, When thar wuz buffalo. It seems to me tha disappeared 'Long with th' passin' trail. An' most o' them that we see now A steer cud never ' tail.' " His * outfit ' not elab-o-rate. But it best suited him — Ropes an' saddle, boots an' chaps, A ' cuttin ' boss that's trim. With clinkin' spurs an' rawhide quirt, Six-shooter an' a belt, An' then a pair o' saddle bags His other trinkets belt. [5a] tfc.^ 5 a - g-A^ 1 ^ V n i 1 1 1 ^'^■^^-N. !■ ^ ^^W^ 1 " Sombrero an' a woolen shirt, Red kerchief 'round his neck, Morale to feed his ridin' mount — When oats he had, a peck. A slicker, blanket wrapped up in, Tobacker an' a pipe, A pair o' breeches made o' jeans. On which his knife he'd wipe. " He never put on any * dog,' Despised all kinds o' show — He slept beneath th' clear blue sky, Mid cattul's peaceful low. He liv'd upon th' open range. An' lov'd th' great outdoors — He never cud be satisfied When sleepin' on th' floors. " With clearest eye, an' nerves o' steel. He knew no kind o' fear — With friendly glance, an' honest smile, A welcum glad to hear — W^ith open arms he'd take you in, Deevide with you his chuck ; An' let you sleep in his shakedown Ef you wuz out o' luck. " He lived a kinder silent life. Alone, upon th' plains. He didn't know jist how to shirk, Ef he had any pains. [53] In desert storms of alkali, In blindin' rain er sleet, Each day an' night wuz on th' job; An' never knew defeat. " He didn't know much o' th' ways Tha did things here in town. Ner much about th' wimmin folks — He hadn't settled down. But ef it ever fell to him To take one o' thair parts, An' shield 'em frum a sudden harm His eyes uz flashin' darts. " He didn't care a snap fer life. But held it cheap as dirt. An' lots o' times I've seen him lafF When with grim death he'd flirt. He, to his Boss, wuz true as steel, Wuz with him, right er wrong; He'd lay his life down at his feet, An' do it with a song. " The cowboy in my day liv'd hard - Shot quick, I will admit — But when he died, he'd face th' foe. An' never slink a bit. To serve his boss wuz his chief aim, An' see that when th' herd Wuz tallied up at brandin' time, It tallied with his wurd. [54] " Yes, every cowboy lov'd his mount — He calPd 'em each by name — An' never would he part with 'em Fur gold, er pelf, er fame. He lived with 'em, an' slept with 'em — An' when he whisseld, low, Tha'd leave th' grass upon th' range, An' to his side tha'd go. " You talk 'bout bosses bavin' sense — Tha have that, an' to spare ; Why, I've seen bosses that I've owned No feller'd ever dare To strike er kick when I wuz 'round. I'd bust his blasted head — Fur tha war smarter 'n any boss In arry book I've read. " Why I've owned ' cuttin' ' bosses, John, No man cud ever buy. In round-ups er in brandin' time. You'd orter seen 'em try An' show th' boys what tha cud do. Jist let 'em have thair head. An' tha wud sure bring out that steer, Er 'else tha'd drop down dead. " Tha know'd th' game as well as me — What's more, tha lik'd it too — An' when th' boys forked on thair backs, Tha know'd ther's work to do. [55] You cudn't work one of 'em down Ef you wud ride all day, An' 't seem'd like when you'd speak to 'em, Tha'd know jist what you'd say. " An' so th' cowboy an' his hoss Together liv'd and died. An' sumtimes when we'd bury 'em. We'd place 'em side by side. An' I've no doubt in t'other world. When I git on th' range, I'll find th' hoss an' cowboy there — Ef not, I'll think it strange. " Tha work'd together, true an' square An' shared each other's lot ; Tha liv'd out in th' wind an' rain. An' thought, as like as not, About how good it wuz fur 'em A livin' thar alone, An' how tha wudn't trade thair stand Fur kings upon a throne. " But now they've almost pass'd away — Th' range is breakin' up — An' as thar's no more work to do, Tha will no longer sup Thair coffee outen of a tin — Unless it's up above, Whar round-ups an' the brandin' time Are butt'er'd o'er with love. [56] " Excuse me, John, I can not help A sheddin' of a tear. Th' cowboy wuz my steadfast friend, I look down at his bier — I see what most folks now can't see. Because they never know'd Th' cowboy of th' airly day, An' all th' good he sow'd." [57] WOMEN OF THE WESTERN RANGE MOTHERS AND WIVES " Wall, John, I've talked so much about Cowpunchers an' thair mounts. About th' cattul herds an' trails, With other things that counts So much, when speakin' of th' life Our peepul liv'd out here. That you may think I've overlook'd. The one thing prized most dear. " I've saved th' best things fur th' last, Th' same as cake an' pie. Th' wimmern folks have play'd thair part Out whar th' Great Plains lie. Tha've play'd it, too, in sich a way To make men proud of 'em, Fur tha hev seen th' wild stampede No livin' man could stem. " Hence, I must say a closin' word. An' proper credit give To them brave souls upon th' Range — So few of 'em still live — Who sacrificed an' toil'd an' slav'd 'Long in th' airly day ; Who waited fur us to cum home Until th' moon wuz gray. [61] " Who never murmur'd, nur complain'd At what thar wuz to do, But buckuld down upon th' job Th' whole long season through. Th' wimmern of th' Frontier Days, God bless 'em every one — While men ud work th' whole day through, Thair work wuz never dun. " Th' sacrifices which tha made Long in th' airly days — No human tongue cud ever tell; An' tha wud sure amaze Your wimmern of th' present time To larn what tha went through. Fur tha have surely dun th' things Which made these plains fur you, " To bloom an' blossom as th' rose; Fur whar our cities stand, Tha blaz'd th' way, with sobs an' tears, To make a ' Promised Land.' Tha went with us out on th' plains. Away from kith an' kin. To face th' hardships waitin' thar, A-helpin' us t' win. " Tha left th' luxuries of home. To make thair home with us. Tha said good-bye to all thair friends Without th' slightest fuss. [62] S (-5 Qrq I Tha chose th' hardships waitin' thar, Without a sign o' fear O' dangers lurkin' all around, Without a nabor near. " Tha made thair home in sum ole shack Not fittin' fur a dog To live in, when we fust begun. With, sumtimes, an ole log To make a bench to set upon ; Thair furniture wuz rough, With mighty little of it, too ; Thair livin' sure wuz tough. " But what tha lack'd in fine display, Tha sure made up in grace — Fur everything seem'd like a home In that furlorn ole place. It takes a gentle female touch To make a home fur man In city fair, upon th' plains, Er whar th' Conchos span. " It's not so much th' wealth you've got That makes fur you a home; But it's th' joy an' sunshine thar, No matter whar you roam. That humble shack upon th' plains. So far from human ken, Becums a mansion fill'd with bliss, Ef love is thar fur men. [63] " Whar faith is found in large supply — Wimmern's sweetest leaven — Sweeter words can ne'er be found than Mother — Home — an' Heaven. So, ef we had no luxuries Within our lowly shack, It wuz made up in other things, Whar love wuz never slack. " Sumtimes, when I reflect upon What wimmern folks went through Out here upon th' Western Range, An' how tha had to screw Thair courage to th' stickin' pint, An' then hold on by grace, It makes me feel so proud of 'em I want to hide my face. " An' ef thar's any shinin' stars In heaven fur a crown, I want to see 'em wear 'em all. Please hear me — Reuben Brown. E'en then thar won't be haf cnuf, Fur tha desarve lots more To pay 'em fur th' life tha led, True hearted to th' core. " Our wimmern were th' bravest souls That ever liv'd er died. Tha cheer'd us in our gloomy days \ All hardships tha defied. [6*] Fur comfort, luxury, an' ease, Tlia didn't care a cent. But put thair shoulders to th' wheel An' great assistance lent. " Then what tha sufFer'd in them days From longin' thoughts of home ! So fur away from lovin' friends, Awa}^ from church an' dome Whose bell told when the Sabbath cum Tha never seem'd to mind, But liv'd thar in thair lonely shack. So brave, an' true, an' kind. " Tha giv us courage to fight on Our battles with a vim. Th' way wuz lonesum, an' th' road Sumtimes wuz awful dim. But when we'd look into thair eyes, Thar courage we wud find, Which giv us strength to battle on Mid hardships undefin'd. '* You talk 'bout wimmern bein' weak, An' needin' help t' stand; You talk about 'em lackin' nerve, When tha must take a hand In sumthin' needin' to be dun ; Now that's all bosh, by jing! I've seen th' time a man 'ud quail. While tha ud lafF an' sing. [65] " Th' weaker vessel she may be In sum things, I'll admit, But when you put her to th' test — I've seen her take th' bit Rite in her teeth, an' gallup off Whar sum men wudn't ride; Th' bravest soldier in th' bunch — That wuz th' cowman's bride. " Then, when th' ' woman's hour ' cum, Away out on th' plains. Without a doctor livin' near To ease her of her pains, I've seen her grit her pearly teeth While layin' thar alone. Until a babe lay in her arms. Her suff'r'n' to atone. " This is th' kind o' wimmern, John, Who settled in th' West. This is th' kind o' mothers, too, Who have our children blest. Tha left thair impress on thair sons. Upon thair daughters, too ; An' that is why we're proud of 'em - That's why I'm proud o' you. " Your mother wuz as sweet a gell As ever liv'd er died. I know'd her when a little tot. Law! How her mammy cried [66] -4' ^ ~ 5 5=: Qrq 2r rs c^ Ki a> i^ When she wuz married to your paw, An' moved out on th' range — So fur away from home an' friends, It surely did seem strange, " Fur she's been rais'd so tenderly, Mid luxury an' ease. Her mother didn't think she'd suit A cowboy, ef you please. But thar, she wuz mistaken, John, Fur she went rite to work An' did th' things upon th' ranch Which men ud sumtimes shirk. " That little jewelled hummin' bird Becum an eagle bold — With wings spread out upon th' plains As bright as burnished gold. Protected all her broodlings thar; An' taught 'em, in th' fear Of Him who guarded thair young lives An' held thair honor dear." [67] DAUGHTERS AND SWEETHEARTS Wall, when our kids wuz big enuf To send away to school, We sent 'em to sum college town Whar tha cud learn by rule Th' things we cudn't teach 'em here, Fur I am proud to say We wanted 'em to know th' things Which wud help us sum day. Remember, when our oldest gell Got big ennuf t' go Away t' college, fur t' lurn What other gells shuld kno. We sent her up t' ole Bryn Mawr, In Pennsylvania State Whar she culd git th' best thar wuz. As good, at any rate. So, after she'd been thar awhile, An' studied all th' brands. She got acquainted with th' herds That cum frum other lands. I guess she class'd up purty well Frum what her teachers wrote — I sure wuld like t' seen 'em, when Tha tried t' git her goat. [68] You see, she'd liv'd upon the range, An' rode out in th' sun, A takin' exercise all day — Just like th' cowboys dun — Until she got so strong and stout, 'Twud make you lafF t' see Th' way she'd pick her muther up. An' lay her 'crost her knee. " She'd larnt t' ride so doggone well While lopin' o'er th' plains That I wuz skurt purt nigh t' death Th' way she helt th' reins. She'd saddle any bronch we had, Then fork upon his back, An' rope a steer as quick as wink. Without a bit o' slack. " I tell 3"ou, we wuz proud o' her. Fur thar wur lots o' times She'd do a cowboy's work all day, An' save me lots o' dimes. I didn't think it hardly rite Fur her to work like that ; But she 'ud lafF, then off she'd go, A-wearin' my ole hat. " Then, too, her nerves seem'd made o' steel. Fur she cud shoot a gun, An' bring a hongry coyote down While he wuz on th' run. [69] She seem'd to kinda like sich sport — An' she grew strong and trim. She had a perfect Venus form In body, arm, an' limb. " 0' course her cheeks and hans wuz tann'd Unto an olive hue. But when she'd look up in your face. With eyes of bluest blue, You didn't seem to mind th' tan, Fur she had in that look A winsum smile you never seen In any story book. " So when she went away t' school. We mis'd her like th' deuce — An't seem'd like every boss we had Wuz tryin' to break loose. Tha seem'd to miss her much as us ; So did th' cowboys, too. An' fur a time th' whole shebang Wuz dad burn'd awful blue. " She'd w^rite to us three times a week, An' when her letters cum, Cowpunchers all ud gather round Until you'd hear a hum Jist like a hive o' swarmin' bees. At all th' things tha'd say — When she wud write about th' stunts Th' other gells ud play. 110} »=: ;a-. Orq " She'd tell about her studies, and Th' way tha taught up thar. She'd tell about athletics, and Th' pole vault and th' bar. She'd tell about th' tennis games, Th' basket ball, an' golf Until I thought I'd have to send Fur good old Doctor Rolf. " One day another letter cum, A-tellin' us th' news About her school, and books an' things. Along with her own views — In which she said, 'mong other things : * I'm workin' with a zest. But everything considered, maw, I like my gym th' best.' " Wall, then her grandma bristled up. As mad as a wet hen. * Now who is Jim, I'd like to know.? An' what, an' whar, an' when, Has she got time to fool with boys? An' what's he doin' thar? You tell her ef he don't make tracks, I'll pull his mangy bar. " ' Rube, write an' tell that gell, fur me. To swat that puppy love ; To let her mind be centered on Th' nobler things above ; [71] To tell that Jim to hunt new range — We ain't got none to spare — Er I'll cum up to ole Bryn Mawr An' give his hoss a scare. " ' You tell her that her grandma says To let young men alone ; To git her less'ns like she ought, An' not to be a drone ; That she must not take up her time A-foolin' round with Jim. She'd heap sight better try an' lam Sum ole long meter hymn. " * You tell her that she'd better watch Th' range she's ridin' through; Fur ef she sees a "Mavrick " thar, It don't belong to you. An' ef a " sleeper " she shud find, She mustn't brand it " Jim " ; This makin' love is all a farce — Tell her to dodge that limb.' " Her ole grandma wuz sure work'd up Until our gell writ back An' said, th' joke wuz all on us ; She cudn't tell a whack. Fur * gym ' stood fur gym-nasi-um, Whar ac-ro-bat-ic stunts Wuz taught to all, an' healthy folks Wuz made of all th' runts. [72] " Ag'in she writ, another time, That she had led her class. Had been elected president — Our little ' dogie ' lass ! Tha'd also made her cap-i-tan Of sum athletic team; It made me feel so blam'd stuck up I almost had to scream. " Th' time fur graduation cum. She'd led her class right through Four years of study an' hard work, Jist like we wisht her to. So when she writ she wanted us To see her graduate. We got so anxious fur th' time We cudn't hardly wait. " Her maw an' grandma an' her paw Got on th' kivered cars With winders in 'em on th' sides — We didn't mind th' jars — An' went to see th' show pull'd off In that fur Eastern town. Fur we wuz proud as we cud be Of our sweet ' Bessie ' Brown. " Tha had a great procession, John, Of all th' graduates; Tha march'd down in a double file With gells from all th' states, [73] All dress'd in white an' neat as pins — I tell you tha look'd fine — While we wuz strainin' of our eyes To see that gell of mine. " At last I seen her with th' herd, An' told her maw to look An' see how proud she walked along, While my old body shook With pride an' pleasure at the sight ; She wuz a thoroughbred, An' best of all, which tickled me, Wuz that her class she led.. " I said : * Look, Maw, at little Bess, Th' finest yearlin' thar.' She cudn't see th' gell at all. An' I said : ' Wall, by gar. Look at that gell with shinin' eyes A-walkin' with a hep, Th' only one in that great herd . . Who is a-keepin' step.' " 'Twuz then a woman turn'd around — She'd heerd th' things I said — An' handed Maw her ole spy glass: ' Look at that gell, ahead.' Maw put th' glass up to her eyes — I give a nudgin' jolt. An' laffin', to th' woman, said: ' Old Blaze don't know her colt.' [74] We never loiiz ashamed of 'em In tow7i, er city school.'' Page 75 " Wall, that's th' kind of wimmern, John, We rais'd upon th' plains — Mothers, wives, and daughters all. With red blood in thair veins. We never wuz ashamed of 'em In town, er city school. Tha'd class a ' top ' all o'er th' earth. By any kind o' rule. " Th' trainin' which tha got out here Wuz hard, I will admit. But when th' drillin' time wuz past, Tha all wuz proud of it. Fur show me whar, in all th' land. More perfect wimmern grow Than what you see upon th' range With faces all aglow. " Th' strength of youth is in thair limbs ; Th' smile of peace an' joy Shines from thair eyes, so full o' hope. Without th' least alloy; Sweet innersence shines in thair face; A trustin' heart serene. — Th' mothers, wives, an' sweethearts, John Ring down th' closin' scene." [75] THE END OF THE TRAIL THE END OF THE TRAIL " Wall, John, I must be mos'y'n' on. I've been hope up a heap A spinnin' of my little yams, Until you're most asleep. But sumhow, when I git strung out, A driftin' t'wards th' line, I jist can't keep frum thinkin' back On this ole life o' mine. " Fur everything I us'd to see 'Long in the airly day, Th' life which then we us'd to live Has sung its solemn lay. Th' range has chang'd, th' scenes have chang'd, Th' folks have chang'd as well — An' in a little while you'll hear 'Em ring my fun'ral knell. " Gone is th' ole time buffalo ; Gone is the open range; Gone is th' cowboy an' his mount. Gone — everything — how strange ! Gone is th' old bald eagle, too, Wild turkey an' th' deer; Th' stingin' lizard's 'bout to go, Th' horn'd toad, too, I fear. [79] " Gone is th' antelope an' bear, Th' Injun with his bow; Th' centipede an' praire dogs, Out here no longer grow. Th' rattlesnake an' cotton tail Now occupy thair holes ! Th' coyote gives a lonesum howl As progress onward rolls. " Gone is th' ole time pioneer, Who early blazed th' way. An' opened up th' trail fur you Who live this better day. Gone air th' faces I onct knew Who settled in th' West — An' soon I will be goin', John, To my last, long sweet rest. " I'm pretty near the great trail's end, Th' trail th' sun goes down, I'm passin' o'er th' last Deevide But thar ain't nary frown ; Th' valley land is jist ahead, Whar sparklin' waters flow. An' whar th' grass is nice an' green. An' shall forever grow. " The taller weeds an' browsin' brush Air growin' on th' hills. Th' shade is fine, th' grass is sweet, Down near th' flowin' rills. [80] mmf^,- y s. An' everything is jist to suit A cattul man like me Upon th' new an' wondrous range Which I can plainly see. " An' now I hear th' mockin' birds A singin' with a trill, While other birds make music in Th' trees out on th' hill. An' everything is lovely, John. It seems that I most sail ! Ah yes ! Now I know what it is — Th' endin' of th' Trail. " Out thar's th' Grand Ole Cap-i-tan, A ridin' in * th' swing,' With ' pointers ' on th' left an' right, An' * flankers ' who will bring Th' ' dogie drags ' all into camp — Oh ! what a wondrous sight ! Behold ! The Last Grand Round-Up, in Th' Valley of Delight." [81] q. '.-•i^jJS^.' r.^ "ht, -.^ V*' .*lo^ /%. V ^ - - . a\ ^-f^ ' • • • «U SIM A^ * '^^ft*'^*' ^ , ^ ♦ Jfij ^> _« •^^