The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-10-16
THE HERD-BoY OF THE PRAIRIEs.

them were reared and educated in Nebraska;
| but enough Of this.
| THE HERD-BoY OF THE PRAIRIEs.
~ Now, shall tell you about the herd boy of
Nebraska? | am sure he is a character of suffi-
| Gent Importance to be noticed. His life must
| De a lonely one. The average herd boys age is
| about fourteen years. They go out with the
nero a little after sunrise, on the broad, rolling
prairie; sometimes three and four miles from
| any house. AS you travel over the country you
often see the large herd feeding lazily along the
brow of the hills and the herd boy sitting on
his indolent-looking Indian pony, with his long
Whlp In hand; and it is astonishing to see with
what precseness they can use their whips. If
one or more OF the cattle attempts to leave the
| herd, the boy draws the reins on his pony and
| starts in full gallop after them. The would.be
| funaways knowing that the only place for shell
ter to them is in the centre of the flock turn and
rush back with all possible speed to the other
cattle, and thus escape the lash,
Going out on the prairie several miles one day
| saw large herd within half mile of the road
concluded would have little chat with the
herd boy, 50 pulling my pony around TO 20 in
the direction of the herd found he had no de-.
sire to crafty my wish. However ,...Juraged
nm with little moral suasion," attached to
the heel of my left boot, and was soon with
The herd boy. ! give it as my opinion that he
would be puzzle to news reporters; a hard
case to interview. Ask him one question, and 4
without answering it, he will ask you three
Forinstance, asked GLOW many cattle have
you in your herdr To which he said, dun
no, what's your name mister? How long have
you been here and how do ye like it,?
1t was SO in every attempt made with him ID
for asked again, "Where do you live?' He
replied, Gross yandcr, where did you come
from? Vast good ways from here, and where
did We get yer pony ~ | had no more to saw
put left him alone with his own reflections
Looking back after had gone some distance,
observed the herd still quietly feeding, the DO.
ny without rider, and the boy tumbling over,
and over, in the long green prairie grass, no
earth.
AT san set the herd boy drives his flock TO the
owners farm, and they are enclosed in the ''cor-
rail-, and his days work is done The average
wages OF the herd boy is about SIP per month,
with boarding, etc. To the youthful reader /
seem to you, take my advice, never be herd
boy Not that such labor is disgraceful, but it
must be very tiresome to one of tender yeas.
THE INDIANS.
The Indians we must not forget. We have
them very frequently in our midst, though there
are none living in this immediate locality. Al.
though it is claimed that those living here are
civilized, yet few Of them indicate that such is
the case Many of them still adhere to their
heathenish customs and notions. | have no pol.
icy to offer for the government of this race of
people, though am still strongly inclined TO
think the best way to treat them is, to apply the
golden rule" There is a very strong prejudice
here against them The first settlers had more
or less trouble with them, and it will require
several more years to remove, or rather to bury
the Ratchet
AN ENCOUNTER WITH RLDSKiNS.
| must tell about an encounter had with two
Indians. Afew weeks ago riding out on one bean
tiful morning, some distance from town, | saw
two men on horseback Off TO my right, making
towards me at rapid rate. AS they came near /
saw they were Indians. What could | dop |
observed they were terribly excited. well
knew escape was impossible, and so l cndeav.
ored to look composed, as they rushed up to me.
They were great, tall, beny, muscular looking
fellows. They stopped me, and with one on either
side of me, began their jabbering. Their eycs
seemed almost to flash with fire. Besides
their long glittering knives, and rcvolvers in
their belts, theirpanted faces, Indian costumes
and wild gestculations, rendered our meeting,
10 me, quite exciting. All could understand Of
their conversation addressed to me, or each other
was, ugh umph major; ponce, ponce, wa
wa-po-nee, ka-ka, po-nec!"
One of them pointed to the creek and piece
of timber near by, and jabbered something to
the other. Then of course l knew what thew
meant to do. They would take my pony and
effects, and leave me in the creek, in such man.
ner that would not be able to seek any revenge.
then make their escape. Iquickly turned my
head in the hope Of seeing some one on the road
but no one was near. / could see Table Rock ~
could see the beltry on our school house; yes,
could see the roof on my own dwelling Icould
hear the hum of wheat thrcsher in the distance,
the screechng of the steam whistle OH the A.
and n. X. r., the song of the prairie bird
could see the bright ard glorious orb of day,
rising in majesty over me ; the beautiful land.
scape before me; but could see no friends to res
cue me from my savage captors. But Judge of
my joyful surprise in another moment they are
bounding over the prairie through tall, wild
grass and bushes leaving me all alone with my
puzzled reflections. | learned the same day
what the trouble was with those two Indians
They had been visiting some friends and on re-
turning two valuable ponies had got away from
them the night before, and they were searching
correspondent | saw one of the same Indians
yesterday, going west on stage.
PALpITATIoN OF THE HEART-Nor FRIGHT
Now dear reader, l expect you think that
when was wcdged in between those two Indl.
ans, away out of the reach of human help, that
| was awfully scared. Well, never mind any.
thing more about the Indians. | will confess
however, that that organ within me, with which
man loves, and hates, seemed to perform its
functions (rapidly too) in my throat or near
that locality.
Twill now tell you something about
THE HOUSES WE LIvElN.
They build houses here out of stone wood,
and brick; material of course is the same that
is used in any part of our country. In the coun.
try we have dug outs q few, cabins few, box
houses many, framed houses a few, and now
ana then one seesa very substantial brick or
stone. In our towns we have mostly framed
houses, with few brick ones here and there.
But in regard to design VIC have everything.
People coming here from all parts of this and
other countries, and building every man ac.
cording to his own notion and ability makes
buildings have varied look. In regard TO paint.
ing buildings, all seem to be of the same mind.
White lead is most always used, with nothing
added save the oil, Hence, as a rule YOU sec
nothing but white houses. A 'dugout," is a
hole dug in the ground on the side of a hill
walled up probably two or three feet above
ground. If the owner be rich, he will cover
it with single roof, with window in each
end; if he be poor or stingy, he will cover ~
with hay and sods, with "oulets" in each END
A box house is like frame house, to all al
pearancc, after it is finished. The difteFenJ
is, it has no frame in it.
There are some very elegant houses here
both in country and in town, but have seen
but few houses in design and finish exactly
like your houses in Hartford, though | now
call to mind one will m.aton 1t is the
home of Ex-Governor Butler, near PaGnee City,
the house in which he lives. 1t is almoss nre
ciselv like the new and beautiful house built by
Mr. Lee A. Maguess, near Emmorton. Not
only are their dwellings alike, but the gentle.
men themselves are quite similar, at leas4 in
the cordially with which they greet their friends
and make them welcome to their hospitablc
homes. The Elk Governor has 200 acres of
beautiful, rich, rolling land, and hundreds of
cattle. He seems to enjoy, very much, farm
life, after serving as chief magistrate of the
State for two terms. More anon
LATE OF FALLsToN.