The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-14
STANDING UNDER THE MOOSE.
a. Herdsman's Life Saved by His Wife's Let
tiers from Home.
Denver News. i

/
In d recent case iii the recorders court At
torney J. W Donovan told the following story
1t halls from Texas:
On hot day III July, 1860 q herdsman was
moving his cattle to O. new ranch further
north, near Helena. Texas. and passing dow
the banks OF a stream his herd became mtxet
with other cattle that we're grazing In the
valley, and some Of them failed to be sepa
rated. The next day about noon band q
about dozen mounted Texan rangers over
took the herdsnan and demanded their cat
tie, which they said were stolen.
1t was before the day Ct law and court
| houses In Texas, and one had better kill five
men than steal q mule worth 49, and tbs
| herdsman knew it, He tried to explain but
they told him to cut 1t short. He offered &c
turn over all the cattle not his own. but they
laughed at the proposition, and limited that
they usually conttscated the whole herd and
| left the thief hanging on u tree as a warning
to others III like cases.
| The poor fellow was completely overcome
! They consulted apart for few moments and
| then told him Ii he had any explanation to
make or business to do they would allow him
| ten minutes to do SO and defend himself.
He turned to the rough faces and com
| meneed:
How many Of you have wivesl'' Two or
three nodded. How many of you have chill
dren?" They nodded again.
Then know who ! am talking to and
you'll hear me- and he continued II never
over three years. | came from New Hamp-
shire; failed In the fall of 81, during the
panic: have been saving: / have no home
here; my family remain East, for [ go from
place to place; these clothes wear are rough
and am hard-louking customer but this
is hard country; days seem like months to
me, and months like years: married men. you
know that but for the letters from home
there he pulled out handful Of weli-wo
envelopes and letters from his wife)-I should
get. discouraged. I haye paid part of my
debts. Here are the receipts. and he unfolded
the letters OF acknowledgement. | expected 10
cell out and go home in November. Here is
the testament my good old mother gave me-:
here 1s my little girls picture. and he kissed
1t tenderly and continued. "Now. men. If
you have decided to kill me for what am in
nocent of send these home, and send as much
rs You can from the cattle when I'm dead.
Cant you send half the value? Ny family
will need It,"
Hold on, now; stop right thar" said a
rough ranger "Now say. boys" he con-
tinued, II say, let him go. Give US your hand
old boy. that picture and them letters did the
business. You can go free, but you're lucky.
mind We"
"We'll do more than that" said a man with
big heart, u Texan garb and carrying the
customary brace Of pistols In his belt; lets
buy bis cattle here and let him co.
They did, and when the money was paid
over and the man about to start he was too
weak to stand. The long strain of hopes; and
fears. being away from home under such try
ing circumstances, the sudden deliverance
from death had combined to render him help
less as q child He SANK to the ground com
left on horseback for the nearest staging
route. and, as they shook hands and babe hin
good-by, they looked the happisst band OF
men ever saw.