Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-08
THE "COw BOYS"
BY A MISSIONARY IN NEBRASKA.


boys" will be interesting to the readers of
the Congregationalist. Their occupa.
ton gives them the name. Eastern
stock men have "bunches" Of cattle,
having from one to five hundred head in
herd. These run at will over range Of
two to five hundred square miles, but
men are employed to stay with them. to
look after the sick ones, to find the best
grazing prairies, to salt them and drive
these vast herds to the river for water.
There are numerous herds, and some
times from fifty to sev,nty.fve herders,
or COW boys, will be together during a
season.
Now, who are tn csc cow boys: Where
do they come from: Fathers, mothers,
many Of them come from your homes.
Many parent receiving letters from a
son who is out West, and who, you think
is engaged in some special business-is
instead, one Of our cow boys. 1t is an
honorable work, though the associations
are sometimes bad, but not so of neces-
si,y. | found at the Round up" which
| was on last November, young man
who had taken one season Of lectures pre-
paratory to entering the ministry. An
other young lad had stolen money from
his mother to crafty an ambition, Gre
ated by reading trashy novels, to come
West and become a second Western he
70, and on reaching Nebraska with mon
ey all gone, hired out as a COW boy.
Their chief pastime is playing cards, and
when they can get it, drinking whiskev.
They live in the saddle, except in winter
when the Y live in tents, much as their
herdsmen.
Now these are mostly young men.
They are not all bad they are most Of
them from the Eastern Sunday schools.
They are now prodigal sons, they are
"among swine" bu, they often turn long
ing thoughts towards the days OF their
past innocence and sobriety. They have
heart. The only question is, how to
reach that heart and this is part of a
home missionary's work, and am glad
to be able TO say that there are instances
of its being done.
Last November | went by invitation
of Mr.. -, stock man of Nebraska,
to the Round up" At a certain time
in the spring and fall, by agreement, all
the cattle ranging over, say, eight or ten
counties, are driven TO certain p.airie.
At the Round ups" owners separate
their herds, brand the young calves,
count their stock, and receive reports OF
their dead and missing from their herders
or COW boys. After this is done, the va
rious punches are then driven off in va
rious directions for another six months
grazing by their respective COW boys.
This is also time of hiring herders and
Of paying up for past services. Il re-
9uires about four weeks to round up.
| became well acquainted with the lcildest
COW boys on that trip. All my old law
yer love for studying human nature had
fine field for exercise, and as am a
social being went into the very thick
est of the human side Of these men.
One Of their greatest accomplishments
is the precision of pistol shooting, and
ringleader among these boys-"Ele-
phant," they call him-said to me one
evening after the days tallying was done,
Il suppose now you are in the work of
peace the gospel you never use pis-
tol." "Well, Elephant" said, 81 have
no special need to use pistols now, but il
there was occasion | might use one"
Are you good shot - he asked. 90"
said |, 81 am out Of practice. | used to
be counted able to hit good large
board" He asked me if | would shoot
a few shots with him. | told him,
with pleasure. He fixed up an en-
velope on stake as target. Now il |
had ever won renown it has been as a !
pistol shot, and admit little nervous
ness as well as pride in this challenge.
| did not want TO be beaten before those
boys, for TO them it would mean loss of
respect, and was there to win their re-
spect and confidence.
Well, Elephant took the first shot,
making good line shot. He had been
drinking and was somewhat nervous.
then went up to the stake, and placing
an old postage stamp on it, told Ele-
plant that | was going to try and hit
that stamp, and did hit it in the CEN
ter. This won the respect of those COW
boys, and Elephant said, Boys, next
time we 60 into - we will 60 into
Mr.. 5 church. All" he said, 81
used to go, but it is now ten years since
have been inside church"
Now, perhaps some one will say of
this, Wrong, decidedly wrong; a min
ister should engage in such pastime."
But let me tell you the result of this case.
Last spring these boys were in -.
Elephant was with them, and on Sab
bath night who should walk into our
church but FIVE of these cow boys, headed
BY elephant thing unprecedented in
-. And, to shorten this history,
Elephant was induced to give up herding
come to - and go to work at his
:rade, that Of blacksmithing. A "chum"