The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-18
For TnE ARKANsAw TRAVELLER.
 LIFE IN TEXAS.
BY FRANK DRAKE.

There are many stories "going the rounds of the press concerning the Lone Star state, telling-or at least attempting to tell-how unciviliz.d the natives are but, of course, most of them are false. It is not my object to slander my native state, although can truthfully say that Texas is " a regular daisy" No matter what kind of business a person may en- gage in, the natives, as general thing, will take no interest in Ii whatever unless COWS, horses, six shooters, daggers, and such other things, are connected with the enterprise.
 The clergyman starves to death in Texas, unless he amuses himself by the innocent sport of robbing stages after old Sol has gone to roost.
 A prohibitonist couldn't live in the glorious cowboy state fifteen minutes without having the golden opportunity of packing buckshot and bullets around with him; but, mlnd you, they would be under his skin during ali that time. Now probably you have faint idea why Texas is about the only state in the union that isn't over-run with temperance lecturers.
 There is hardly half-dszen successful Sunday-schools in the state. have travelled nearly all over Texls, but, ac- tually, haven't seen but one Sunday school on a boom. But, kind reader, please do not be under the impression that the scholars went to receive the benefit of the LHrd. Oh, no! They only went to receive the benefit of the prizes that were offered for the one who would attend the most regular during the season. But just try to guess what the prizes were. We'll, I'll tell you, but know you won't believe it. They were a British buli-dog revolver and a COW boys rope, made of horse-hair. This is the only way that the servants of the Lord could possibly induce the children of the town to attend the good school regu- larly. Alter prizes were offered nearly all the boys went to Sunday school about as regularly as could be expected. Every thing worked all right then. Just before the close of the school, Bill Jones was notified that he would become ownet of the pistol, and Tom Smith was also told that the fancy hair-rope would be his, and both boys were requested by their teacher "a handsome maiden of 52 sum- mers) to write piece of poetry about their present, and read it to the audience on the night of the close of the Sunday school. When the long hoped for night came a geod crowd was present. When the two boys received their presents and several songs had been sung, the super intendent of the arrangement called Bill Jones up to platform and told him to read his manuscript. Finally Bill ducked his head to the audience and blabbed out:
 "Yer know Miss Georgie told me and Tom to git up something or ruther about our presents. We'll, listen now, here's all the poetry could write. Here she goes:
 See this British bulldog in my hand With it expect to demand all the chink T
 some man owns,
 And if he don't shuck out I'll chill the mar
 Ter in his bones. As you all know I'm good boy
 And we'll deserve this innocenttsy, guess I'll have to bid you all good night As I'm anxious to have fight"
 And with flourish with his pistol the young terror jumped off the platform.
 Then Tom Smith came up and said: "I'm just like Bill, I couldn't get up much. s'pose this will be good enough: "From the very start I've had to hope Ina, would get this pretty rope.
 When get home I'll rope our calf And won't all the little boys laugh' Oh but won't it make Pa mad
 When he sees his only lad
 Trying to rope his favorite marel And just know he'll swear.