The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-02-28
True Hearts of Texas


Texas Letter in Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
There was miniature forest of long
horns and the young steers were play
Jul There were some little old Texas
COWS that were as light stepping as q
deer. They were of the wild breed from
the South, hardy and prolific. The
cowman said that the boys rarely MIXED,
because the COWS were so wild, but he
should ask his visitor to try some Of the
milk of full-blooded long-horn. 1t
was, he said, the sweetest milk in the
world. The cattle began to move off
to the elevations in the distance, loving
as they went. Soon the western rim of
the prairie bjazed with sunset that
seemed like distant fire, and all was
as still as death, except the creak OF the
windmill and the bleating Of the young
calves. Now sling yourselves to-
gether.' This was the salutation of the
cowboy who acted as cook. He attended
to lis duty with spurs on. The table was
bare, the plates and cups were of tin,
and the coffee WAS in pot so black that
night seemed day beside it. The meat
was In the stewpan and the milk was in
tin pail. The tomatoes were fresh
from can and the biscuits were fresh
from the oven. Delmonico never served
meal that was better relished. The
cowboys have a way of putting sweet
breads, liver, 8 bit OF tenderloin, marrow
and some calves brains in dish tina.
would do honor to the Manhattan Clubs
chef.
Here were several genuine cowboys
and more came Looping into camp later.
They were used to rough life, and as
this was quiet night, when there was
no storm TO make the cattle drift over
the boundary, they ranged themselves
on bench before cook stove, where
the mesquite roots were cracking into
hot blaze, and without swagger or
bluster, horse play or boisterousness
ohatted quietly and good-humoredly
about their rides over their ranches.
They had killed panthers and grizzlies
and antelope and wild cat and rattle
snakes, but they did not talk about
them. One of them accidentally referred
to recent experience when camping
near sheep herd. He was sleeping
out OF doors, with his boots on, and was
awakened by a wild cat that had sheep
81 the throat. He leaped up and
started toward the cat, when it made
spring for his throat. He had nothing
to fight with except his Lands and feet,
and couldn't run. By way of apology
for relating the story, he said that he
Just had to tight-that that was all there
was about it. He knocked the wildcat
off, and it leaped back He jumped
upon its head. 1t got free, though
stunned, and started for him once more.
de knocked it again with effect, and
getting it under his feet stamped it to
death. Il was never so glad to see any
thing die in my life,' he added, rs he
rolled g Mexican cigarette.
The cowboys are good friends. They
love conversation, for it is what they are
most deprived Of. One sheep herder
said that he was three months In a can
yon in North Texas without hearing
human voice, and that the only thing
that frightened him during his stay was
a man who suddenly came upon him
one day. He used to talk aloud to keep
himself company. There was an edu-
Gated cowboy in the ranch. He was
handsome young man, with broad
shoulders and full blonde beard. His
cheeks were rosy and his eyes we're
bright. Educated in Baltimore to be a
he suddenly left the haunts
of men to go to the Far West. He
was the picture of health and he seemed
to enjoy his life. 1t was limited that one
of the brunette beauties of Baltimore
could, if she would, tell why he turned
his back on all society.