The Red Cloud chief., 1886-02-05
WANTED TO BE A COWBOY.

Nv hal would YOU Ike 10 De, lom-
my, when you grow up asked Mr.
Miggs, turning TO his SON..
Tommy opened n eye. looked
smilingly up into mis- fathers face. and
replied: "A cowboy"
You shall be a cowboy" said Mr..
Miggs. rubbing his hands; '.but You
are not large enough and old enough
to be one yet. 1t would be too sudden
q change to lif. you out Of the nurses
lap on to the back Of a mustang. am
going to send you out to Een!ows
dairy-farm. where we spent - month
last summer
when can 1 go?" asked Tommy,
eagerly.
just as soon A. We can get you
ready
II haven't . bowie-knife." pleaded
Tommy.
Never mind that" replied Mr..
Miggs; ..wai. until you have reached
that stage of your education that jus:i-
fies the carrying Of a knife Besides.
there are no dangerous characters
about BenlOw's dairy-farm; but if you
want a knife just for the sake Of APP
pearances, Mr.. Benlow will be happy
to lend you his sickle to carry around.
rs he has no use for it when the ground
is covered with snow"
That night Tommy Miggs dreamed
himself = cattle king. walking haughti-
" around in . red shirt, top boots,
sombrerO. long hair and a portable
nickle-piated armory madly shining
under his cOat tail. lie dreamed of
flying across the prairie like the wind
on a mad. impassioned steed, and be-
ing looked upon IS dangerous. and
avoided by the stranger.
On the following day ne was proud
spirited, and would have little or moth
ing to say to. his companions. and it is
only fair to sHy that they envied him.
and regarded him as ~ born under a
lucky star. 4 day or two later he
started for the dairy farm with a light
heart. 1t was not \ great distance
from the city. and Mr.. BenlOw was on
the lookout for him. - he had received
a letter from Mr.. Miggs instructing
him to create in Tommy's breast such
4 hatred of cows that me would never
IN ftar 20 for rDosF ,,naE
So when Tommy Miggs arrived. Mr..
Benlow was at the station with a sleigh
10 meet him and drive him out to the
farm, which was several miles distant.
After they had gone \ little way Tom
MY said: "Ive come out here to learn
to be 4 cowboy"
"We'n make a cowboy Of you before
long" replied Mr.. Bcnlow. do you
Know anything about cOws'"
Nothing replied Tommy. hnmbly.
We'll. we'll open your eyes on
cows" said Mr.. Bcnlow.
In a short time the sleigh drew up
before the Bcnlow mansion, an old
fashioned farm house. and Tommy was
ushered into the p%nrlor. dining-rOom
and kitchen Mt once. for these rooms
were in one at Mr.. Benlow's.
That night Tommy Migg's supper
consisted of salt pork. a glass Of milk.
some potatoes and n piece of pie. . Al
though he Was not exactly satisfied
with it. he had the good sense to APP
preciatc the fact that it would harden
him for the rigors Of > cowboy life if
he could only outlixe It,
At eight o'clock he went to bed in a
large upholstered attic room. with 10
carpet on the floor, and Jumps like
cobblc-stones in the mattress, and the
windows rafting perfect tattoo in the
fierce winter wind that shrieked with
ont. For . moment he thought OF his
little sister at home. asleep under a
handsome crazy quilt and a roof that
didn't leak, with her doll on the pill
low beside her. and the nice nursery
fire; but he banished this thought in
~stantly. and fell asleep with a thought
IF gratitude for his rare good fortune
He was awakened at four in the
morning by Mr.. Benlows big boots. a.
that genilemaH came in with a candle.
and told him it was time TO get up to
do the milking and get the cans ready
for The train. We'll make a cowboy
Of you soon." remarked the farmer.
~cheerfully. - Tommy rubbed his eyes
Tommy arose rather reluctantly. for
the bed was Is warm IS the room was
cold. dressed for the day. and used he
paper curtain for atowel- He hadao blow
on his fingers to keep them warn. and
when he got out TO the barn be was
shivering-
Just give cash Of tie coss some
hay" sail Mr.. Benlow.
Tommy lid - he wAs told. being IN
der the impression that he voaid ext
b. asked to 20 ous and lAsso . bull
But he Vas made sizes at heart when he
learned that ia.soos were not used. foI
! the simple reason thai every animal On
the place would esne when called. like
. dog.
As o Is Tie milk was canned A.
sent to the rain. the ReaioWs sat douI
70 bro ,kfsx6. which consisted o: eack
wheat CO ses and coffee that sseOsd n
strong-, than ordinary hot water. II
Graa IN rolls and mutton et.o..s Of hi
brs .sf.ss =, ho.ae would hate -.