The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-02-12


What would you like 70 be. Tom
my. when you grow up" asked Mr..
Miggs. turning TO his son
Tommy opened . eye, looked
smilingly up into his fathers face, and
replied: "A cowboy"
s.You shall be q cowboy" said Mr..
Miggs, rubbing his hands; ''but yon
are not large enough and old enough
to be one yet. II would be too sudden
a change 10 lit you out OF the nurses
lap on to the back Of a mustang. i am
gong 70 send you out to Benlow's
dairy-farm. where We spent : month
last summer
when can ! CO." asked Tommy,
eagerly.
Just as soon a We can get you
| ready"
II haven't ; bowic-knife,' pleaded
Tommy.
"Neycr mind that" replied MI.
Miggs; ''wait until you have reached
that stage OF your education that justi-
ies the carrying Of a knife. Besides,
here are no dangerous characters
about Benlow's dairy-farm; but II you
want q knife just for the sake Of APP
~pearances. Mr.. Benlow will be happy
to lend you his sickle TO carry around,
as he has no use for Il when the ground
is covered with snow
That night Tommy Miggs dreamed
himself \ cattle king. walking haughti-
" around in q red shirt. top boots,
sombrero. long hair and a portable
nickle-plated armory madly shining
under his coat tail. He dreamed Of
flying across the prairie like the wind
on q mad, impassioned steed, and be-
ny looked upon As dangerous, and
avoided BY the stranger.
On the following day he was proud
spirited. and would have little or moth
ing to say TO his companions. and IL Is
only fair to say that they envicd him,
and regarded him as one born under a
lucky star. A day or two later he
started for the dairy farm with q light
heart. Il was not a great distance
from the city. and Mr.. Bcnlow was on
the lookout for him. rs he had received
a letter from Mr.. Miggs instructing
him TO create in Tommy's breast such
q hatred Of cows that he would never
after care for roast beef.
So when Tommy Miggs arrived. Mr..
Benlow was At the station with a sleigh
to meet him and drive him nj TO the
farm, which was several miles distant.
After they had gone a little way Tom
my said: I've come out here TO learn
70 be a cowboy
wen make a cowboy Of you before
long replied Mr.. Bcnlow. do you
know anything about cowsP'
Nothing replied Tommy, humbly.
.sWell, we'n open your eyes on
cows" said Mr. Bcnlow.
In = short time the sleigh drew up
before the Benlow mansion. an old
fashioned farmhouse. and Tommy was
ushered into the psrlor. dining-room
and kitchen nj once. for these rooms
were in one 1t Mr.. Benlow's.
That night Tommy Migg's supper
consisted Of salt pork. a glass Of milk.
some potatoes and = piece Of pie. Al
though he was not exactly satisfied
with it. he had the good sense to APP
preciatc the fAct that II would harden
him for the rigors Of a cowboy life IL
he could only Outlive IL.
At eight o'clock he went 10 bed in .
large upholstered attic room. with no
carpet on the floor. and Jumps like
cobble-stones in the mattress. and the
windows rnttling a perfect tattoo in the
fierce winter wind that shricked with
nut. For q M he thought Of his
little sister at home, asleep under q
handsome crazy quilt and 4 roof that
didn't leak. with her doll on the pill
low beside her, and the nice nursery
lire; but he banished this thought In
s~tantly, and fell asleep with . thought
Of gratitude for his rare good fortune.
He was awakened 1t four IN the
morning BY Mr.. Bcnlow's big boots, as
that gentleman came in with q candle,
and told him Il was time to get up To
do the milking and get the cans ready
for the train. Wen make q cowboy
Of you soon," remarked the farmer,
cheerfully, ~ Tommy rubbed his eyes.
Tommy arose rather reluctantly, for
the bed was ~ warm ~ the room was
cold. dressed for the day, and used the
paper curtain D ratowel. Hchad to blow
on his fingers TO keep them warm, and
when he got out 70 the barn he was
shivering.
''Just give each o. The cows some
hay" said Mr.. Benlow.
Tommy did 40 he was told. being un-
der the suppression that he would next
- asked to 90 out and lasso . bull.
BUt he WA made sick Il heart when he
learned that lassoes were not used, fol
the simple reason that every animal on
The place would come when called, like
: dog.
A. soon ~ the milk was CANNED and
sent 70 tho train. the Benlows sat down
70 breakfast, which consisted OF buck.
wheat cakes and coffee that seemed nc
stronger than ordinary hot water. The
Graham rolls and mutton chops Of hi
breakfast q home would have been
much palatable. but he didn''
grumble. While he was eating on In
silence, Mr.. Benlow said: How ID Car
10 today"
every sick" replied Mrs. Benlow