Connecticut western news., 1888-10-31
COWBOY FUNERAL.
Genuine Grief and Delicacy of Feeling Hid.
 den Beneath Rough Exteriors.


 Much has been written regarding cow boy life on the plains, and much of that writing has been so magnitied that the unsophisticated are led to believe that the cowboy Is veritable terror, whose glory lies in riotous conduct and termi- mating the existence of fellow-beings. Such belief is exceedingly erroneous, for aside from many other noble traits, the cowboy has heart as sympathetic as @ female. This was demonstrated when Long Tom Letter and his gang were herding cattle about thirty miles to the north of Livingston, M. T. Letter is New Yorker, and came to the Northwest some years ago with his wife and mother. Every cow-puncher on the plains knew Aunt Mag" as Long Toms mother was familiarly known. She always had kind word for them, and her devout Christianity had won respect from every one who had ever struck Long Toms ranch. Letters lengthy form had given him the sobriquet of Long Tom, and he had worked his way up from common herder to a Captain of a gang.
 He was in the vicinity of Musselshell with heavy herd bound for Billings. Night was drawing near, and the boys had just got themselves ready to ride down the cattle and go into camp. Away to the west appeared horse heading for ths herd. Although not more than fairly outlined as horse, Long Tom knew the animal, an extra he had at the ranch.
 Some ones comin' on, Dick" he said there's sumthin' wrong tn home."
 The horse drew nearer, and the rider was recognized as Lieter's wife. Bare headed she galloped and almost gasped for breath as she said, Mothers dead!"
 Long Tom's eyes fell, and as his hand threw his horses mane under the bridle rein he called to his men that Shorty Morton will take my place. and head ing for home, his wife and himself were off at gallop.
 After the cattle had been ridden down for the night Morton, who had been assigned to take charge of the gang, called the men together. Mor- ton comes from some place in Ohio, near Hudson, in the Western Reserve, and is college graduate. The roaming life of cowboy fascinated him, and he's discarded his diploma for lariat.
 Boys" he said, we've got to do something. Here's Tom out here away from civilization, with his mother dead, and Aunt Mag was noble woman." His emotions choked back anything further he desired to say.
 "Fellers," it was Jersey Bills" voice (nearly every man in the gang had a nickname). "Shorty's right. We've got to hev decent buryin' for Aunt Mag. Some of us kin lite out fer Bill ings, an git coffin, an we'll try an fix things sum way"
 The suggestion met with favor, but Billings, the nearest point where cof- fin was attainable, was over twenty miles to the southeast. It was agreed to send there for coffin. At 9 o'clock that night "Jersey Bill" was tightening up the girth on his pony.
 "I'll take Joe Kelly's pony with me to carry the coffin, andll be back by sun up."
 As he sung into the saddle his com panions crowded around and pressed money into his hands.
 co ct the best, Bill; Aunt Mag's worth companions. All night the little crowd of cowboys sat around the fire and re- luctantly took their turn at picket duty around the herd, as all were anxious to offer suggestions for Aunt Mag's fu- neral.
 Dawn was just breaking when Jersey Bill showed up with a neat, cloth-cov- cred coffin, which was taken to Letters ranch at once. Long Tom was stunned, as he was just preparing to start on a mission similar to that of Jersey Bill. The remains of Aunt Mag were tenderly placed in the coffin by Mrs. Letter and her husband.
 That afternoon burial took place, such burial as seldom occurs. Will ing hands had dug a grave on 8 knoll north of Letters cabin. The pastor, pall-bearers and mourners were cow boys, and the sympathy there mani fested came from deep down m the heart. Prior to depositing the coffined form of all that was mortal of Aunt Mag in the grave Morton made brief re- marks, eulogizing the good deeds of the deceased Every head in the group that stood around the grave was uncovered, and the lashes of every eye glistened with moisture. Drops of liquid crystal rolled down Jersey Bills cheeks as he stopped over to aid in depositing the coffin in the grave. Although devoid of the pomp and formality of a funeral in the midst of civilization, no more sin cere, sorrowing mourners ever gathered around bier than the crowd of cowboys that laid Aunt Mag to rest.
 GOod-Natured Bismarck.