The Arizona champion., 1888-11-10
4 COWBOY FpYERAL,
genuine Grief and Del.saey Of Feeling
Under Rough EStegloFs,

N----
Genuine Grief and Del.sasy Of Feeling
Under Rough EFteyIoFs,
I. Much has been written regarding
cowboy life on the plains, and much
Of that writing has been so lnagni-
fed that the pnsophisticated are
led to believe that the cowboy is a
yertiable terror, whose glory lies
in riotous conduct and terminating
the existence Of fellow-beings. Such
belief is exceedingly erroneous, for,
aside from many other notable
traits, the cowboy has heart as
sympathetic as female This was
demonstrated just the other day
when Long Tom Letter and his
gang were herding cattle about
thirty miles to the north of this
littls place, in the region of the
Musselshel river, writes a cores
pondent from Livingston, NJ. 7.
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 moth
err was familiarity known. She al
ways had Q kind word fer them,
and her devout christianity had
won respect from every one who had
ever struct 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 captain of
a gang.
Last week he was in the vicinity
of Musselshel 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 q horse head
ing for the herd, Although not
more than fairly outlined as q horse,
Long Tom knew the animal, an
extra he had at the ranch.
''Some ones coming on Dick"
he said; ''there's sunthin' wrong at
home"
The horse drew near and the
rider was recognized as Letters
! wife. Bareheaded, she galloped up
and almost gasped for breath as
she said, Mothers deadlp
Long TOMS eyes, fell, and as his
hand threw his horses name under
the bride rein he called to his mer
: that Shorty Morton will take my
place" and heading for home, hi.
wife and himself were off at a
!, gallop,
l After the cattle had been ridden
down for the night Morton who hac
! been assigned to take charge of the
{ gang, called the men together. Nor
I ton comes from some place in Ohi'
J. neir Hudson in the western reserv,
1 and is a college graduate. Til,
: roaming life of the cowboy fascina
] ted him, and he's discarded hi
S diploma for lariat.
Boys" he said, "we've got to d.
t something, Here's Tom out her
e away from civilization with hi
r mother dead, and Aunt Mag was
Q noble woman" His emotion chok
ed back anything further he desirec
to say.
"Fellers," il was "Jersey Rill's'
voice (pearly every man in the gan,
had nicknamel. ''Shorty's right
We've got 70 hey Q decent huryin
for Aunt Mag, Some of us kin lit
, out for Billings an git coffin, an
: well try and fix things some way
The suggestion met with favor
but Billings, the nearest point wher,
q coffin was obtainable, was owe
twenty miles to the southeast. Il
was agreed TO send there for coffi n
And at Q o'clock Jersey Bill" wa
: tightening up the girth on his pony
"Ill take Joe K.elley'.s pony Will
ne to carry the coffin, and I'll bt
back by sun up"
As he sprung into the saddle hi
companions crowded around anc
pressed money into his hands.
"Gst the best, Bill; Aunt Mag,
worth it" was the parting admoni
! ton from his companions. AL
night that little crowd of cowboys
sat around the fire and reluctantly
took their turn at picket duty
around the herd, as all were anxious
to offer suggestions for Aunt Mag
funeral.
Dawn was just breaking wher
Jersey Bill showed up with nea
cioth-covered coffin, which was ia
ken to Letters ranch at once
Long Tom was stunned, as he wa
/, just preparing to start on mission
, similar to that of Jersey Bill Tn,
; remains Of Aunt Mag were seaderl,
!. placed in the coffin by Mrs, Leite
and her husband.
That afternoolI q burial took place
, such burial as seldom occur,
Willing hands had dug a grave on
knoll north Of Letters cabin. Tn
pastor, pallbcarsrs and mourner
were cowboys, and the sympath
!. there manifested came from dee
!, down in the heart. Prior 10 dspo.
a ting the cofined form of all tina
! was mortal Of Aunt Mag in tn
grave Morton made brief remark: