The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-24
OUR TEXAS RANCH.

Written for THE MoRN1Ss CALL.
EE2:F1E had heard a great deal about Texas,
eaH5tE:9 that is father and brother Jack had.
sVE a and they were constantly bringing home
wonderful accounts OF fabulous fortunes being
made in the cattle business away out in Texas,
and for weeks the house seemed TO be filled with
newspapers called the Great West" Far
West" etcetc. Also flaming circulars telling of
tile great advantages 10 persons migrating 10
that county and investing In pigs, Sheep horses
ana cattle until il did seem 10 be sin TO stay in
New York City and fudge along In Il quiet.
modest way, while such gigantic fortunes were
awaiting all who would get up and 60.
Father, OF late, had been worried IN his bust
ness affairs, that is, being an undertaken, he con
sldered the fitting OF coitius to be particularly
sad trade, not only to his patrons, but to his own
Interests also. OF late lie lad found IL very diff
cuE TO collect his bills. OF course, the deceased
party was safely fixed under ground, there
seemed 10 be no redress only In waiting and as
the poet remarked, eli may be for years and 1t
may lie forever" or al least until The sulviv-
ing members Of the family felt disposed TO settle
he bill so father being too kind hearted 10 press
matters, very often came short In his expenses
ASIDE rom these financial annUyauceS, brother
Jack-whO was fathers asSlstant-did not Ike
tie trade. AS lie often said, lie was not const
tuied SO that, at moments notice. lie could put
on long, sad face when customer came IN To
order coffin; but, on the contrary, he always
felt thrill Of pleasure sweep down his back bone
when lie head that neighhOr lad died and
father was called upon 10 furnish tile traps.
Jack is dreadful hoy TO say such dtmOTallZing
things, aud wren ! lepToYe hlnl-ior am only
TWO yeais yOuuger-lOr expressing such thoughts
Then Jack laughs, and takes ne up IN lis long
arms aud eis lie down in corner, then runs
out saying: There, Sis, you lille hyiocre, you
know you would be dreadful sony if no one
should die. What would become OF We four
hearty eaIers?' Well l say 10 myself, mat is
quite tue; aud then 20 TO wishing that father
was in a different trade, particularly when peo-
pie seem 70 take pleasure In asking NE, "HOw IS
business"
So you see, when the boom came along about
Texas, we all seemed quite ready TO swallow
everything good said about IT, All but mother
poor zeal mUjheT-being delicate and confined
much 10 tile house ana olIen 10 the room, had
mole lime TO think and digest problems, and
often could give better ard more correct solu-
ton TO Them Than the rest OF US. Father and
brother Jack felt inluitlvely she would not APP
prove OF their plan oi gong so Tar away patlleu
aTly when she had read Of those horrible Texas
cowboys with lher muIderous Wopen>lties, ana
HE dreadful pictures portrayed by Buffalo Bill
ia his Wild West show that our Jack dOtes on.
But mother must be told. and as l am usually
the one 10 do any unpleasant thing, mustered
up courage Que morning and broke The ice In
Ibis way: Mother dear" l said, smoothing
the soft hair, slightly touched with silver, from
her forehead, 'thlS Is sucn beautiful morning,
don't you think IL would be pleasant 10 60 TO the
park? The flowers viii smell so fragrant after
yesterdays shower"
81 fear the PARK will be damp to-day, my
dear" she replied, " but We Will 90 tomorrow II
Very well. mother and then we can see the
sheep; you enjoyed looking al them so much the
last time we were there"
g Yes, dear; take great pleasure in watching
The sheep. They remind me of the beautiful
Bible story OF Rachel aud Jacob, and then the
blessed simile Of the Good Shepherd aud his
sheep"
things il hp lovely If owned
SOME sheep VI our own?"
What heie IN tile city7" and mother gave
quite hearty laugh at tile absurdiiy of the
''0h, no, mother dear; mean if we lived in
The eCuRtry-say Texas" In saying this my
heart gave Dig thump. particularly when l
mentioned Texas. Mothers laugh was heartler
vel, winch, by The way, was worth some hing,
fof she did not often enjoy good laugh stl
my own smile was somewhat feeble, for | saw
plainly that mother was not yet prepared Tor The
Texas BOOM
Jennie, dear" said mother, "what put Texas
IN YOU hcad?"
Il suprose hearing father and Jack talk so
much about it."
Why, do not remember them saying any
thing or even reading these papers lying
No; they talk about it after you have gone
TO your room; but really, mother do believe It
would be delightful 10 20 TO that State" Then
| began 10 use all tile eloqueuce and logic could
mud TO bear upon The Subject-the wonderful
climate that would completely cure her, the
iaTge fortune We would accumulate IN
cattle, the lovely horseback riding would en-
Joy. ] did not mention the DIedkneck brunChOs
had read about. So In about au hour l lad
mother not only willing but anxious TO go.
"Ob Jennie; now wheu l think OF IL am sure
II was Texas my brother John went 10 twenty
yea. ago, but he must be dead for We have not
heart from MIN since he left here. am sure
. Ht would nave written If lie had been alive"
We'll muiher, he may be alive aud who
knows but We may find him some day. Queer
mugs happen sometimes just think of Mrs.
Dawes on the next block how her son turned
lie other ALTER being absent ten VpgTSp
Mother gave sigh and hoped that she might
see her only brother again. And so ii was at
was fortunate IN selling out TO very good advan-
tage and we said good by TO collins and other
sac paraphel malta, and packed what furniture we
thought best TO lake. The question arose Tor
discussion 10 reference to taking the piano 1t
was square and clumsy TO handle, father said;
best sell II and buy all upright when we got SET
lied on the ranch, but my heart fell al The men-
tiOn of tie dear old instrument going into other
bands. Why, It seemed a part of The family, and
besides Il was mothers wedding gift fiom this
same brother John, who had gone To Texas years
ago. and 1t seemed to me as If the dear old thing
might 10 some way bring us to him again. How
ever, Jack decided tie question by saying, very
0racuaIly Folks, l think we had better lake
tile good old thing along, for then We Will be
sure TO have a piano-foT II we go without one 10
may he many long day before we get another,
for I've heard that In Texas everything goes
into cows, calves and yearngs and that cattle
men put more money into their horses and sad
dies than into pianos. aud besides, Sis"(glving
sly looR) ''perhaps some OF those cowboys will
OF course, | declared, with unnecessary
warmth for girl Of 10, thai did not want TO
see any Of those cowboys, for my notions OF them
: we're all OF kind-dangerous. SO the piano
was boxed for shipping. Il was difficult for us
10 decide what to sell aud what 10 take with us;
mary piece OF furniture dear TO my mothers
heart was disposed OF for a trifing sum- Tears
were shed over many precious books and
pictures 10 be parted with, but all could not be
taken. SO We bid farewell at last TO The dear
old home We had lived in ever since was
baby. Neighbors parted with US in sorrow, be
II said 10 our credit. And many a good-by aud
God bless you in your new home was spoRe en-
and promises TO wife back all about that far
country that so many like ourselves longed 10
go TO.
Well, Just think Of 1T! Here we have been on
the ranch nearly three years. How time fiies
II seems only short time ago that We said
good-Dy 10 The dear old fiiends IN the North
sun we have gone through some hard lines
AIteT We arrived here dreadful drought came
ana everything dried up. Many OF our tile
died and we had 10 90 five miles for wafer: lust
mink OF II! Hst, after ALL we are not sorry That
we came here. i remember NV copy-book said
Experience is tile best teacher" but did not
cream lhal IL was such a good teacher until
came TO Texas, for / have learned so many
things l could not possibly have known in a
large city, and then father, in spite OF dlscour-
agemepts, is very hopeful and happy: and
mothers health is much better, Tor now she
takes more exercise ana assists me in the work
for we cannot get any help here, and Jack, dear
old fellow, ne Is just as good as gold. Coming TO
Texas has made maa OF him. and would you
believe IL, lie Is a real cowboy aud prldes him
self In that title. He says "it beats selling
collins"
l have just received letter from Amanda
Jones. and in II she says: "Oh Jennie, is 1t
really true what you wrote 10 Sally Price, that
you gave party one night to The cowD0ysW
ana she wants TO know II any one was shot that
evening. / shall write to Amanda and make her
understand that the cowboys of Texas have
been very much msreDresented, and that l