Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-05-23
The BuPle Horn.

1 A~AS~AS &A~OASsO
nous music in the clouded sky, as an emf
grant team was ferried, in little, rickety
old hat-boat, across from the Illinois side
to Burlington, Iowa.
1t was 1885 and Burlington was but {
small Indian trading post, and those who
came by the Burlington "Route" did moi
travel SO fast as they do now, but they got
there all the same.
The wagon was drawn by four good
horses. A hunters long rifle and an old
fashioned tin Dugle-horn swung from the
bows overhead. These, with certain
semi-military bearing of the driver
would have called from most taciturn
pioneers, but the single word. Kentucky.
This bugle, as you all know was used
to gather the hunters and dogs, for a
days sport and to recall the hounds at
the close of the chase.
The three small boys who rode in the
wagon with their mother, thought the
hunting calls, the ''Tally Ho" of that old
bugle-horn, the most wonderful music in
the world. In later years, when its clear
tones announced the dinner hour, it had
lost none of its charm.
Ali if only the three blasts which used
to call some one "to hive swarm of bees
could gather the children now, scattered
as they are from Washington to Nebras-
ka, from California to Kansas and Iowa.
The pioneers wagon climed the FLINT
Hills turned to the left and after travel
ing few miles, crossed small river and
encamped in well sheltered bottom.
Some one, with an eye to the fitness of
things, had called it Green Bay. The
rank grass waved in the wind with undu-
lations SO like water. that to this day, its
fertile farms bear the same name.
Here were united nearly all the elements
of the pioneer paradise.
These were Government lands, unboun-
ded fertility, wood, water and plenty of
game.
1t was matter of small import that it
also included numerous undesirable neigh.
bors, called Sac and Fox Indians It
might have made some long days, and
nights too, for the young wife and mother,
but if SO, she said but little about it.
Miles of heavy timber made shelter for
the rude camp, which was home this first
winter in Iowa. The hunters rifle brought
venison and prairie chickens to amply
supply the table. But one day the flour
and meal gave out. Mills were few and
far between, they were mostly run by
horse power, SO mounting horse already
loaded with grain, the settler took up his
trail, over hills and through thick woods
to distant mill. Settlers were few and
there were no roads yet.
AS usual the mill was crowded with
work. 1t was almost night before the
"New comer," from Green Bay, swung his
grist across the horses back, and started
for home, in a heavy snow storm. Mean
time the sturdy little boys gathered piles
of dry wood and the mother kept warm
supper waiting for the father who came
not. The snow fell deeper and the wind
rose higher and thoughts of the treacher-
GUS Indians about, were not at all COM
forting, for, if the truth must be told,
these noble red men had been dismissed
by the settlers wife with the same scant
ceremony that is used at this day, by one
of her. granddaughter in warning from
the back door dirty tramp. It was
quite dark now and impossible for the
best woodsman to find his way through
deep snow, over fallen trees and across
hill and ravine. Great grape vines, the
unmolested growth of years, added to the
difficulties of his way.
Southern men of eighty years ago, who |
had followed hounds in the chase, knew
well how to use their lungs But the set
tiers loud "Halloo" though given with a
power which, in clear weather, would have |
wakened the echoes for miles around, fell |
dull, as if muf1ed by woods and snow.
The young wife lighted lantern in the
queer old tin lantern, tied it to the top of |
a long slender pole, and mounting to the
top of the camp, she fastened the pole
uprightin the slab roof. Swayed to and |
fro by the gale, its fantastic lights and
shadows danced far around, but to the
listening ears came no "yiew halloo;"
only the creaking of the giant tree-tops
and afar off the well known howl of the
great timber wolf.
But that howl which heretofore had
only caused thought as to their we'll
housed flock of sheep, now held new
meaning to the settlers wife. She quick
ly snatched down the bugle-horn and
climbing again to the cabin root, she
made such tally no" ring out as never
before stirred the woods and hills of
Green Bay. Again and again she sent
the notes of the old horn out, until the
river bluffs on either side re-echoei with