Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1891-08-20
Charmed by a Song.

an Ell lsn "onlan NlsltlnB III OOlO-
rado has sent to Chambers's Journal
rather an exciting experience of her
own with wild cattle in one of the
lovely mountain parks of that Western
paradise. She says that in her quest
for sketching ground it was her fashion
to start off on long expeditions by her
self, after having been once assured
that no Indians were within 30 miles
that bears seldom came down from the
mountains so early, and rattlesuakes
were fast disappearing. But one morn
ing, walking down a narrow part of
the valley, she found her road disputed
by some 80 mountain cattle, which had
come down to Craze, and were clearly
puzzled at her appearance. She says:
They formed in line, and for few
minutes we stared at each other. l had
no weapon more formidable than a
paint brush, and was fortunately too
frightened to run away. An inspira-
ton came to me, and, warily watching
my enemies, | struck up stirring
melody. The effect was delightful.
The creatures listened attentively for a
few minutes, and then one after an
other quietly fell to grazing, while
walked through the midst of them,
singing as went.
A few days later | was returning to
supper, when, about mile from the
ranch, | saw a large number of cattle
massed across the way | had to go.
Remembering my late experience,
marched on, nothing daunted, and
when within easy hearing, struck up
my song.
AS before, the animals all faced about
and gazed at me, but alas instead of
dispensing, they came slowly towards
me like n moving wall. Louder and
louder | sung, until, looking beyond
and around me, | saw cattle everywhere,
all moving. in my direction, up the
slope from the river, down the noun
tains on my right, cattle slowly but
surely closing me in.
They we.e not fierce in aspect, but still
they came nearer and nearer, a vast,
noiseless audience.
j dared not stop singing, as saw
clearly my song was charm, without
which was but an ordinary human
intruder, and to be treated as such.
On the other hand, 1t was evident that
the more ! sung the more the herd
gathered.
Closer and closer they came, until
could feel their hot breath like cloud
about me, and then a gentle poke in
the back or shoulder from their long
horns. Jt rts
For a moment I despaired, then with
some difficulty, from lack of space,
opened my parasol, whirled it round
and round before me, with, all the
strange shouts I could invent and
charged straight at my foes.
To my grateful surprise the bewild-
cred animals gave way one by one, and
fairly made a lane down which rush
ed, brandishing my weapon. When
free of them | looked back to find them
steadily staring after ne in dull amaze
ment; but not one moved a. step in
pursuit of me. tn at iHs ass
Some weeks later, when was telling
the story to Nebraska farmer, he in
formed me that the danger had been
extreme; only a week before. he and
some other mounted men had barely
rescued alive q newcomer that, had
incautiously strayed into cattle run.
From the fact that they are invariably
driven by mounted men, the animals
seem to have lost their respect for hu-
manity on foot and treat IL with slight
consideration. fe. Nm III