The Indianapolis journal., 1899-12-25
The Cowboys Christmas.

u -
The evenn' sun sunk peaceful behind the noun
tain peak,
A-leavin' 'crost the topmost ridge a golden.
pinky streak.
As a gang wv frisky cowboys struggled slowly
through the snow
An wandered to the palace bar. the pride
O. Buckskin Joe. "a q --,s
For Buckskin was a minin' town. an bars wuz
all it had
To claim the boys attention. to make the
diggers glad
An Faro Pete, the lan'lord, KEEP the straight
est, squarest game
That ever down the mulepath minin' viii
lage came.
Thet evenin' it was Christmas. an the boys
was out fer fun.
They he'd the dust to pay fer it, an every man
a gun: t-'
Led by Bill. the Broncho Buster him as swore
thet he could shoot
More different kinds Wv daylight into any born
galoot
Then war colors in the spectrum. an I rather
think he could,
Fer when it came to shootin', Bill war most
uncommon good.
So they stacked up ag in the bar. an named
their licker straight,
An roun an roun' the pizen passed, with
quick min cirkelate-
mothers son -~.
War a-lookn an a-sp'ilin' fer chance to pull
his gun,
A tenderfoot from Angels war dumped thar
by the stage
A little, measly-lookin' chap, thet seemed Wv
tender age -.
Who wore a coat preacher cut, thet seemed
right out Nv place.
Like edgn up a corduroy with scraps NV Mech
lin lace.
He TUX his seat benin the stove with melan-
choly air
"Jest like" said Broncho William, "it war sin
full TO be there
Now Bill, when in his lcker. war most on
sartin cuss
He never could be real content unless he raised
a fuss.
But none NV all the gang. thet night. fer a
mint stopped to think
Thet he'd invite the preacher man to come an
hev drink;
But thet Jest what he did. and when the min
lister refused,
He pulled his gun an lowed thet the reverend
warn't excused.
Then up arose the preacher, with cam an
peaceful face.
An laid his glasses the bar, an looked
aroun' the place.;
Then he walked right up to William, an
grabbed him whar the slack
Wv his corduroys hung loosest. an by his neck
the back
An busted. with the Buster. section wv the
floor.
With ease thet paralyzed the boys, an made
'em shout fer more.
An then he guv final shake. thet seemed a
trife rough.
AS William gasped. in accents mild, 81 think
I've got enough"
He set Bill down benin the stove, with most
uncommon vim,
An said with a little tranin I'd make a
wras Ter outer him.
But I've come down from Angells an landed
hyar this night
To tell you bows NV Christ's own peace an not
to raise fight"
An then thet little preacher, he jest opened up
his face,
An a tide wv gurglin' sweetness seemed to
overflow the place.
He tor us how the Christ-child war born in OIL
Judee
On thet first Christmas. years ago, to save both
you an me
Till Faro Pete. with horny fist stuck out acrost
the bar.
Cried GLORY! Hallelujah!' an "Pardner. put
IL thar"
| An Broncho Bill war weepin in his corner him
the stove,
AS the preacher tor Nv Jesus life an Jesus
dyin' love;
An when at last the parson knelt. with 'Breth-
ren. let US pray
There warnt a dry eye in the house, ner a man
thet stayed away
So in thet dingy barroom. with the ticker piled
aroun
The Christmas-chiii war born again, an to
the earth cone down;
An Pete-well-Pe,e's preacher now a-turnin'
from sin,
With Bill-thets me-right clost benin. a-ead-
in Nv the hymn. Paul Mason