The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-27
THE PIONEER.

lfty years since .--e DAY we matted!
FOrty-nine-I was twenty men;
Tired and homesick, still exalted,
Proud to be " the wagon-men.
oAany's the scene Of distress and danger
lave gone through since that far day:
l was a miner. .4unter and ranger
Lon ere I came to the farm to stay.
Spent three years, fast in the mountains.
Dea on H. >-esert, famine In camp.
Digging god where cold clear fountains
Bore the blessing of wealth's true stamp;
Crossing the plains, when midnight often
Woke to the yell of the scalping band
Those were times lat did not soften
Vengeance held in an honest nand.
Nor was it lucA.ess out on the ranges
laundering hoofbeat wild stampede!
Drifting days and then hotfoot changes:
Prairie afire to test your speed.
Lonely. too! --.gh, white clouds sailing.
Watching, watching, the mimi gives way.
Why, have seen great strong men wall
ing,
Mad. and praying the judgment day!
Dear, you remember the sea of grasses
Waving, dancing in summers heat!
Day after day CLEANS white and passes,
Seems like the very skies retreat
Night with it's host of high stars shining
Down to the depths of your lonely SOUL
You remember! but you hid repining,
Smiled a love that made me whole.
Well, we've been through our share Of
Since we were married, haven we. wife?
Hardships a plenty and stern denials;
! Still we've managed to conquer life!
Old as we are, we can watch the strangers
| Come from the crowded, dying east,
knowing the heart of a western rangers
| Glad as the wine at a wedding feast.
(! Indians, sodhouse herds and herders,
Ranges bronchos all.are gone.
While the Shrek Of the steam car murders
| Peace in the silent prairie dawn.
Half century works its wonder;
Times are lively. yet they're tame!
! Lifes a riddle! and we live under
Splendid glory and servile shame.
Trying to ga.4er the pleasures of life.
| We could be patient and passaDay CHEEKY
Once in 'dugout,' couldn't we wife?
| You were brave as a soldier on duty,
Left a good home and life with the best.
Folks only wondered that such a great
! beauty
Gave up the world for to follow me west!
Pioneers, they have always called us;
Settlers, rustlers, plainsmen. roughs!
Courage and virtue once installed us
| Here where the town has brought its
Ha, ha, ha! how the wise men spiutter
Over their schools and books and laws;
| We've faced dea wltnOut q hutter,
And deeds are better than "a. their saws!
1 don't make any sport of learning:
No; and I shout my prayer above!
But take 1t, when hearts are burning.
Wildernesses are bright with love.
! What is a home in the Must of culture
To one out west. and you with me?
Never an eagle shall turn to a vulture
In or out of captivity!
Men are made as the spirit hardens,
under the stress and storm of life.
He who Furnishes also pardons;
My creed's simple. as you know, wife.
After all has been learned and bettered,
Wisdom. conduct. work. made right,
Sudden the soul is swift unfettered,
WISE and unwise take ...eir night.
And its goodness. strength and feeling
More lnan works or facts or schemes,
We Wa need for our ways revealing
When we wake in the land OF dreams.
So say. on the last migration,
I'll be happy stih to be put
Just ahead, in a pioneers station,
| Out beyond the tenderfoot!'
Charles w. Stevenson. in Boston Tran
| script.