St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-06-08

0ld.Time Cow Penning
IN ST. TAMMAnY PARISH.

back upon the days and years past.
it brings to remembrance the time
To start in viii, what was called IN
lhuse Gays going the rounds"
gathering cattle. In Texas it is
called ''round up" The Captain
sets the day. he notifies sll stock
owners and they govern themselves
accordingly. The first penning COM
menced ON simlloosa, eight miles
from Covington, at Cassemer Popu-
las who was large stock owner OF
old Creole descent. That was the
meeting place Of all who we're going
on the round. At this penning all
cattle found there that belong above
was taken i'll charge by the Captain
and his men. Tluse belonging on
the round were taken up the same
afternoon To Mr.. Erwin Fussel's,
twelve miles from Pcpulas penning
This is the first night nut, you hob
BILE your horse aud bell him, let him
help himself to all tue grass he can
eat; you cannot carry corn, for YOU
have all you can pack, your food is
cooked ut home. There is not much
sleep at night, as all except tie
captain, are in for fun aud q good
time. There are Is to % in camp
consisting Of white and coloreG.
Creoles. In those days there we're
a great many box terrapins, and in
hunting cattle through the Gay, all
Of those box creatures were bayged
and at right they were roasted and
eaten. Second penning ut Edwin
Fussel's This is the one our captain
takes part III. At day light some arc
ordered to bring in all the hcrses.
while others make coffee. We will
not eat much breakfast, as Mr..
Fusse!l is going to give a free din
ner at his place. and all who are on
the rounds take the first table. l
didn't say anything against it, as
that was his rule. and all the young
ladies in the ne;ghborhood were in
attendance, with tI,eir bibs and
tucks on to beat six bits. After the
penning and dinner We return to
our camp. Second night. and in
the lot Of young ladies there were
some old ones, and they knowing
the rules Of COW hunting, brought
along eggs to sell to us. which were
soon bought Of them. and pot bor-
rowed, and you know eggs were
boiled and eaten that hight. Third
day, a. 20 mile house. This was
called Col. Edwards penning.
This was light days work for the
rounds crowd, because uncle Daniel
with his boys and hands penned all
tie stock, all We had to 40 was TO
pick out Of his pen what belonged
to our crowd, and those b-luDping
below were :aken along by us. as
We all knew brands, marks and
owners. In those days l have seen
from 1000 to 2j00 in one penning.
Cattle seldom diei then, and II you
should undertake to give q cow co.,
ton seed meal she would run from
it. The range was goot aud all
the branches were filled with reeds
and cane. Speaking Of Col. Ed
wards brings TO my mind what he
said to certain party the dav of
The penniny. The man said ''good
morning uncle Daniel" He said
to the party, You put up that
fence where tue cattle had passed
in.'
I will tell you something that l
found out on ole of my neighbors
afterwards. Col. Edwards stepped
back and said: II had q neiyhbOr
living not far from me ard every
time / met him it was good mnrn-
ing Uncle Daniel, and how do you
do, and when l came to find him
out he was eating my hogs and them
fat" His tale caused a hearty
laugh with all the crowd, which was
seventy-five or more. At that very
time it was showing. the 23rd day
of April, 1858. The same morning Il
sleeted and cleared up in the even-
ing and the next morning a heavy
white frost Corn had been blighted
anA ali cell .c~.,1I