The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-12
YOUNG AMERICA
BY CASSIE MoNCURE LYME.

NO, SiT-Tee--I can 90 II, Tor 4 saw
Aunt Sukey combing your head with
a fne-tooth comb"
Il don't keer II you did. She amt
found nothin'; but never you mind,
I'm goin' to git even with you yet,
sure as you BORN
Dad wrote us all cowboys wear
hats like these out West. remarked
Thomas, lingering with pride the gold
trimming OF his sombrero.
'"To mind cows mike I does?"
quickly asked Phil.
NO" disdained Thomas, "a cow
boy In the West amt any more like
a cowboy in the East than milk is
like shoe POLISH"
Does you mean they amt colored?"
ventured Phil.
II mean" and Thomas magma
ton came to his rescue, r mean
real cowboy can shoot a hundred pis-
tolls at one time. and wears bowie
knives stuck all around his belt, and
spends his life just fighting Indians
and throwing ropes over cows heads.
That's what real cowboy is like
Jeems, though, was not to he
abashed. ] can catch any of the cows
on this here place" he vowed. de-
termined to uphold the glory OF his
calling. II can catch steers, too"
added he, and seeing the awe he was
exciting, the temptation to boast
swept away fear. II can even catch
whar is wild as March hare
II don't believe you declared
Thomas. II don't believe you"
Yes. cam" vowed the darkie
'and I'll promise to do ii this very day
If you will promise to ride her"
The willy youngster stipulated this
condition as a loop-hole of escape.
Thomas thought a moment, then
shook his head II reckon had bet
ter not"
He He! He" laughed Jeems
sneeringly. You amt man 'nough to
do It, You cried when you stuck the
fishing hook in your hand but Bobbie
he am different If he is de littliest -
The darkie's tone was now wheedling
TO cover treachery. "Bobbie amt
skeered OF nothing-is you Bobblie?
Bobbie Is braven than you If you Is
the oldest-Bobhie could ride dat
heifer all right--couldn' you, Bob I
bier"
The compliment went straight to {
the chtlds head. You amt skeered - /
Jeems in a tone that put the I
little chap on his mettle. that would I
have made him risk at that moment /
riding a buffalo,
II was vain now for Thomas and /
PHI TO try to dissuade him from an
undertaking so perilous. Boobies
mind was made up, He meant 10 I
ride the heifer Jeems meanwhile
hooted at the idea of danger and
urged him on by appealing TO his
pluck. to his size, and ridiculed the !
other boys fears
The young heller believing herself
going to the milking pail, willingly |
consented to being driven in the
stanchions. She was anxious to get /
TO her calf Jeems snickered as he /
partly turned her loose.
Bobble grabbed for her neck as she I
trotted off-but his arms were too
short to encircie it, and the way she I
tossed her head. made il impossib BILE to |
seize her horns. Lowing for her calf |
thoroughly frightened at being ridden /
for the first time, the heifer ran like
a steer on stampede. At first the |
child jolted back to her rump, but
her quick movements shook him for |
ward till he straddled her neck like
q yoke
A chill fear Rnawed at the stomach I
of the little spectators as they realized !
there was, now no way 20 stop her
that Bobhfe was beyond their power
to save AT each toss of the heifers
head, Bohhies position grew more
perilous, and when from the distance
came the answering lowing Of her calf,
Thomas and Phil rolled on the grass
In an agony of suspense.
The heifers lope became a run-a
wild run, and Robbie. white and weak.
felt his senses rapdlS leaving him for
things turned black and white and
whirled crafty as the Young cow
ducked her horns and tossed her neck
in such a way the child flew over her
hesd-hiRh in the Air. With 4 hex al
most hard enough 70 split MIN open
Bobhie struck the ground
Thomas WAS the first to reach him
scared 10 death.
Are YOU dead Rohhie? Are YOU
killed. sure enough? ?" he gasped. turn
ing him over. for he Law in tanRle
OF blackberry bushes that. though
thorny. had somehow managed to
break the fan
Am his neck broke? ," painted Phil. +
who had also run to the rescue
No ! amt exactly just dead-hut
my teeth are all knocked out "
His mouth was bleeding profuseIy.
The first shock of fright passed away.
reaction set in, and try as he might,
the tears came Thomas tore off the
remnant Of Rohbie's tattered sleeve,
and tenderly mopped the blood from
his mouth. while Phil asked
Did you swallow your teeth for
theE am ON the ground noWhar."
~ don't know" faltered Robbie be-
tween sohs, for his mouth was swell
ing SO rapidly he could hardly talk
We had better get him to the
mouse suggested Thomas. and as
Bo5hle could not walk worry well. the
other boys made a chair by Joining
hands, IN which nc sat as they trudged Il
homeward, feeling terribly akin to Gull
prlJs-though Jeems. the chief sinner,
mad LONG since run away
the bruises ON Bobhie's face faded
from black to purple. and were now +,
assuming a hillus yellow as the day ,
for his birthday party drew near. but
no victor from the battlefield was ever
treated with more homage than was
ne by Thomas and Phil Everybody
was sNmpathetic-every except
jeems Robbie had not seen bin since
the accident occurred for he had been
very shy about coming around the
house. That evening though. Uncle
Jake had him splitting kindling and
Bobbie could not resist the tempta-
ton 10 hobbie out 10 the wood pile
for truth was he felt rather lonesome
Jeems at once threw down the axe
and gave himself to idleness
Land sakesi' giggled the blues gum.
She did ebermore git you Nobody
would a dream de heifer would been
dat spiteful but you sure does look
q "a