Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-01-21
Cowboy Preached Funeral
Sermon On Prairie I'm 1888

take Letters place, called his men to-
gether after the cattle had been bedded
down for the night. He had come To
Montana from Ohio, near Hudson, Ia
! the Western Reserve, and was q col
! lege graduate. He had laid aside his
diploma for the life Of a cowboy.
Boys" he said, we've got to do
something. Here's Long Tom out here.
removed from immediate contact with
civilization. His mother is dead. Aunt
Mag was noble woman. She was the
personification of pioneer womanhood."
He paused, choked with emotion.
"Shorty's right, fellers," spoke up
Jersey Bill Here we are, way out
here, an Aunt Mays gone. We've got
to have decent burial for her She
was our friend Let's do somethin. ,
Some Of us can light out for Billings
and git coffin. Wen try to fix things
some way"
The suggestion met with immediate
favor. Billings, the nearest point at
which a coffin was obtainable, was 20
miles to the southeast. After a fur
Their parley it was agreed to send one
of the boys there for a casket. 1t was
about o'clock. Jersey Bill was tight
ening the saddle girth on his pony.
IN take Jake Kelley's pony with me
to carry the coffin. I'll be back by
Sunup."
Jersey Bill, suiting his words to ac-
ton, sprang into the saddle. His COM
panions gathered about him, pressing
money into his hands.
Get the best, Bill" was the parting
admonition Of the boys. They sat
around the fire all night each rather
reluctantly taking their turn at picket
duty around the herd. The boys were
all anxious to be in on the general
conversation regarding the funeral ar
rangements for Aunt Mag by offering
suggestions. :.
Dawn was breaking in the east when
Jersey Bill rode up In the presence of
his companions. He brought along
neat, cloth-covered casket which was
taken at once to Long Toms house.
They arrived in time as Long Tom was
just preparing to start on a journey
similar to that undertaken by Jersey
Bill. He was overcome by this definite
manifestation of affection.
Mrs. Letter, assisted by her husband, |
tenderly placed the body of Aunt Mag
in the coffin.
A service and burial such as seldom |
took place on the plains were conducted |
that afternoon. On the crest of a knoll |
just north Of the Letter cabin willing |
hands dug the grave. Tenderly the cow
boys bore the casket with its occupant |
to the top Of the hill. In that group |
were the preacher, the pallbearers and |
grouped intimately with |
those whose loss was keener and |
greater.
1t was Shorty Morton who stood at |
the head Of the grave. Before deposit
ing the coffined form of all that was
mortal of Aunt Mag into the earth he
spoke of her who had been their true
friend. He eulogized the good deeds she
had performed in life. He spoke of her
sacrifice and the noble manner in
which she had accepted her environ
nent with her son and his wife on the
edge of civilization. There was a ro-
nance in her life, he said, which cap
,ivated and charmed all with whom
he came in contact and left indelible
AS he spoke every head was bowed.
Tears moistened the eyelashes of those
hardened cowboys. Drops Of liquid crys-
al rolled down Jersey Bills cheeks as
le bent forward to assist in deposit
ng the caSket in the grave.
In a tribute to the deepness of af-
ection stirred up within the breasts
# the rough riders of the range be-
ause of the kindly influence of good
woman, 1t was chronicled.
Although devoid of the pomp and
Of funeral In the midst of {
no more sincere, SORROW
ng mournerS ever gathered around a
'ier than the crowd Of cowboys that
aid Aunt Mag to rest"