"THE OLD RANCH MOTHER"

Long time ago I used to say to Jim, ('Fore any childern come to call him Paw.) "Oh Jim, oh Jim, let's leave this sorry place An' go where trees is, an' green grass. An' water springs. This desert here Burns up my heart an' makes me so afraid. Let's go where folks is-Jim, oh Jim, let's go." An' Jim he'd chaw an' spit an' chaw, An' say: "Aw, Lizy, this place it's all right; The cattle's company better'n too much folks."

I set here on this hill right smart that yearA-sewin', an' a-waitin' plumb scared wild To hold some woman's hand an' hear her talk. I made Jim put the baby 'way up hereAn' sometimes yit I see her scared dead face.

Jooie he come nex' year. I walked them trails Fer weeks an' months-seemed like I had to fly To git away to go an' be with folks. That there aint Jooie's grave-it's got his nameBut God only knows where Jooie is. 'Fore he could walk he'd roll an' crawl to git Out o' the door-jist had to git awayLike everywhere was callin' him to come. Las' year I made believe that grave o' his When he was killed 'way down in Mexico. Seemed like I felt him comin' on them trails Back to his Maw.

When the rest come I didn't think so muchThe cattle, like Jim said, was company. The cows with little calves-cute little tricksI turned 'em in to water at the trough An' talked to 'em. When Piedy's calf it died An' she went wild a-mooin', I jes' took The little thing an' buried it up here Right by my baby-an' she seemed to knowAn' her an' me was frien's fer many year Like human folks. I took a heap o' comfort in them cowsIt never done no good to talk to JimHe'd jes' sit dumb an' chaw an' spit an' chaw.