LET us ride together,—
Blowing mane and hair,
Careless of the weather,
Miles ahead of care,
Ring of hoof and snaffle,
Swing of waist and hip,
Trotting down the twisted road
With the world let slip.
Let us laugh together,—
Merry as of old
To the creak of leather
And the morning cold.
Break into a canter;
Shout to bank and tree;
Rocking down the waking trail,
Steady hand and knee.
Take the life of cities,—
Here's the life for me.
'Twere a thousand pities
Not to gallop free.
So we'll ride together,
Comrade, you and I,
Careless of the weather,
Letting care go by.
Anonymous.
OUR LITTLE COWGIRL
THAR she goes a-lopin', stranger,
Khaki-gowned, with flyin' hair,
Talk about your classy ridin',—
Wal, you're gettin' it right thar.
Jest a kid, but lemme tell you
When she warms a saddle seat
On that outlaw bronc a-straddle
She is one that can't be beat!
Every buckaroo that sees her
Tearin' cross the range astride
Has some mighty jealous feelin's
Wishin' he knowed how to ride.
Why, she'll take a deep barranca
Six-foot wide and never peep;
That 'ere cayuse she's a-forkin'
Sure's somethin' on the leap.
Ride? Why, she can cut a critter
From the herd as neat as pie,
Read a brand out on the ranges
Just as well as you or I.
Ain't much yet with the riata,
But you give her a few years
And no puncher with the outfit
Will beat her a-ropin' steers.
[p. 83]
Proud o' her? Say, lemme tell you,
She's the queen of all the range;
Got a grip upon our heart-strings
Mighty strong, but that ain't strange;
'Cause she loves the lowin' cattle,
Loves the hills and open air,
Dusty trails on blossomed canons
God has strung around out here.