84 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



sometimes mighty handy to have it around ; a man ought 

 always to have it on here, and its presence may prevent the 

 necessity for its use." In a few moments we are at the 

 shack, which, we notice as we approach, is about fifteen feet 

 square, seven feet liigh, made of poles about five inches 

 through, sides and top, interspaces filled with clay, and 

 daubed over top and sides with the same material. All 

 around the eaves antlered heads were fastened, on which 

 were hanging the carcass of a deer, saddles, harness, yokes, 

 lariats, etc. ; and through the open door could be seen an 

 earth floor, bunks, blankets, skins, a sheet-iron stove, and a 

 few cooking utensils. We alight, and stand at the home 

 and head quarters cattle ranch of a college graduate born 

 and reared in Philadelphia, and now three years a cow-boy. 

 He was evidently pleased with the visit, as evinced by the 

 hearty exclamation, " Gentlemen, I am glad to see you here ; 

 it does a fellow good to see somebody from God's country 

 once more. How is all the world — the men, but especially 

 the girls — down East ? " He seems glad to see a new fiice, and 

 to talk to somebody besides the two stolid helpers he has in 

 his employ ; and so we will let him talk, and see what we 

 can learn of him, his business, the country in which he lives 

 and its people. 



"After college graduation, and casting about awhile for 

 something to do, I concluded the professions were so 

 crowded I should have hard work to squeeze in anywhere ; 

 in fact, people were getting pretty thick in Philadelphia. 

 There was a good deal said about the chances to make 

 money in the stock business out here ; and, having a little 

 capital with wdiich to start, I thought I would come and 

 grow up with the country, as Greeley advised. Could not 

 have gone much farther if I had tried. Could not have 

 found a place where I could have a cleaner sweep and 

 swing; have pure, free air, free water, free land ; free of all 

 law and law officers but those shooting irons ; free of all 

 the dissipations of civilization ; free of all human kind, 

 except an occasional fellow to whom we point our rifles, 

 and the section gang ten miles away down at the railroad. 

 Business don't amount to much yet ; think I have about 

 eight hundred head of stock, old and young, and shall begin 



