A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



"Shorty cut Sorrel Stud out to me when he wus a 

 bronc, an' said, 'Break him right, Kid; I think you 

 got a cow hoss if he ain't spoilt in the breakin.' An' 

 I done it without ever hittin' him a lick. As fur as 

 thet's consarn, I never did hit him but onct, an' thet 

 wus the time him an' me both failed, only Shorty 

 said we didn't fail; we jes' went to the las' ditch. 

 But thet's another story. 



"I wisht you could a-seed Sorrel Stud in his prime. 

 He wus a hoss ! I thought 'bout it today when you 

 hed yore arms round his neck an' a-talkin' to him 

 'bout me, an' I wondered if any body 'cept me could 

 understan' thet Sorrel Stud and Ole Gran'pa wus the 

 same hoss. But when I got up an' thumbed him, an' 

 made him pitch me off jest to show you what a twen- 

 ty-year-ole hoss could do, did you see the fire come 

 into them eyes, an' them ears lay back? Hones' to 

 God, Frank, he wus a hoss ! 



"I know I wus jest a tough kid when I come, but 

 a-tween Shorty Owen an' maybe a little doin' right f er 

 right's sake I tried to live an' hones' life. But they's 

 two things me and St. Peter may hev to chew 'bout 

 a little at the gate. You know what a fool I am 'bout 

 tomatoes ? Well, onct I stole a dozen cans from the 

 chuck wagon and hid 'em out in the cedar brakes. 

 But the boys at the wagon hed me so plum scart 'bout 

 Injuns thet I never did git to them tomatoes. Well, 

 Ole Gran'pa is jest as plum a fool 'bout oats as I 

 be 'bout tomatoes. I'll admit I stole this here outfit's 



[218] 



