Their Only Son
You're a
hell of a cow-man, you are! You, and your yaller
shoes!
How would
you look a-straddle of a Roman-nosed cayuse !
Where
would you be in a round-up, or a mix with the
Greasers, say ?
Where is
the boy I loved - the feller I sent away?
He had
some style about him! He was a boy! All through !
But he
went away to college - and the college has sent back you !
I should
have brung you a go-cart, not a real hoss to ride !
I reckon
you're God's rebuke for me totin' too damn much
pride.
For I was
plumb proud of you- I grieved when you went away;
I
couldn't say half the things I had in my heart to say;
And-What
is that thing you're wearin'? A wrist watch! Holy
cats!
And what
are them white things on you? What is it you call
em, spats .
And why
are your pants so tight? And why don't they reach
your shoes ?
Gee ! But
you would play hell on the back of a wild cayuse !
And when
your poor mother sees you-Climb onto your hoss
and ride !
Don't you
see the town-folks lookin' ? Come on an' let's get
outside !
If we'd
a-stayed there much longer someone would have
laughed, and then
I'd had
to have started something I couldn't undo again;
For you
are my son-God help me! - and no one may laugh
at you
And not
have your father call him. This place we are comin' to
Is where
that there young school teacher was caught by that
Greaser band-
Oh, well,
we won't talk about that. I reckon you can't under-
stand
How a
real he-man gets feelin'-Hold up! What is that
ahead?
It's the
same band! Ridin' for us! God! Look at 'em ride
and spread!
Your hoss
hasn't had no rider-he's fresh as he started out!
Don't
ever take time to look when you get him turned about,
But ride
him like hell to town, and get out the posse--quick.
Tell them
to make the river and head off the band! I'll stick.
My hoss
couldn't make the distance ahead of that rush nohow-
And I
never turned back on a Greaser! And I ain't beginnin'
now!
When it's
safe and the fight is over, come back where I am,
and by
The
Greasers I've sent to hell you'll see how a man can die.
Tell your
mother I thought about her-And give him the spurs
and ride!
Don't you
see them cut tin' around us? Oh, God! With a
he-man I'd
Go
through 'em like hell a-poppin'! Go on! Make your
get-away!
What's
that you are sayin' to me? Made up your mind to stay?
You have
? Shoot your hoss then! Shoot him! Here! Let me !
That's the how!
That's
it, get down behind him! Now for my own hoss! Now!
What's
that you are handlin' that way, and boldin' so tight-
my son?
That one
of them automatics? I've beard of that kind of gun!
I wonder
if you can use it-Hi-golly! You got that cuss !
I wisb
that your ma could see us! You bet she'd be proud
of us!
I'm
strong for the old six-gun, son-Sho! That went a little
high!
I guess
they have got your father-feels like a broken thigh-
You got
that one's hoss that time! And I got the rider - dead!
Say! We
will go ridin' bell-ward with half of that band
ahead!
And if
your poor ma could see us-You got 'im! You got
'im! She
When they
have found us I reckon will be proud of her boy
and me!
What's
that? We ain't got 'em running'? The posse! And
just in
time!
I reckon
they'll have to tote me; I ain't in no shape to climb
On a hoss;
but, son, ride by me, I'm proud of the way you
done!
And your
mother will be proud of you. The lord bas givt
us a son!
And if
the spats you are wearin' and the pants you have on
suit you
I'm for 'em!
From bell to breakfast! And I'm for the wrist
watch too !
And the
boys that's riding' for us bas got to outfit like that,
With
spats and skin-tight britches, and wrist-watch and dinky
hat!