DJ's Old Western Roundup

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The Wild West 1865-1889

While the Eastern United States was beginning to experience the the Second Industrial Revolution (which started around 1871), the frontier was beginning to fill up. In the early days of the wild west, a lot of the land was in the public domain, open both to livestock raising as open range and to homesteading. Throughout much of the Old West during this time, there was little to no local law enforcement and the military had only concentrated presence in the area at specific locations. Buffalo hunters, railroad workers, drifters and soldiers scrapped and fought, leading to the shootings where men died with their boots on. In the cities, business houses, dance halls and saloons catered to the Texas cattle drive trade. The historic Chisholm Trail was used for cattle drives. The trail ran for 800 miles from South Texas to Abilene, Kansas and was used from 1867 to 1887 to drive cattle northward to the railhead of the Kansas Pacific Railway, where they were shipped eastward. The trail was named after Jesse Chisholm who had built a number of trading posts. Cattle rustling was sometimes serious offense and was always a hazard for the expeditions. It could result in the rustler's lynching by vigilantes (but most stories of this type are fictional). Mexican rustlers were a major issue during the American Civil War, with the Mexican government being accused of supporting the habit. Texans likewise stole cattle from Mexico, swimming them across the Rio Grande.

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A COWBOY’S PRAYER

God? I don't mean to bother you none
It's been a spell since I talked to you last.
I reckon I ought to thank you for all you do
Cause this ole cowboy has had quite a past.

I'm gettin' too old to drive these herds
My bones hurt and my temper gets short
But somehow these younger boys need this old man
When they get to missin' home and get a little out of sorts.

As I lay here lookin' up at the stars
I can't imagine not bein' right here
Listenin' to the night critters makin' their noise
You're lookin' down on me so I have nothing to fear.

You've been really good to me
You've given me a lot of years to ride these trails
It's fed my family but not made me rich
And my youngin's love my tall tales.

I pray you'll guide me along with all these cattle
Along the way let there be plenty of water and feed
And keep the wind a gentle breeze and clouds in the sky
Cause with these things it's all we really need.

I'm gonna say goodnight for now
I always feel a might better after talkin' with you
Thank you for listening to this old cowboy
And God....I love you too.

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