Next morning 'bout day break we started our work, Our horses, like 'possums, felt fine. Each one "tendin' knittin'," none tryin' to shirk! So the round-up got on in good time. Well, we worked for a week till the country was clean And the bosses said, "Now, boys, we'll stay here. We'll carve and we'll trim 'em and start out a herd Up the east trail from old Abilene." Next morning all on herd, and but two with the cut, And the boss on Piute, carving fine, Till he rode down his horse and had to pull out, And a new man went in to clean up. Well, after each outfit had worked on the band There was only three head of them left; When Nig Add from L F D outfit rode in,-- A dictionary on earmarks and brands. He cut the two head out, told where they belonged; But when the last cow stood there alone Add's eyes bulged so he didn't know just what to say, 'Ceptin', "Boss, dere's something here monstrous wrong! "White folks smarter'n Add, and maybe I'se wrong; But here's six months' wages dat I'll give If anyone'll tell me when I reads dis mark To who dis longhorned cow belong! "Overslope in right ear an' de underbill, Lef' ear swaller fork an' de undercrop, Hole punched in center, an' de jinglebob Under half crop, an' de slash an' split. "She's got O Block an' Lightnin' Rod, Nine Forty-Six an' A Bar Eleven, T Terrapin an' Ninety-Seven, Rafter Cross an' de Double Prod. "Half circle A an' Diamond D, Four Cross L and Three P Z, B W I bar, X V V, Bar N cross an' A L C. "So, if none o' you punchers claims dis cow, Mr. Stock 'Sociation needn't git 'larmed; For one more brand more or less won't do no harm, So old Nigger Add'l just brand her now." OLD TIME COWBOY Come all you melancholy folks wherever you may be, I'll sing you about the cowboy whose life is light and free. He roams about the prairie, and, at night when he lies down, His heart is as gay as the flowers in May in his bed upon the ground. They're a little bit rough, I must confess, the most of them, at least; But if you do not hunt a quarrel you can live with them in peace; For if you do, you're sure to rue the day you joined their band. They will follow you up and shoot it out with you just man to man. Did you ever go to a cowboy whenever hungry and dry, Asking for a dollar, and have him you deny? He'll just pull out his pocket book and hand you a note,-- They are the fellows to help you whenever you are broke. Go to their ranches and stay a while, they never ask a cent; And when they go to town, their money is freely spent. They walk straight up and take a drink, paying for every one, And they never ask your pardon for anything they've done.