Frank's Ranche; Or, My Holiday in the Rockies: Being a Contribution to the Inquiry into What We Are to Do with Our BoysMarston, E. (Edward)
General
Frank's Ranche; Or, My Holiday in the Rockies: Being a Contribution to the Inquiry into What We Are to Do with Our Boys
Marston, E. (Edward)
Rocky Mountains -- Description and travel
_Sunday._—There being no church or place of worship of any kind, I
regret to say, within many miles, we had to content ourselves with some
quiet reading at home. The Church Missionary Societies should look after
these boys scattered about here and there in these mountain wilds. The
day was calm and bright, but by no means cool; the thermometer stood at
125º in the sun. In the afternoon we walked a considerable distance in
the shade of the cañon, and then somewhat foolishly scrambled up one
side of it in order to make a short cut over the mountain towards home,
and a risky climb it was; but on reaching the top we were rewarded by a
fine new view of the whole valley.
There is a remarkable echo up this cañon, equal, I have no doubt, to
that celebrated one at Killarney which, if asked "How do you do, Paddy
Blake?" will answer "Pretty well, I thank you."
_Monday_ we walked up the foothills to look for some grouse and prairie
chickens to shoot, but could not see any, greatly to my friend M.'s
disappointment; he had come well provided with ammunition, both for
large and small game. Unfortunately our time did not admit of very
extended wanderings in search of sport. We then called upon neighbour
McD., an old rancher who has had many rough experiences, and who tells
long stories of perils he had undergone in the early Californian gold
diggings and in fights with Indians. On his ranche he has built a nice
little house, of which I made the accompanying sketch. A house of this
description, of wood planking, comprising two good-sized rooms and a
kitchen on the ground floor, and two bedrooms, can be built for about
250 dollars.
[Illustration: NEIGHBOUR McD.'s COTTAGE.]
He compelled us to stay to dinner. His wife, an active good-looking
Canadian body, bustled about and prepared us an excellent dinner of
hashed chicken, sweet cakes, coffee, and apple tart. She waited upon us
at table and urged us to eat, and was pleased to see with what excellent
appetites we fell to. She was gratified at the well-merited praise we
lavished on her cooking.
After dinner, we had what I may call a musical evening. Frank gave us
some songs, and his friend accompanied him on the guitar.
On _Tuesday_ we drove for fifteen miles across the prairie to the West
Gallatin River, where I was told good fishing may be had. We stayed at a
comfortable hotel which had no licence for strong drinks, and we had to
content ourselves with tea and coffee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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