The coyote's Winter howl cuts the dusk behind the hill, But the ranch's shinin' window I kin see, And though I don't deserve it and, I reckon, never will, There'll be room beside the fire kep' for me. Skimp my plate 'cause I'm late. Let me hit the old kid gait, For tonight I'm stumblin' tired of the new And I'm ridin' up the Christmas trail to you, Old folks, I'm a-ridin' up the Christmas trail to you. A BORDER AFFAIR Spanish is the lovin' tongue, Soft as music, light as spray. 'Twas a girl I learnt it from, Livin' down Sonora way. I don't look much like a lover, Yet I say her love words over Often when I'm all alone-- "Mi amor, mi corazon." Nights when she knew where I'd ride She would listen for my spurs, Fling the big door open wide, Raise them laughin' eyes of hers And my heart would nigh stop beatin' When I heard her tender greetin', Whispered soft for me alone-- "Mi amor! mi corazon!" Moonlight in the patio, Old Señora noddin' near, Me and Juana talkin' low So the Madre couldn't hear-- How those hours would go a-flyin'! And too soon I'd hear her sighin' In her little sorry tone-- "Adios, mi corazon!" But one time I had to fly For a foolish gamblin' fight, And we said a swift goodbye In that black, unlucky night. When I'd loosed her arms from clingin' With her words the hoofs kep' ringin' As I galloped north alone-- "Adios, mi corazon!" Never seen her since that night. I kaint cross the Line, you know. She was Mex and I was white; Like as not it's better so. Yet I've always sort of missed her Since that last wild night I kissed her, Left her heart and lost my own-- "Adios, mi corazon!" THE BUNK-HOUSE ORCHESTRA Wrangle up your mouth-harps, drag your banjo out, Tune your old guitarra till she twangs right stout, For the snow is on the mountains and the wind is on the plain, But we'll cut the chimney's moanin' with a livelier refrain. _Shinin' 'dobe fireplace, shadows on the wall--_ _(See old Shorty's friv'lous toes a-twitchin' at the call:)_ _It's the best grand high that there is within the law_ _When seven jolly punchers tackle "Turkey in the Straw."_ Freezy was the day's ride, lengthy was the trail, Ev'ry steer was haughty with a high arched tail, But we held 'em and we shoved 'em, for our longin' hearts were tried By a yearnin' for tobacker and our dear fireside. _Swing 'er into stop-time, don't you let 'er droop!_ _(You're about as tuneful as a coyote with the croup!)_ _Ay, the cold wind bit when we drifted down the draw,_ _But we drifted on to comfort and to "Turkey in the Straw."_ Snarlin' when the rain whipped, cussin' at the ford-- Ev'ry mile of twenty was a long discord, But the night is brimmin' music and its glory is complete When the eye is razzle-dazzled by the flip o' Shorty's feet!