Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1895 — NOT EIGHT-HOUR MEN. [ARTICLE]

NOT EIGHT-HOUR MEN.

Two Cow Punchers Whose Contract Kept Them a Loae Time on Duty. Sim Whackllp and Ru Haeketon were two cow punchers employed by old man Gibley, and a clause in their contract specified the hours of labor to be from sunup to sundown. Way up in. the lofty mountain park ranged the beef steer of old man Gibley, culling the rank grasses and piling on pounds of fat for the benefit of Armour. Sim and Rue .were close-herding the steers, and sat in the saddle from dawn till dusk, masticating plug tobacco and bewailing their lot in life. “I’m no calamity howler,” said Sim, “but it does seem to me that the days up here are uncommon long. They 'pear a heap longer than down in Texas, and pecooiiar, too, the nights are’ a heap shorter. What's the matter with this year no ’count country, anyhow? Seems like a feller don’t mor’n slide outen the saddle ‘fore he’s crawi’a’ onto ther bronk agin. Tong ez I did live I never see sick days fur breadth and stayin’ qualities.” Rue was more taciturn, but coincided in his partner’s opinion that the days wenj lengthy, and suggested that perhaps toe agreement calling for work from sun to sun had affected their imagination. “ Tain’t so,” said Sim.

“Old Gib-ley knew what he was a-doing when he drawed that fool contract. If I hadn’t been on the hog 1 wouldn’t n-goue to work. Let’s climb that old mountain and see how the sun works up here in Colorado.” So the sinking sun that night found our two punchers on the loftiest peak, prepared to make observations. Sim got on the western slope and was to report the setting to Ru, who occupied the opposite side of the summit. Just as the upper edge of the flery orb cut the horizon Sim warned his fellow, with "There she goes,” and received the depressing response of, “Yes, and here she comes, by thunder,” pointing to the first crack of dawn in the East.—Denver Field and Farm.