|
 February
14th, 1887
Dear
Joe,
I
got your letter with the poems sent along . . .
I think the one called "Nellie Dear" would make a
pretty song.
"This
Ain't No Bull" is funny--how you chased that moss back
steer,
and "High Lonesome" made me wonder if you're
missing things back here.
The
one entitled "High Jinks," well, that really made
me laugh!
I had to shed a tear or two when I read your
"Maverick Calf". . .
And
the one about the saddle "creaking, squeaking, speaking
low;"
And I liked "A Cowboy's Christmas", 'bout the pine
trees in the snow.
Mama's
standing here reminding me about that final poem,
The one you called, "My Sweetheart," 'bout a
cowboy all alone.
She
says it's a proposal of marriage, she can see,
'Especially since his name is Joe, and the girl is Nell,
like me.
Mama
says a cowboy's lot is rough, and I guess I must agree,
the lonely life of a cowman's wife would not appeal to me.
Now,
maybe, if you'd come back home (Ohio's nice, you know)
And work in Uncle Ralph's feed store, we could talk about
it, Joe.
Well,
I guess that's all. Good night, now. I hope your horse is
well.
Thanks for the poems. Keep writing,
Yours
very truly,
P.S.
I write by candle light, now Mama's gone to bed;
She'll go to town tomorrow, and she'll mail this then, she
said.
Regarding tonight's letter, you can disregard the rest;
My answer to your question, Joe, is "Yes! Yes! Yes!
Yes! Yes!"
I want to be a cowman's wife! I want to hear you
sing!
I want to hear you say, "I do", as you place on my
hand a ring. . . .
Come
and get me, Joe, my cowboy! I can scarcely wait until
we ride off into the sunset!
Sealed with love,
Your sweetheart,
|
