Cowboy Joe   I remember a story told me about a cowboy name of Joe He was born under a tree out where the hard winds blow grew up in a mining town where his folks ran a store learned from his ma to tell the truth, sweeping on the floor   when he was sixteen he hired on to cowboy at a spread the range life allowed him chances to straighten out his head took a few years but he made a hand, got on well with the boss had himself a pony that was his favorite hoss   one day he got a letter said his ma and pa were down and out he asked for time and his boss said "Go see what it's about." the kid rode to the town and found it's glory days were gone then found his folks in a shack as he arrived at dawn   they needed help cause his dad owed money to a man a loan secured by the store then the mines had another plan they were strapped and had sold all to pay as much they could they'd even tried gathering and selling small amounts of wood   Well the kid had saved his money, had enough to pay the loan Then packed his folks up in their wagon and tied on his roan "We'll head out to the ranch it'll take about four days." they insisted on work, cause truth and honesty were their ways   Joe talked to the foreman, asked if his folks could stay Til they could get a place, do some chores instead of pay And so it was for several years until his father died Then Joe and his mother moved to town where they did abide   The cowboy life was over and Joe met a girl and settled down They ran a store and he became postmaster, he never wore a frown His mother helped out with the kids and then she passed away And life went on ahead with no regrets about each day   This was a story about a cowboy who had the name of Joe He was born under a tree out where the hard winds blow He grew up in a mining town where his folks ran a store learned from his ma to tell the truth, while sweeping on the floor

©Steve Dirksen