Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the zox-news domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121
The Old Maid – Oklahoma Farm & Ranch
Connect with us

Country Lifestyle

The Old Maid

Published

on

This cowboy is believed to be H. Rhodes. (Photo courtesy of Chain Ranch)

By Ralph Chain

Of all the men who worked for us throughout the years, one fellow really stands out in my mind. His name was H. Rhodes, but we called him “H.” H, I guess, could be called a drifter. He was an outstanding person when it came to breaking mules, which we had a lot of. You never knew he was coming, and you never knew when he was leaving. He might come and stay a week or a month or more.

He had a room in my grandmother’s house upstairs where he slept. He always stayed with my grandparents. He knew he always had a job here because he was such a good hand. H was jolly, always laughing, and always brought his guitar and a saddle. He taught me to play the guitar and taught me several songs. One of them was the “Old Maid,” which I never heard before or since.

H taught me that song when I was a little boy, along with some other songs—”Birmingham Jail,” “Frankie and Johnnie” and other old songs.

H also enjoyed the occasional drink. A dance hall was located in Chester, Okla., and another one in Longdale, Okla. One Saturday night H went to Chester and got high on “joy juice.”

He came home Sunday morning to my grandparent’s house. He had gotten married to a girl while they were both drunk, but H said he wanted to stay here and work. We had a small house where they lived for about six months. I do not remember whether H left or the girl, but the marriage didn’t last.

H stayed here awhile and then vanished for some time. We did not know where he went, but one day he came back with his guitar and saddle. He took me out to the car he was driving and said he wanted to show me something. In the trunk was a brand new saddle he had just bought. H stayed for a day or two and then left.

Later on, I found out he had gone to Nevada and worked on a large ranch, more than a million acres, for seven or eight months. He came back, took me out to the car and showed me the saddle. It was nearly worn out.

He said, “That saddle has been my home ever since I left here.” H stayed awhile and then came by one day and said, “I’m going to the U.S. Army. The next time you see me I will be in a wooden overcoat,” meaning a casket. He thought he would get killed, but to his surprise, he survived the war. After a brief visit following his return from the war,
I never saw him again. I think he went to Idaho and died there.

A year or so back, I was asked to give a speech at the Kingfisher County Cattlemen’s Association. I had my guitar and sang two or three songs after my speech. One of the songs was the “Old Maid” that H had taught me. The owner of the Kingfisher County newspaper was there and heard my story and songs, and wrote an article about me.

About a week after the speech I gave in Kingfisher, I received a call from a lady. She said that she used to live in Kingfisher and received the Kingfisher newspaper.

She read my story about the song of the “Old Maid” that I sung. She went on to say that she used to live on a ranch in Nevada, and she remembered a cowboy singing a song about an old maid.

She wondered if that could be the same song. I told her the words to the song over the telephone, and she was amazed and said, “That is the same song I remember the cowboy singing that one night when I was a girl living on this ranch.”

I have often wondered if that could’ve been H. Rhodes who sang the song that the girl heard. She told me her name and the ranch she lived on.

I have never heard the song sung to anyone before or after. That’s the end of the story.

The Old Maid song:

Let me tell you a story of a burglar man who started to rob a house.

He peeked in the window and then he crept as quietly as a mouse.

He was thinking of the money he’d get as under the bed he lay.

But he saw an awful sight that night that made his hair turn gray.

About 9:00 an old maid came in, “I’m so tired,” she said.

She was thinking all was well and forgot to check under the bed.

She took out her teeth, her big glass eye and the hair right off of her head.

This burglar man had 19 fits and came from under the bed.

From under the bed the burglar came; he was a total wreck.

The old maid didn’t holler at all—she just grabbed him around the neck.

From the drawer she drew a revolver and to this burglar said,

“Young man you’ll have to marry me or I’ll blow off the top of your head.”

He looked at her teeth and her big glass eye, and he had no room to scoot.

He said to the old maid standing by, “Woman, for the Lord’s sake shoot!”

I have never heard the song sung to anyone before or after.

Country Lifestyle

Riding for the Brand

Published

on

By: Christopher Dysinger

          According to the Code of the West a man who has integrity is one who rides for the brand. If you are unfamiliar with cowboy parlance this phrase is used to describe being loyal to the outfit you work for. Cowboys were, “intensely loyal to the outfit they were working for and would fight to the death for it. They would follow their wagon boss through hell and never complain.” -Teddy Blue Abbot. Riding for the brand means being loyal and when I consider what it means to be loyal I am reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” To me, to take up the cross and follow the Lord is the epitome of what it means to ride for the brand.

          When you place your trust in the Lord Jesus you are signing on to His outfit, to speak the language of the West. When you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus by faith, He saved you and from this point you are riding for His brand. In taking up your cross and following Him you have pledged to be loyal, and this means you face any hardship or trial like a cowboy on the trail moving the herd. Any complaint must be swallowed in the same way you would swallow a cup of coffee. When I hear our faith and loyalty to the Lord Jesus put into these terms it stirs something within me that moves me to keep right on riding for the brand.

          Louis L’amour wrote, “Riding for the brand was an expression of loyalty to a man’s employer or the particular outfit he rode for. It was considered a compliment of the highest order in an almost feudal society. If a man didn’t like a ranch or the way they conducted their affairs he was free to quit, and many did; but if he stayed, he gave loyalty and expected it. A man was rarely judged by his past only by his actions. Many a man who came west left things behind him he would rather forget, so it was not the custom to ask questions. Much was forgiven if a man had courage and integrity and if he did his job. If a man gave less than his best, somebody always had to pick up the slack, and he was not admired.” It is the same when a person gives his or her heart to Jesus. 

          When you come to the Lord Jesus you are not judged by your past. When you come to the Lord Jesus, repenting of sin and seeking forgiveness, everything from your past is left behind. All will be forgiven. 1 John 1:9 reads, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you place your faith in the Lord Jesus you are promising to be loyal and in return you will receive the same. He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. When you walk with the Lord Jesus through life you are indeed, “riding for the brand.”

          “Riding for the brand” is not just an expression of loyalty nor is it just an expression of pride, it is also an expression of love. When a cowboy claims to be riding for the brand, he is telling any other outfit who may seek his loyalty, that he cannot give it, because he has given his word to another. It is the same when we pledge our faith and loyalty to the Lord Jesus. If any would call us away from Christ we cannot go, because we are riding for the brand.

The End

This article is an excerpt from the book, The Bible and the Code of the West by Dr. Christopher Dysinger.

Continue Reading

Country Lifestyle

Farm Dogs & Table Scraps

Published

on

Growing up on a farm, our dogs were tough. They roamed the pastures, slept under the barn, and ate just about anything they could get their paws on—whether we meant for them to or not. I’ll admit, I never thought twice when one of our old cow dogs snatched a biscuit off the table or licked up a spill from the barn floor. I’ve even seen a dog steal a whole rib bone off a plate and trot off like he’d won the lottery. And somehow, they always seemed fine.

But here’s the thing—just because they survived doesn’t mean it was safe. For every farm dog that lucked out, there’s another that wasn’t so fortunate. Some human foods can be downright toxic to dogs, and a little bit of bad luck (or a smaller, more sensitive dog) can turn a harmless snack into an emergency.

Common toxic foods lying around the farmhouse

Are table scraps good for your dog? (Stock photo)

If you’ve got a farm dog—or any dog, really—you need to be aware of the dangers lurking in everyday foods. Some of the biggest culprits include:

Chocolate – The darker it is, the worse it is. Even a little can cause vomiting, seizures, or worse.

Grapes & Raisins – No one’s exactly sure why, but they can cause kidney failure fast.

Onions & Garlic – In large enough amounts, these can destroy red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Xylitol (Found in Sugar-Free Gum & Candy) – This artificial sweetener can send a dog’s blood sugar crashing and cause liver failure.

Alcohol – Even small amounts can be deadly to dogs, affecting their nervous system much more than it does ours.

Bones from Cooked Meat – While not necessarily toxic, they can splinter and cause serious internal injuries.

Macadamia Nuts – These can lead to weakness, vomiting, and even paralysis in dogs.

What to do if your dog eats something toxic

First, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either. If you know your dog ate something dangerous, call your vet immediately. They can tell you whether to induce vomiting or if it’s something that requires urgent care. If it’s after hours, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).

Prevention is always the best medicine, so keep toxic foods out of reach. That might mean keeping the trash can secured, making sure kids don’t slip the dog a treat under the table, or just being more mindful of what’s left on the counter.

Our farm dogs might have been lucky, but luck isn’t a great strategy when it comes to their health. A little awareness goes a long way in making sure they stay happy, healthy, and ready for the next day’s work.

For more information
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Pet Poison Helpline: www.petpoisonhelpline.com

Visit www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/foods-your-dog-should-never-eat

Continue Reading

Country Lifestyle

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

Published

on

By Lacey Vilhauer

Total time: 40 minutes

Servings: 6-7

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled and 1 1/2 Tbsp rendered bacon fat reserved
  • 1 1/2 lbs yellow squash, chopped (about 3 medium)
  • 2/3 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 Tbsp flour
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 3/4 cup milk (I used 1%)
  • 5 cups canned or fresh cut corn (from about 6 ears corn), divided
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
  • 3/4 tsp salt, then more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, then more to taste if desired
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
  • Chopped green onion for garnish (optional)
  •  

Instructions

Heat 4 tsp reserved bacon fat in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add celery and onion and sauté 2 minutes then add the squash. 

Saute until tender, about 6 minutes, adding in garlic and flour during last 2 minutes of sauteing. Reduce heat slightly.

Add 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 cups of the corn, thyme, salt and pepper to the sauteed veggies. 

To a blender add remaining 3 cups of corn, remaining 1 1/4 cups milk and the cream. Process in blender until nearly smooth (about 30 seconds). 

Add pureed mixture to pot and stir to blend. Cook until mixture reaches a light boil. 

Serve warm with shredded cheese, crumbled bacon and sliced green onions if desired.

Continue Reading
Ad
Ad
Ad

Trending