Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE COWBOYS' CHRISTMAS BALL, by WILLIAM LAWRENCE CHITTENDEN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE COWBOYS' CHRISTMAS BALL, by                    
First Line: Way out in western texas where the clear fork waters flow
Last Line: "that lively-gaited sworray — ""the cowboys' christmas ball."
Alternate Author Name(s): Chittenden, Larry
Subject(s): Christmas; Cowboys; Dancing & Dancers; Ranch Life; West (u.s.); Nativity, The; Southwest; Pacific States


'WAY out in Western Texas, where the Clear Fork's waters flow,
Where the cattle are "a-browzin'," and the Spanish ponies grow;
Where the Norther "comes a-whistlin'" from beyond the Neutral strip
And the prairie dogs are sneezin', as if they had "the Grip";
Where the coyotes come a-howlin' round the ranches after dark,
And the mocking-birds are singin' to the lovely "medder lark";
Where the 'possum and the badger, and rattle-snakes abound,
And the monstrous stars are winkin' o'er a wilderness profound;
Where lonesome, tawny prairies melt into airy streams,
While the Double Mountains slumber in heavenly kinds of dreams;
Where the antelope is grazin' and the lonely plovers call—
It was there that I attended "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."

The town was Anson City, old Jones's county seat,
Where they raise Polled Angus cattle, and waving whiskered wheat;
Where the air is soft and "bammy," an' dry an' full of health,
And the prairies is explodin' with agricultural wealth;
Where they print the Texas Western, that Hec. McCann supplies,
With news and yarns and stories, of most amazin' size;
Where Frank Smith "pulls the badger," on knowin' tender feet,
And Democracy's triumphant, and mighty hard to beat;
Where lives that good old hunter, John Milsap from Lamar,
Who "used to be the sheriff, back East, in Paris, sah!"
'Twas there, I say, at Anson, with the lively "Widder Wall,"
That I went to that reception, "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."

The boys had left the ranches and come to town in piles;
The ladies — "kinder scatterin'"— had gathered in for miles.
And yet the place was crowded, as I remember well,
'Twas got for the occasion at "The Morning Star Hotel."
The music was a fiddle and a lively tambourine,
And a "viol come imported," by stage from Abilene.
The room was togged out gorgeous — with mistletoe and shawls,
And candles flickered frescoes around the airy walls.
The "wimmin folks" looked lovely — the boys looked kinder treed,
Till their leader commenced yellin': "Whoa, fellers, let's stampede."
The music started sighin' and a-wailin' through the hall,
As a kind of introduction to "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."

The leader was a fellow that came from Swenson's Ranch,
They called him "Windy Billy," from "little Deadman's Branch."
His rig was "kinder keerless," big spurs and high-heeled boots;
He had the reputation that comes when "fellers shoots."
His voice was like the bugle upon the mountain's height;
His feet were animated, an' a mighty movin' sight,
When he commenced to holler, "Neow, fellers, stake yer pen!
Lock horns to all them heifers, an' russle 'em like men.
Saloot yer lovely critters; neow swing an' let 'em go,
Climb the grape vine round 'em — all hands do-ce-do!
You Mavericks, jine the round-up — Jest skip her waterfall,"
Huh! hit wuz gittin' happy, "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball!"

The boys were tolerable skittish, the ladies powerful neat,
That old bass viol's music just got there with both feet.
That wailin' frisky fiddle, I never shall forget;
And Windy kept a singin' — I think I hear him yet —
"O Xes, chase your squirrels, an' cut 'em to one side,
Spur Treadwell to the center, with Cross P Charley's bride,
Doc. Hollis down the middle, an' twine the ladies' chain,
Varn Andrews pen the fillies in big T. Diamond's train.
All pull yer freight tergether, neow swallow fork an' change,
'Big Boston' lead the trail herd, through little Pitchfork's range.
Purr round yer gentle pussies, neow rope 'em! Balance all!"
Huh! hit wuz gittin' active — "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball!"

The dust riz fast an' furious, we all just galloped round,
Till the scenery got so giddy, that Z Bar Dick was downed.
We buckled to our partners, an' told 'em to hold on,
Then shook our hoofs like lightning until the early dawn.
Don't tell me 'bout cotillions, or germans. No sir-'ee!
That whirl at Anson City just takes the cake with me.
I'm sick of lazy shufflin's, of them I've had my fill,
Give me a fronteer breakdown, backed up by Windy Bill.
McAllister ain't nowhere! when Windy leads the show,
I've seen 'em both in harness, an' so I sorter know —
Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget yer, and I'll oftentimes recall,
That lively-gaited sworray — "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."





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