Small Town News

Goofing up at the pasture gate

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Memories and Tales

One summer day, Dave and I were going to move some cows from one pasture through two other pastures and into what Dave called the "Summer Pasture." It was called this because it had plenty of water and fresh grass.

We saddled-up early, in order to get through before it got hot, we left heading north out of the home place, through the Patterson Place, that Dave had leased, and into the Methodist Church Pasture which he also had leased. We had two dogs. Buster and Queen, and with their help it didn't take long to get the 28 mother cows and their calves bunched and headed toward the Patterson pasture. We had left die gaps open between each of the three places; the Methodist, the Patterson, and the Home Place. The only gate was on the road between the Home Place and the Summer Pasture.

Everything went well as we pushed the cattle through the gap between the Methodist Pasture and the Patterson Place. Dave kept the cattle moving while I stopped and closed the gap. Same thing going from the Patterson Place into the Home Place. As we entered the Home Place, Dave hollered at me saying, "After you close this gap, slip around between the cattle and the woods, and go ahead and be sure the gate is open going into the Summer Pasture." After I closed the gap, I slipped around the cows singing, "I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande." I got around the cattle and put old Roan in a lope and got on up to the gate. Then tragedy struck. I couldn't remember if Dave said make sure the gate is opened or closed. While 1 was trying to remember, the cattle caught up with me and when they couldn't get through the gate they begin to spread out through the woods. Just exactly what Dave did not want. He, with a loud voice, cried, ##$%A&&#@#$%. I wasn't sure just what that meant, I did know that he was very mad.

It took us two days to get all of the cattle out of the woods, into a catch pen and through the gate, that I made certain was open for them. Dave didn't say very much to me during those two days.

Clayton "Buddy" Hazed was'bom almost 80 years ago. at home, in a small Texas town. He has been in Malakoff since 1973 and is recently retired as pastor of Parkview Baptist Church. His column is excerpted from his book, "Memories, Tales and Special Events of My Life." If you are interested in a copy of the book (there's now a Vol. 2). contact The MalakojfNews at 903-489-053 J.



Copyright 2011 The Malakoff News, Malakoff, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Malakoff News Malakoff, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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