Weekly Posting of the Conservative Cow Doctor

Recorded for Posterity

What did you do yesterday? Whether you are checking pens, riding the range or stringing wire, your life story will disappear if you do not record it. Fortunately, there are those who journal for the benefit of posterity and Millie was such a person. It was a Tuesday, when Tom and Millie stuffed Phineas, their three-year-old, into the back of the wagon. Joining Phineas was his oldest sister, Rose, who was 13, Roy at 12, Lottie, age 6- and 4-year-old Beatrix. The age gap between Roy and Lottie used to be occupied by sisters Elmira and Lettie, but because they succumbed to Scarlet Fever the previous winter, they would forever remain in Missouri. Tom and Millie Powers, my great, great grandparents, left for Wyoming on September 7th, 1886, and Millie recorded nearly every day on their journey. Here are a couple interesting entries.

On September 16th, on Elm Creek in northern Kansas, the Powers family happened upon some starving boys foraging in a cornfield when the farmer approached. Millie wrote the boys were out of chink, meaning they were broke, and the farmer requested restitution for the consumed corn. They had a bird dog, and because Tom s heart was bigger than his wallet, he bought the dog for three dollars so the lads could pay the farmer. Millie recorded, Don t know as he is good for anything, but now they had a dog.

September 30th, after crossing the South Platte River in Nebraska, they discovered they had left their dog in town. Of course, we couldn t stand that, so we turned our horses heads, went and hunted him up. Four days later, Millie writes, Our dog we find is a very good one. He is so obedient.

This brings me to Thursday, October 7th, exactly one month since they began their journey. Tom was hunting and Millie tended the wee ones while she washed, ironed and baked that evening. Let that soak in. The Powers family was halfway through a 1,000-mile camping trip and Millie washes and irons her children s clothes and this brings me to my point.

America 2023 is a cesspool compared to what it was in 1886. Back then, the virtues of self-discipline and self-respect were held in higher regard than self-esteem. All that matters today is how you feel about yourself. Washing and ironing the clothes of your children was the fitting and proper thing to do whether you were headed to church or going camping because if you dress like a slob, you act like a slob. US Senator John Fetterman was unavailable for comment.