"Pulling Leather"
The "Pulling Leather " sculpture was
donated by Tom to the Men and
Women who opened up Campbell
County and the surrounding area. It
sets in front of the Heritage Center at
Camplex in Gillette Wyoming.
The "Pulling Leather " sculpture was
donated by Tom to the Men and
Women who opened up Campbell
County and the surrounding area. It
sets in front of the Heritage Center at
Camplex in Gillette Wyoming.
Rhonda Sedgwick Sterns lives on the
Great Plains by New Castle, Wyoming.
She met Tom and visited with him about
his life, and the thanks he had for the
many before him. Thus Pullin' Leather
was writin'.
Great Plains by New Castle, Wyoming.
She met Tom and visited with him about
his life, and the thanks he had for the
many before him. Thus Pullin' Leather
was writin'.
| Pullin' Leather You bet, he,s pullin' leather, But goes against his grain; Just like a lot'ta other things Since he settled on these plains. This sin is for his woman, Home alone out on the range; He knows she's feelin' anxious 'Bout the sudden weather change. He knows he has to sit this bronc- An' reach their soddy on time; 'Cause night, alone with howlin' wolves, Could drive her 'crost the line. Only for her sake is he breakin' This much of his cowboy code, 'Cause pullin' leather is pure disgrace- Any hand would rather get throwed! He never dreamed he would be so soft- What happens to a man? When he looks his own child in the eye, Or holds those tiny hands? At times he frets about it, Fearin' the changes time has wrought; Rememberin' how he loved his freedom Is it to late, to count the cost? This cowboy was born a son of Cain, Though now he's actin' more like Abel Was the life he always dreamed of Nothin' but a childhood fable? He was destined to be a nomad, Followin' cattle wherever they'd stray; Instead of putting roots down And takin' a vow to stay But deep inside he feels the pull Of generations yet unborn; The notion that he's breakin' their trails- Makes his duty less forlorn. He gave up shiftin' with the wind, To search out streams an' grass; Now he's buildin' fence an diggin' wells Carvin' their futurefrom his past. Like the red man an' the bison, He's felt the chill winds of change; Does he dream, or just see visions Of years to come upon this range? How well did he meet the challenge- An' face the calling of his time? What impact did his presence here Have upon your life, an' mine? The value of his sacrifice Can neither be measured nor told- But what he did for you an' me Is far more precious than gold. You see, he braved the dreaded, Evil, fearsome thing called "change", An', like a wild bronc that's been broke, Surrendered his freedom on this range. He gave his cowboy ways a threshin' , Like the farmers do with wheat; Painfully decidin' what was chaff, An' what was good enough to keep. While weighing pride an' pleasure 'Gainst the duty that he felt, Ageless wisdom rose to guide his When here beneath the stars he knelt. With lowered head, he surrendeed pride- ( just the willful, shameful part ). The good part rose to spur him on As he vowed to follow his heart; Down duty's path, however hard, Whichever way it turned- To do what was best for the children; He didn't know how, but he'd learn. He rose, determined, to the task, And never once looked back- She stood beside him, proud an' strong, Of love an' courage they knew no lack. Together, over time, they broke new trails, For law an' decency took their stand; And imposed their Western hospitality On a hostile, unforgiving land. Their land we know now as Wyoming- ( In the red tongue "end of the plains," ) It has been- and is- and means- so much, Because of their sacrifice and pain. So, stranger, pause a moment here, To be thankful for the price they paid- In homage to your forebears, vow, To honor their memory as you go on your way. May 25, 1995 Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns |
