Everyone had gathered around the corral to see Bill’s
roping style and they got more than they bargained for. Tied tightly with a length of rope
in the corner of the corral fence was a whirling black tornado stirring the air and
hissing menacingly at the on lookers.
"Good bit a ropin’ Bill", one ranch hand
exclaimed as he removed his hat out of respect to Bill’s work. "A might bit
better I’d say than ol’ Canfrey over there." Commented another.
"Pashaw! That was nothin’ ", said Bill as he
dropped the rope still tied tightly around the spinning whirlwind. "Why no sir, I
don’t even like to be complimented on such easy things, it’s
embarrasin’"
COMMENTARY:
It is the early days of yesteryear when stories held the
power and sway to form the opinions and decisions of the people settling the territories.
They looked to the bigger than life wonder of impossible tasks accomplished with the ease
and bravery only the new heroes and heroines seemed to possess. These characters embodied
the intensity of the work, the indomitable pioneer spirit, and so it was with Pecos Bill
who was one of the most unique classic folk heroes in American Folk Lore. His venturesome
deeds bold and brave, his extraordinary skills he performed with great ease with a down
home modesty. Everything that Pecos Bill accomplished matches the wide expanse of the
westward movement and the Lone Star State of Texas where everything is bigger than life,
magnified in freedom, and the unattainable tasks that seemed to be suited in story form to
the tireless energies of the people of the west in this newly settled country. All of this
changed for ol' Pecos with the entrance of Slew Foot Sue, who stole the heroes heart and
showed him that "women are not like any other creature on the face of this here earth
and they are most certainly most amazin' to behold." |
