10

"THE COWBOY KID" - The Boy Marksman.

Johnnie Baker was born at O'Fallan's
Bluffs, on the banks of the South
Platte river, in Western Nebraska,
in the year 1870. His father is the
well-known "Old Lew Baker, the
ranchman," and was the owner of
Lew Baker's O'Fallon's Bluff Ranch,
in its day an important land-mark.
This place was one of the most noted
on the great overland trail, - the
scenes, incidents, Indian attacks, etc.,
belonging to exhaustive pages in the
early history of that, in old times,
exposed and dangerous section. Here
Johnnie's babyhood was passed in
unconscious proximity to dangers,
seldom courted by the most sturdy,
and his first "bug-a-boo" was not of
the maternal Imagining, but an existing
fact, continually threatening, in
the shape of the heartless savage
Sioux. Cradled amid such pioneer
surroundings, and dandled on the
knees of all the most celebrated frontiermen,
the genuine old buckskin
trappers, -- the first frontier invaders,
-- his childhood witnessed the declining
glories of the buffalo-hunters'
paradise (it being the heart of their
domain), and the advent of his superior,
"the long horn of Texas," and
his necessary companion, "The Cowboy."

The appearance of these brave,
generous, free-hearted, self-sacrificing,
rough riders of the Plains, literally
living in the saddle, enduring exposure,
hunger, risk of health and life
as a duty to the employer, gave him
his first communion with society beyond
the sod-cabin threshold, and
impressed his mind, as well as directed
his aspirations, to an emulation of the
manly qualities necessary to be ranked
a true American Cowboy. Under the circumstances, what better tutors? and as a result who so qualified, who so fit, to
be presented as the juvenile representative of the fast-fading frontier, than Johnnie Baker, the Cowboy Kid?

When the Pony Express, the Stage Coach, and the wagon-trains were supplanted by the steam-horse, Baker's station
became useless, and "Old Lew" moved bag and baggage to North Platte, a little town of magical railroad growth. Here
he built a fine house, which became the headquarters of the "old-timers," and many a tender-foot can remember the thrilling
incidents related of "life on the trail," -- a life that now belongs alone to history and to romance, -- while Old Lew dispensed
hospitality like a prince. But the ways of "city life," a too-big heart, of which the "shiftless, genial affinities" and
rounders took due advantage, caused his former prosperity to be a remembrance only, and Johnie to work manfully, for one
of his age, to lend a helping hand. Perfectly at home in the saddle, he was never content unless with some Cowboy outfit,
or at Mr. Cody's (whose homestead, extensive horse and cattle ranches, are near), where his active spirit found congenial
associations until he became recognized as "Buffalo Bill's boy." In the winter months he occasionally went to school, and
being an apt scholar, has a fair education. Mr. Cody, on organizing his distinctively American exhibition to illustrate truthfully
life in the far West, with the aid of only genuine characters to portray scenes in which they have figured, could not
leave little Johnnie out -- for who more to "the manor born," and entitled to a place? The frontier answers, none. He can
be seen every day with the Wild West, mounted on his fiery little mustang, riding, roping, shooting, -- repeating on the
mimic scene his own experience, and the boyhood life of his elder, more famed associates, and any boy of his own age who
can excel him shooting, riding, and lassoing, can "break every man in the outfit," as there are none who will not risk their
pile on "THE COWBOY KID."

Major FRANK J. NORTH,
THE WHITE CHIEF OF THE PAWNEES,
Died 14th March, 1885.

A man whose honor was "the finest sense
Of justice which the human mind can frame,
Intent each lurking frailty to disclaim
And guard the way of life from all offense."

Capt. D. L. PAYNE,
THE CIMARRON SCOUT AND OKLAHOMA RAIDER,
Died 28th November, 1884.

His house was known to all the vagrant train ;
He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain ;
The long-remembered beggar was his guest,
Whose beard descending, swept his aged breast.

"THE COWBOY KID" - The Boy Marksman.

Johnie Baker was born at O'Fallan's Bluffs, on the banks of the South Platte River, in Western Nebraska, in the year 1870. His father is the well-known "Old Lew Baker, the ranchman," and was the owner of Lew Baker's O'Fallon's Bluff Ranch, in its day an important land-mark. This place was one of the most noted on the great overland trail, - the scenes, incidents, Indian attacks, etc. belonging to exhaustive pages in the early history of that, in old times, exposed and dangerous section. Here Johnnie's babyhood was passed in unconscious proximity to dangers, seldom courted by the most sturdy, and his first "bug-a-boo" was not of the material Imagining, but an exisiting fact, continually threatening, in the shape of the heartless savage Sioux. Cradled amid such pioneer surroundings, and dandled on the knees of all the most celebrated frontiermen, the genuine old buckskin trappers, - the first frontier invaders, - his childhood witnessed the declining glories of the buffalo-hunters' paradise (it being the heart of their domain), and the advent of his superior, "the long horn of Texas," and his necessary companion, "The Cowyboy."

The appearance of these brave, generous, free-hearted, self-sacrificing, rough riders of the Plains, literally living in the saddle, enduring exposure, hunger, risk of health and life as a duty to the employer, gave him his first communion with society beyond the sod-cabin threshold, and impressed his mind, as well as directed his aspirations, to an emulation of the manly qualities necessary to be ranked a true American Cowby. Under the circumstances, what better tutors? and as a result who so qualified, who as fit, to be presented as the juvenile representatives of the fast-fading frontier, than Johnnie Baker, the Cowboy Kid?

When the Pony Express, the Stage Coach, and the wagon-trains were supplanted by the steam-horse, Baker's station became useless, and "Old Lew" moved bag and baggage to North Platte, a little town a magical railroad growth. Here he built a fine house, which became the headquarters of the "old-timers," and many a tender-foot can remember the thrilling incidents related of "life on the trail," - a life that now belongs alone to hisotry and to romance. - while Old Lew dispensed hospitality like a prince. But the ways of "city life," a too-big heart, of which the "shiftless, genial affinities" and rounders took due advantage, caused his former prosperity to be a remembrance only, and Johnie to work manfully, for one of his age, to lend a helping hand. Perfectly at home in the saddle, he was never content unless with some Cowboy outfit, or at Mr. Cody's (whose homestead, extensive horse and cattle ranches, are near), where his active spirit found congenial associates until he became recognized as "Buffalo Bill's boy." In the winter months he occassionally went to school, and being an apt scholar, has a fait educaiton. Mr. Cody, on organizing his distinctively American exhibition to illustrate turthfully life in the far West, with the aid of only genuine characters to portray scenes in which they have figured, could not leave little Johnnie out - for who more to "the manor born," and entitled to a place? The frontier answers, none. He can be seen every day with the Wild West, mounted on his fiery little mustang, riding, roping, shooting, - repeating on the mimic scene his own experience, and the boyhood life of his elder, more famed associated, and any boy of his own age who can excel him shooting, riding, and lassoing can "break every man in the outfit," as there are none who will not risk their pile on "THE COWBOY KID."