Ca-hootenanny!

Remember this poster?

For part of Spring Break we had a Pony Express extravaganza, a ca-hootenanny if you will. We read stories, painted, sang songs, ate cowboy grub and just enjoyed learning.

We learned about the pledge the pony riders took before they were allowed to ride:

“I do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors & Waddell, that I will, under no circumstances, use profane language; that I will drink no intoxicating liquors; that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers. So help me God.”

I wouldn’t mind at all if my children lived by that.

I printed out reminder cards of each for them. With all the rough and tumble of playing cowboys it sure is nice to remember this part of the cowboy spirit.  I was also able to use the cards when I taught my Bear Scouts about the Pony Express.

{card credits: Cosmo Cricket Wanted Collection}

Another good source of cowboy values is Roy Rogers Riders Rules:
Be neat and clean.
Be courteous and polite.
Always obey your parents.
Protect the weak and help them.
Be brave, but never take chances.
Study hard and learn all you can.
Be kind to animals and care for them.
Eat all your food and never waste any.
Love God and go to Sunday School regularly.
Always respect our flag and our country.

I love that keeping the rules was part of being in Roy Rogers Riders Club and that he wrote a prayer to be read at the beginning of each meeting:

“Lord, I reckon I’m not much just by myself,
I fail to do a lot of things I ought to do.
But Lord, when trails are steep and passes high,
Help me ride it straight the whole way through.

And when in the falling dusk I get that final call,
I do not care how many flowers they send,
Above all else, the happiest trail would be,
For You to say to me, ‘Let’s ride, My Friend.’
Amen”

Makes me want to start up a Riders Club right under my roof.