bloated cows

I would help Gene herd the cow out in the flats to keep them eating. There was not much grass for them, and you had to keep your eyes on them all the time. There were no fences, and you had to keep them together. One time I left Gene to watch the cows. I went back to the ranch to help mama. Gene left the cows alone and they get into a man alfalfa field and get bloated. I do not remember who brought the cows in, but we had to raise their front feet up higher than their back feet, then we would put Coal Oil on their nose, and it would run down their nose and over their mouth. The cows would lick it off; the Coal Oil would help get the gas off of their stomach. Then we would pour cold water on their backs, which also would help to get the gas moving. If that did not work then we would have to stick the cows with a knife to let the gas out. We did not have to do that. I never would stick a cow with a knife, I seen Daphne do it.

That spring we all moved into Cowley, we had to move off the ranch. One night Milton came in, and he was giving mama hell. Milton called Gene names and said that he was going horsewhip him and that he should be sent to a reformatory. Milton said he was paying Gene to take care of the cows, why in the world didn’t he do it. Mama started to cry and I told Milton to shut his damn mouth, that Gene had not been paid any money for watching the cows and besides that he was to young to have that big of a responsibility. I said if you are paying Gene to watch the cows, then where was that money he was to receive. Milton said well I gave it to Doris and she was supposed to give it to Gene. I said, well Doris has never given Gene a cent.

Doris was sitting behind a stove and Maggie was in bed with George. I was at the foot of the bed folding didies. She grabbed a monkey wrench and she raised it up, I looked at her and I said you throw that at me, I’ll throw it right back at you. And I’ll hit you. (I have seen Doris throw spoons at Don, rotten eggs, stick of wood at Milton, I have seen her throw cards at Daphne and Daphne would go off and cry.) I thought boy I’m ready for that, instead of that she hit herself in the temple. Oh, the blood spurted out. Milton got up and ran off and left her. Doris went home, she lived across the street from us. She could of bleed to death. Mama followed her home, and stop the bleeding.