- You are watching a production of South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

- Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Laura Ingles Wilder Pageant Society's annual Christmas play.

Tonight's show is Badger Clark, the cowboy poet.

Please note there will be a panel discussion of Badger Clark by those who knew him and those who have made it their work to study him from a historical perspective.

After the radio play is as finished, this is a two act play, but we will take no intermission between acts.

After the show is concluded, we will adjourn for a few minutes for cocoa and cookies.

At that time, we'd like you to join us in the conference center West for a panel discussion with our distinguished guest panelists that can be found on the opposite side of the entrance that you came in today.

Now let me begin the story of why we're here today.

It's the Laura Ingles Wilder pageant.

Society's honor to to help bring the stories of South Dakota pioneers who have made our history rich with the narrative of what it means to be a true native of the plains.

In other words, a south Dakotan in the, in the tradition of Laura Ingles Wilder, who made our first settlers so alive through her stories.

As a young girl living the pioneer life, we are here to honor Badger Clark, the first poet laureate of South Dakota and a famous poet of the cowboy life.

Before we begin our journey, let me take a few minutes to introduce you to our sponsors whose continued support allows us to bring you this evening's production.

We want to honor Arts Midwest Gig Fund.

This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest Gig Fund, a program of arts Midwest that is supported by the National Endowment of the Arts with additional contribution by the South Dakota Endowment of the Arts.

Funding for the Cowboy poet Badger Clark Radio play was provided by the Mary Chilton Chapter, national Society Daughters of the American Revolution Foundation through the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

In addition, we honor those local businesses who have supported the Laura Ingalls legacy year after year with their sponsorships of the summer pageant and Christmas play.

They're the following.

The best popping agency knows, just as the pioneers knew the value of community helping those in need is that the core value of her agency going above and beyond could almost be the mission statement of Disman Farm Mutual.

This agency, which has been in the Disit community for more than 100 years, has built its corporate soul on helping others.

The Laura Ingles Wilder Memorial Society was the first to capture the dream of the Ingles family and the history of Disman South Dakota.

Please stop by the gift shop to visit the world of Laura Ingles Wilder.

The homestead that PA Ingles chose is today the living history farm.

Ingles Homestead is a work of passion for the Sullivan family who care take the land and the legacy of Homestead life.

INGO's Homestead welcomes you all.

The South Dakota Farmer's Union is all about keeping the family farm a successful operation, examining the past, working in the present, and preparing for the future.

South Dakota's Farmer's Union, a helping hand for all.

Prairie Ag Partners wears many hats for the agricultural community of Dispen and the surrounding areas with multiple locations and the staff who understands the immediacy of the business, you can count on them to have what you need when you need it.

Understanding the value of money and the hard work that it takes to get it is at the heart of what American Bank and trust brings to its members.

Visit the folks at a b and t to see how they can ensure your future.

So folks, many of us who grew up in South Dakota know of Badger Clark.

Some learned of him when they visited Custer State Park in the Black Hills, whereas home the Badger Hole is kept as a museum.

Some learned of him through one of his many books of poetry, however many do not.

As his fame and influence has waned, school textbooks have found newer poets to include in their curriculum.

Those of us who remember learning about him in school, wish there was room for this gentleman to influence newer generations.

Badger Clark was quite famous in his day.

His poetry was used across the nation and in all walks of life some of his verses were put to music.

An early western recording artist sang of his words in many of cowboys song and movie.

While we think of him as a native son, Charles Badger Clark was actually born in Albion, Iowa on January 1st in 1883.

His father was a Methodist minister and his mother, Mary Allen, a Quaker, that firm foundation and the glory of God stayed with him and guided him in his life and poetry.

His father, Charles Badger Sr. Is remembered mostly as the pastor who presided at Calamity Jane's funeral while serving as pastor in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Badger and his older brothers grew up in South Dakota, first as homesteaders and then as pastors children in Mitchell, Huron and Deadwood Badger graduated from high school in Deadwood and was engaged to a young woman from his class.

Her parents, however, didn't approve of the union and the young woman withdrew her consent.

Badger consoled himself by going to Cuba for a couple of years.

It started out as an attempt to colonize the island nation, but ended in badger spending time in a Cuban prison for assault and theft as he recounts it.

A truly hilarious set of bizarre circumstances that led to his incarceration, acquitted of the most serious charges.

Badger boarded the first vessel out of Havana and headed home.

However, Badger contracted tuberculosis, which was a common and dangerous illness at the time, and sent himself to Arizona to recover.

He ended up at the Cross Eye Quarter Circle Ranch near Tombstone, Arizona.

Unfortunately, Badger knew the seriousness of this disease because it had already taken his mother and his beloved older brother Fred.

This trip to Arizona was originally to be cured of tb but ended up being the foundation of his great appreciation for the cowboy life.

Living a lonely existence in an Adobe Hutt, did nothing but Exhilarate Badger.

This is when he began trying his hand at poetry.

One of his first efforts was a poem called In Arizona and he sent it to his new stepmother, Anna or Rachel Clark.

She surprised him by sending it off to the Pacific Monthly Magazine in California.

The publisher printed it and sent him a check for $10.

When he got the check, he chuckled and stated, that was the prettiest little slip of blue paper I had ever seen.

He decided then and there that if people would pay for poetry, he had a job for life from then on.

He spent his life working as a poet and lecture speaker in various Midwestern states, but primarily South Dakota.

As the years went by, he influenced thousands of graduates with his commencement speeches.

He spoke of the freedom of wide open spaces and the simplicity of a life well lived.

Badger Clark was an original in life and even though he's been gone for over half a century, his work still inspires us.

And now let us begin our program for the evening - And stops in between.

Please board the bus.

If you need help with your luggage, please see your driver.

The bus will leave 10 minutes.

- Mother, why are we getting on so early?

I wanted to finish my soda pop.

- You don't need that pop.

You need to keep your figure.

No man wants a woman with too much Pudge - Mother.

I don't care what a man thinks.

I'm fine just as I am.

- You just keep thinking that way and you'll end up like your cousin Shirley, 27 and not a husband in sight.

- Mama, we've talked about this.

I don't need help finding a husband.

If I need one, I'll find one on my own - If you need one.

Where are you getting these notions?

Is that what they're teaching you in school these days?

- Mother?

It's 1941.

Women are capable of doing just fine on their own.

- Well with thinking like that, you'd better hope so.

Here, let's sit here.

- Why here in the middle of the bus?

Don't you want to be closer to the door?

- Oh no.

This is much better to see who's traveling with us.

- Pop.

Can we sit here?

I can see all the way around.

Pop.

- I wanna sit here too.

Can I sit across on the other side?

- No.

Let's see how many people get on the bus.

If there's room you can sit across from us.

Thanks, - Pop.

- Hey Pop.

There's some army men getting on.

Can I talk to them?

- No, Billy, we don't wanna bother them.

They may be really tired.

You know, fighting war.

That's fierce business.

Let's just wait to see what's what before we go asking him about the war.

- Okay.

Hey Bonnie, why I play I spy?

- Okay, I'll start.

I spy with my little eye.

Something with feathers.

- No you didn't.

Oh wait, look at that lady's hat.

Are those feathers?

- I think so, but they look kind of shiny.

What kind of bird has those feathers?

- I don't know, but I'm going to ask her.

Billy, - Wait.

Oh dear.

- Hello ma'am.

If you don't mind, me and my sister, were wondering what kind of feathers you have on your hat, - Billy.

Don't bother that nice lady.

- Why?

I don't mind at all.

They're called caper Kaley.

My son sent this hack to me from England.

- Is he in the war?

- No, Billy, that's none of our business.

- It's all right.

I know young boys have a fascination for the war.

Yes, he's in the war now and stationed in England.

- Has he killed anybody?

- Billy, that is not a question you ask people.

- Yes, Billy, you apologize to the lady and be respectful.

- I'm sorry ma'am.

I was just wondering.

- Apology accepted.

Dear child.

My son keeps that sort of thing to himself so I couldn't answer you anyway.

- Where to sit?

Where to sit?

Oh, here we have it.

Room for the presents in my bag.

Excuse me, ma'am, as I reach over - You.

Oh, that's quite all right.

Heavens, you have lots of lovely presents to put away.

Someone or someone, ones are going to be very happy.

- Yes ma'am.

I'm going to my nephews for the holidays.

I wouldn't be the right kind of uncle if I didn't have any presence for the family.

- Last call for passengers Rapid City and stops in between leaving in five minutes - Pop.

That's Mr. Badger Clark.

He was the one who came to my campfire grill summer weekend.

Remember?

I - Remember him too.

- You should.

You hi my tent.

That whole time we were listening to him.

If you ever do that again, I might have to hurt you.

- Bonnie.

It's Christmas Eve.

Let's keep the spirit of Christmas alive and not threaten your brother.

- Pop.

Is it okay if I go over and say hello?

- If you don't take up too much of his time, it's all right.

- Excuse me.

Mr. Badger, may I speak to you for a moment?

Why?

- Of course, young lady, what can I do for you?

- I was at a talk you gave to the campfire girls last summer in the park.

We were the ones who brought you the Indian arrowheads.

- Ah yes.

Wonderful specimens.

I still have that.

- Remember how you told us how proud you were of us South Dakotans?

I want my pops to hear what you said.

Do you remember?

- I'm glad I was able to say something to you that stuck around.

Of course I remember I often use it as speeches.

The state has never been so beautiful to me as in those years of poverty.

You see, I was talking about the Great Depression at the time as I've gone about among her leading red bear, hard being yet in Perturbable people I've said to myself a thousand times by God, these are real folks.

I'm glad and proud to belong to them.

Whatever else the people of South Dakota may or may not produce.

It has taken seed from half of the, from half of Europe and born of freedom, uniformly high grade of human beings and that's the supreme - Why Mr. Clark?

My apologies, but I've been listening in.

That is a wonderful way of thinking about us.

- Well, that's the way I think about this beautiful state.

I've lived here for the majority of my life.

Don't regret one day I've spent in its warm news - All aboard leaving for Rapid City.

- Woo.

Sorry everyone.

I forgot the time.

Almost missed the bus.

- Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats First stop Hill City.

- Hey Mr.

Soldier, you back from the war.

- Billy, you must be polite before you ask people questions.

- Nah, it's all right.

I'm just leaving for deployment.

This bus takes me to an airport and I'm on my way to somewhere in Europe.

- Where are you going with every Nazis?

- Billy, let's leave the gentleman to himself.

- Nah, it's okay, sir.

I like kids.

Hey Billy, just so you know, it's top secret where I'm going.

So remember, loose lips, sink ships.

- Oh dear.

It sounds so very dangerous.

How?

How will you stand it thinking every day you could face the enemy.

My son says.

You have to wrap up that fear and put it away in your head and keep a tiny key that only opens when you need it.

- I know it's gonna be scary, but I got the United States Army with me - Young man.

Hitler's new organ has so horrified me that while I wouldn't dream of shooting a deer, a pheasant in the case of invading parachute troops, I'd get a little savage.

Joy at wing shooting.

Good ride.

- That's funny, sir.

This is say don't I know you should - You?

- I think so.

Did you give a commencement speech last year in Spearfish - Son?

I give so many of them.

I need a secretary to remember all the dates.

But since I have the pen to support that particular clerical item, I'd have to say maybe - I'm thinking you're the guy who spoke at my sister's graduation ceremony.

You were good.

- Ah, but note of respect from anyone less than 30 these days is a treasure key.

I appreciate the confidence.

- Kenny Franklin's my name.

A pleasure to meet you in person.

A pleasure Also, - Ladies - And gentlemen, we have here the poet laureate of South Dakota.

He's a genuine writer.

- He's really, really good.

I'm not sure I really like poetry, but when he says his poems, they kind of sound like music.

- That's very generous of you.

Miss - Bonnie Daggett.

That's my pop and that's my brother Billy.

It's - A pleasure to meet you, sir.

I didn't know he had a poet laureate.

I'm sorry to say.

- Don't you worry Mr. Daggett.

Most people don't know it either.

I just do my best to deserve the honor.

- How did it happen?

I mean, how do you get to be the poet laureate?

- I was given the honor in 1937 by our governor Leslie Jensen after I was nominated by the South Dakota Poetry Society.

I was humble by his designation and jokingly sent a thank you letter to him and signed it dutifully your poet led magic love thinking.

I'd make a little joke with the rhyme of the word for a piece of Russian rope and like, oh, that's - A gas.

So - LT and laureate aren't the same thing.

- Nope.

One's a rope and one's a position of importance.

- Are you famous?

- I'm afraid I'm not famous in the way that you may think of.

I have been sorry for a few famous people I've met in these days of easy communication, but the targets of all the pranks, swivels and nuts in the country and live a harassed insistence.

Poor old South Dakota's big enough money.

- I'd say that's famous enough - Young man.

Are you leaving a young woman behind a girlfriend, a fiance, mother?

I just wanted to know if he has someone thinking of him while he is gone to give him hope and inspiration.

- No ma'am, I don't.

I figured it would be best in all to go to the fight with a clear board, better that way all around, - But that won't be your state for the rest of your life, will it?

You'd like to get married and have a family, wouldn't you - Mother?

I think the gentleman's business is his own and not for casual conversation.

- Well how about you Mr. Clark?

Are you married?

Oh - Mother.

No man.

Paul said it is better to marry than to burn, but having come through single is far by luck, by perversity, by the good taste of several women and by the mercy of God, I hope to go through and successfully avoid both hell and marriage.

- Well said.

Mr. Clark.

Mother, I think this subject is closed.

Mr. Clark, are you on your way to another speaking engagement?

- No ma'am.

I'm on my way to my nephew's place in Rapid City in the holidays.

I usually spend this time with him and his family.

- That's wonderful.

It's always so nice to have family around on the holidays.

What does your nephew do in Rapid?

- He's a professor of electrical engineering at the school of - Mines.

My goodness, that sounds like quite a job.

Yes, - I'm very proud of him.

And of course the whole family.

Not that I think of it.

I should probably ask you ladies, your opinion of what I should get the girls for Christmas and the boys are easy, but I'm a little long good too to know what young lady would like for Christmas.

Phyllis and Joan are about to graduate from high school.

- Oh, I'm not sure.

I'm the one to ask as I only have one boy.

Maybe the young ladies riding with us would have an opinion.

- I'd like a bike for Christmas or a chemistry set.

- Well thank you for that information, Bonnie.

However, I'm not sure that's the kind of present Mr. Clark was looking for.

Now how about you miss any ideas?

- Call me Claire.

I don't know.

I guess I always enjoy jewelry.

Is that something your nieces would like?

- Well, little I know about women suggest to me that jewelry would always be appreciated.

What type do you think the girls are today?

Like - Mr. Clark?

For younger girls, a small necklace would be nice.

You know they have some lovely black hills, gold jewelry on Main Street.

It's extremely reasonably priced and it would show pride of Dakota too.

- Thank you Miss - Mrs. Mrs.

Ransom.

This is my daughter Claire.

We're traveling to my brother's home for the holidays.

Yes, something Black Hills gold would be appropriate.

Thank - You Mrs.

Ransom my pocket book.

Thanks.

You also, I'll be sure to stop downtown.

Take a look.

- We're going to Rapid City too.

Our mom's there with my grandma.

Grandma's sick, but she's getting better.

- Well that's good to hear young man.

- Yeah, my wife has been there with her mother for a month now, so we're all gonna crowd.

And then at my mother-in-law's for the duration.

I'm not sure that won't put her back in bed, but we've never been away from each other this long and the kids said, oh, let's go pop.

So here we are.

- I'm sure it will make her feel better.

I know it does when my kids are around.

Claire's my last one to leave the nest, but we can't stop progress, so here we are too.

Going to my brother's for Christmas - Children.

It may be just what your grandmother needs to be surrounded by her grandkids.

I'm going to visit my daughter-in-Law.

She lives and works in the city while her husband, my boy is in the war.

Won't - They let him come home for - Christmas?

No.

I'm afraid the war is keeping him.

- How about you Kenny?

Do we get to be with folks before you're sent out?

- No sir.

I get on the plane tonight.

This will be my first Christmas not being at home.

Does that make you sad?

Not yet.

Right now it still feels like an adventure.

I know war isn't all milkshakes and popsicles, but I'm hoping to help our country and see what it makes of me.

- That is an excellent attitude young sir, I pray that it will be all you hope for and more.

- We're gonna whip him, aren't we?

Kenny?

- You mean the Nazis?

Yes, we will.

If I have anything to say about it.

- Have you ever traveled before?

- No sir.

Never stirred out of South Dakota and - There's no better place to be when you are out there.

Think of us sending our prayer to you.

It's young men like you hold our place in the world.

- What do you think I'll miss the most?

- I know for me it would be the silence.

The silence.

I've only said man, the kind of quiet and leisure they need in order to go through the pockets of their inner consciousness.

So they may fish up a strange and beautiful thing, which at present they don't know.

They possess their souls.

- I hope my son can find his time for silence now that he's so far away.

- Have you ever been out of the country, Mr. Clark?

Maybe you have some ideas about how I'm supposed to act.

- I have traveled, but I suspect that my experience isn't one that will give you any guidance.

- Why is that?

Sir?

- The only time I've ever left the country was on an ill-fated trip to Cuba.

A number of us from South Dakota thought we'd be able to colonize the land since he was extremely inexpensive at the time.

However, the state, the politics of the country was in was slightly misrepresent, misrepresented to us.

Within a few months, my fellow travelers had packed up and gone home.

You didn't go home?

No.

I was young and hadn't figured out my direction of life.

So I decided to stay on and work for a pineapple plantation.

- We had a whole pineapple one time, but it didn't taste like any apple or pine tree I know about.

Ah, - But it does look like a little pine cone if you squint your eyes a bit.

That's how it got the name in America.

Looks like a pine cone and you have to peel it like an apple.

- Hmm.

Didn't know that.

So a plantation?

- Yes.

Run by a Cuban American hothead named Rodriguez.

Didn't have the sense of the Lord gave a government mule.

Lord, I knew it.

I was involved in a shootout over a patch of pineapples and found myself in jail of course along with - In jail in a foreign country.

How was that?

- That was not at all a delightful experience.

Twice a day we were served a three course of dinner consisting of soup, bread and coffee.

It was a thick soup and was probably highly nourishing if grease of nourishing are synonymous after the meal, we were given a can of water to take the taste of coffee out of our mouths.

We had no lack of comfort as we were the only Americans in the place.

The other prisoners were inclined to be sociable.

Out of curiosity, the policemen were sociable.

That's were the police who far out lumbered both policemen and prisoners.

- That sounds just dreadful.

I can't imagine and - I hope you never have to, madam.

It was a two weeks of misery.

I would never wish our hands fired.

- How'd you get out?

Sir?

- Rodriguez was able to get his brother to send him money to New York for a bail.

- Oh, - Thank heavens.

- Would you ever go back?

- No, son.

I would not.

Once I was on the boat back home, I decided the best way to see Cuba was over the stern of sailing ship.

I actually wrote a phone, just that title over the stern - Folks.

I'm sorry about that.

Just gimme a moment to check.

But I think we've got a flat tire.

Be back in a second.

- Oh no.

- Oh dear brother Charles will not be happy if we aren't at the station when he gets there.

I'm - Sure of that.

Since he's not the most patient person in the world.

- Don't you say that My brother is a saint.

You know he's helped us so much since your father died.

- Yes, mother.

He's a very good uncle.

Just not a patient one.

- Whoa.

I gotta get to the base in time to get on that plane.

I wonder what they'll do to me if I miss it.

- Pop.

You think the government will show up after Kenny if he doesn't go there?

- I don't worry about that.

Billy government will understand.

- Pop.

Do you think mom will be worried if we don't get to Rabbit City when we told her?

- I'm sure she'll be all right.

We'll see what's up and then we'll see about getting on her way.

Oh - My.

I don't wanna worry.

My daughter-in-Law, she's already consumed with worry about my Benjamin.

- Is he at the front?

- Not exactly, but he is in London and those bombs haven't stopped even long enough for a Christmas piece.

- Don't you worry man.

Kenny's going over there.

He is gonna whip those knots.

- That'll be enough son.

- Ears.

I was gonna say ears.

- Well folks, it's as I thought, it's a flat tire.

It's starting to snow, so I'm hoping I can get a couple extra hands to help me with this if we can't get that tire changed ourselves.

Well, we'll be stuck here until a tow comes.

Considering this is Christmas Eve, that could be a while.

- No, I can help.

- I can too.

- And you could stay here and behave yourselves and we'll see if we can't get this fixed.

- Do you need the help of an old cadre like me?

- I think we have enough too many of us and we'll just be in each other's way.

- Dear.

I wonder how long this will take.

Let's think of something to do while they're at it.

- I suppose we can give those gentlemen our thanks for being willing and able to help out.

I don't think I would be of much use so if I've never driven a vehicle that didn't have a horse in front of it.

Huh?

That's funny.

A horse.

- Mr. Clark.

I know.

I think you should tell us the prayer you said to us at our campfire program.

We all thought it was just right.

- Of course that would be perfect.

I'd love to hear it.

I would too.

Please Mr. Clark.

- Thank you ladies.

That is kind of you.

Alright.

This one was one of my stepmother's favorite poems and I speak it on her behalf, A Cowboy's prayer written for mother.

Oh Lord, I've never lived where churches grow.

I love creation better.

As it stood that day, you finished its so long ago and looked upon your work and called it good.

I know that other others find you in the light that sifted down through tinted window pains and yet I seem to feel you near tonight in this dimm quiet starlight on the planes.

I thank you Lord that I am placed so well that you have made my freedom so complete that I'm no slave of whistle clock or bell nor weak eyed prisoner of wall and street.

Just let me live my life as I've begun and give me work that's open to the sky.

Make me a partner of the wind and sun and I won't ask a life that's soft or high.

Let me be easy on the man that's down.

Let me be square and generous with all.

I'm careless sometimes, Lord when I'm in town.

But never let him say I'm mean or small.

Make me as big and open as the planes, as honest as the hos between my knees.

Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains free as the hawk that circles down the breeze.

Forgive me Lord if sometimes I forget you know about the reasons that are here.

You understand the things that gall and fret you know me better than my mother did.

Just keep an eye on all that's done and said and write me.

Sometimes when I turn aside and guide me on the long dimm trail ahead that stretches upward toward the great divide.

- What'd you say?

- So ladies and gentlemen, we begin to know our state poet laureate to a little more now.

He was a generous man, a man who understood the nature of creation and appreciated the simple things that make our life here on this earth.

At this moment I'd like to take a minute or two to mention the rest of our local sponsors who helped us bring this evening to life.

The e event, the Event and Wellness Center of Dis Met is the place to call for your meeting needs.

Maynard's, the one-stop grocery stop in DME has what's on your list.

They'll even deliver to Desco Windows is our local manufacturer of Windows serving the community since 1970.

Visit Desco today.

When it's time to sleep in Disit.

Choose Disit Super Deluxe Inn for your prairie comfort Ultimate.

The medical product manufacturer of Disit is a proud sponsor of Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant.

From street signs to event signs, Lyle Signs has what we need to bring focus to our businesses and events.

The dis Mercantile and Coffee House offers us fresh ingredients and smooth brewed coffee.

Double D, Western wear and tech of Huron South Dakota.

Drop on by and say howdy.

And now we rejoin our story.

In 1926, Badger asked the Custer State Park to allow him to build a cabin within his borders.

They gave him permission and he built his first cabin there.

It was a small one, just 10 by 12 and he lived there for 10 years, calling it Badger Hole.

In 1937 with money from his stepmother, he built a larger one.

He called it Four rooms and a pack.

Built a native rock and cement.

It still stands today, Custer State Park.

His correspondence is filled with the little anecdotes of his life there of the deer who would come to his back door and wait for whatever leftovers he had from the day before of the pack rat or the coyote who would stop by on their rounds to see if he had anything for them.

Badger traveled from one end of the state to the other for speaking engagements, mostly to school groups or young people, events and these talks.

He would speak of his life, his experiences, and his belief that living a good life was easy.

You just had to embrace nature and be attuned to the simple things.

It has to offer his influence and his respect for the glory of God and nature, including the humility of life, brought him many accolades.

In 1923, he received an honorary degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, the college his father had been instrumental in creating.

In 1951, Badger received an honorary degree, a doctor of humane letters from South Dakota State College of Brookings, From the United States Congress to Hollywood movies.

Badger's words were heard across this nation.

Sometimes his poems were listed as though anonymous was the author.

Badger took no umbridge with this stating it is my child and it comes back to visit me and I am proud of it.

And now ladies and gentlemen, let us continue with our show.

Badger Clark, the cowboy poet.

- That was swell.

Mr. Clark.

Maybe I like poetry too.

What do you think?

- You know, son, I can now go to heaven.

A satisfied man.

Thank you so much for enjoying the poem.

- Mr. Clark, my campfire group decided you were the best person who came to speak to us the whole time we were at camp.

We even liked you better than the clown with balloon animals.

- Young lady, you have just made my day.

I'm honored to be better than the balloon artist.

- Well folks, we did it looks like we'll be on our way again.

Woo.

And thank you Jim and Kenny for the help.

- And did you two Sprites behave while I was out there?

- Yes.

Pop.

Mr. Clark spoke us his prayer poem.

It was great.

- Yes, it was a wonderful poem.

Thank you Mr. Clark.

It just made me think of all those times when I would look at the Starlight when I was a kid.

- Forgive me if I'm a bit forward, but you're hardly more than that now.

- Oh, even if my mother doesn't think so, I'm already a woman.

- Amen to that.

- I too - Thought it was wonderful.

- Thank you ladies.

You make an old man blush.

- Why would he blush?

It's not turning red.

I don't see any red.

- Don't worry.

Ace.

You'll figure it out when you get older.

- Okay folks, let's be on our way.

- So if it was the cowboy praying, where were you a cowboy?

- A long time ago.

In my year.

I spent several years in Arizona working for a ranch.

- Did you have a six gun?

Did you shoot anyone?

- Son.

Let's let Mr. Clark tell us his story without badgering him for the details.

If you'll excuse the pun, Mr. Clark.

- All good.

I know a fellow wordsmith when they appear.

Billy, I was ranch hand at the cross eye quarter circle Ranch in Tombstone, Arizona for three years.

Usually it was just me and the coyotes looking over a few head of cattle.

But some days it got a little more exciting.

- Were there cattle wrestlers trying to steal your cattle?

- Well, there was some of that, but not enough to make a good story.

Let me tell you a story though, about one day when all sorts of excitement happened to me.

It's a story I call the widow.

Does that sound fair?

- Sure.

- I was batching in on the Arizona nda, living a little Adobe Hutt on the East ranch.

I got a little concerned about a family of skunks who lived under my kitchen floor.

- You - Well, I saw a big fella.

I guess it must've been the daddy, but at the time I didn't think about its relations.

I got me a steel trap.

I caught this fella one night I held my nose and took him far away and left him.

I'm thinking he must have been done for 'cause he never passed.

He never came round again.

As time passed, I made the acquaintance of the Hampton Boys.

Now these boys weren't what you'd call boy scouts and their paw was an even meaner person than his sons, especially when he'd had some mezcal.

You know what I mean?

- What's mezcal - Pop?

- Don't interrupt Billy.

I'll talk to you about that later.

- One day I heard that old Hesson had accused me of running off their cattle from my water corral.

I certainly didn't do that, but evidently they decided it was me and the boys were out looking for me in order to exact some revenge.

- Did you shoot him, Billy?

Zip your lip.

He's gonna tell us.

- Well, I got home one night about nine 30 and it was strumming into my guitar when I heard scratching at the door.

I went and opened it to look out.

When I felt something poking between my boot heel, I thought it was one of the cats.

And then I looked again and my eyes almost popped out and I stepped away.

He was a skunk, a smaller one than before.

I got the thinking.

It might be the widow of the big one.

I'd removed from the premises.

I thought about getting a shotgun and scaring it outta the house.

But then I thought about it and I decided I liked my house too much to go shooting at a skunk.

While it was in my abode, I saddled around the wall and took myself out the back door to find myself a little juniper stump.

I heard that little widow's nails click across the floor and into the cent room where two little black kittens had been having their siesta on the rocking chair.

About two minutes later I heard hissing and spitting and those two kittens came busting out the back door and snuggled up to me.

I was sitting thinking about the ridiculousness of the situation when I heard a yell and a clatter from about three different horses.

The yell kind of sounded like old Mr. Sen.

I guess their mezcal must have lasted a little longer than I expected and they were coming for me after all.

At first I thought I'd get prepared to protect my home man, honor.

And I thought a second and reckoned I would stand Pat.

I never moved an eyelash.

I will say something about those mps that night.

There was nothing sneak or pish about the way they invaded my ranch.

They would've fetched a brass band along if they could come on out and get it.

No use in hide it.

They yelled as they stomped into my house.

They looked around the kitchen and then stomped into the setting room.

I hugged myself like a twin brother.

I heard them holler.

Here's one of them damn cats.

Let 'em have it.

Oh my suds.

Did anything happen?

Don't subpoena me on the case.

'cause I didn't see anything happen.

I just heard them three Hamptons blow up all at once, like one of them 4th of July, things that spits out colored fire.

They sure did express their simple minds.

They had met the enemy and they were heard.

The front door of the kitchen was too narrow for their state of mind and it come near taken the doorframe of them for a souvenir.

I used the very last of my manly strength to raise the old shotgun and fire one barrel at the North Star.

And then I caved in a glorious wreck and slid off my juniper log and laid there and cried and choked and snuffled and snorted.

Not heard them ing wit.

Hesson fanning up the drop a clickety click-clack faster than they had come.

Well, the old man, my old man that I worked for, let me attempt to sleep in for a couple of weeks.

When I told him about the Heston's invasion.

He grow 10 years younger in five minutes.

He paid for $16 of pain in Cal of mine to do my house over.

When I got through there, there wasn't a fancier house that side of Los Angeles.

And did I ever get rid of the widow?

No sin.

Your imo unquestionably never did.

She raised her family under my kitchen floor and they growed up the pride and joy of their mother's heart.

- Well, Mr. Clark, you are a storyteller.

I guess it comes with being a poet.

- That was copacetic.

Mr. Clark, you can be my poet laureate any day.

- That was funny.

Mr. Clark - Hill City, all off for Hill City.

- That's us.

Claire, gather your things with any luck.

Your uncle decided to have a snack while he waited for us.

That usually keeps him occupied for a while.

- Claire, stop a second.

Would you?

Yes, - Kenny, - I was just wondering if maybe you wouldn't mind sending a letter to to a service guy now and again.

- Why?

Yes, Kenny.

I think I'd like that.

Here, let me give you my address.

Send me a note when you get settled.

Mother, don't - Look at me that way.

- I'm not looking at you in any way.

So nice to have spoken to you all.

Please.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Merry - Ry - Christmas.

Are you here?

Is this seat taken?

- Oh, no, no, not at all.

- Merry Christmas everyone.

Oh, I'm so happy to be here.

At first I thought the bus wasn't coming because it was getting late.

But you know, it's all my heart could take when I saw that shiny crow beast coming on the road.

Oh, how is everyone?

Oh, well super.

Me too.

I thought these vacation days would never get here.

Where are you coming from?

I'm doing my student teaching in Hill City.

Boy, what a group of kids that place has.

It took all my wits to make it through.

Not that I'm saying they're bad kids or anything like that.

They're just jumping beams.

All of them.

- No kids can be rambunctious.

That's just their nature.

- Rambunctious.

Hmm.

Not sure that was the word my dad used for me, but if it means a lot to pep, that's me.

- Pop.

Am I rambunctious - At times, son?

At times.

- What are you studying in school?

I'm becoming a teacher of English.

At least I will if I make it through the student teaching assignment.

- What's your favorite part of teaching English?

- Oh, I like it all.

But really I really like it when the kids want to write.

It's just the best to hear them come up with the craziest stories.

Mr. Clark is a writer.

- He's a poet.

Ette - A poet.

Laut.

Oh wait, you mean Laureate?

You're our poet Laureate Badger Clark.

- I have that distinction.

- Well, Merry Christmas to me.

I love your work.

I just read your poem, the Cat Pioneers to one of my classes.

Oh, that poem is just killer Diller and those kids couldn't stop talking about it.

What's the poem about?

Oh, it's just a gas.

The poem is so funny and the story behind it.

Just a - What's the story, Mr. Clark?

- Well, it's kind of funny.

You see, long time ago they found gold in the black hills.

Pretty much no one lived in the state at the time except our Indian friends.

But when they found gold, everyone and their widowed mothers started showing up in the hills looking for that elusive rock.

There were shanties and tents and cobbled together buildings, housing men and few wives and mothers all packed in like cigars in a box.

And nobody had time to do any housekeeping or any tidy work because they were out all day with their shovels and picks trying to tear down the hills, looking for a vein, looking for blood.

Mr. Clark, nobody looking in the rocks for a long line of gold.

That's how it lays in the mountains.

So if you find a vein, you found a fortune now because nobody was paying attention to their barracks.

They had a little problem that started to turn into a big problem during the day.

The pack rats would steal into their shacks and tents and take any food and anything shiny they could find.

Soon.

The gold seekers didn't have any food.

They were missing their hard work gold nuggets.

'cause the rats and the pack rats were taking it all, considering how much it cost to bring food into the hills.

Remember the railroads weren't out here then and there weren't any towns big enough to have all these provisions.

So the food and merchandise they needed cost a lot of money to be brought up the mountainside.

Well, one old boy who hadn't had much luck in the gold race decided he had a splendid idea of how to make some money.

He took himself back to his hometown of Bismarck.

It was still Dakota territory then and nowhere near statehood.

When he got there, he started grabbing cats.

Cats from the alleys, cats from the rivers, cats from the grassland, anywhere he could find cats.

He begged them up and threw 'em in his wagon.

He then carried them cats over 200 miles back to the hills and started selling them for $10 a piece.

Well, everyone wanted one, namely because they were tired of coming home and finding all their food and gold gone out of their pouch or their cupboard or their bag.

The old coot made more money selling cats to those folks than he'd ever would have made on gold.

And he retired a happy man.

- And what's so funny about the poem is he talks to the cat grand babies about their folks and how they came to live in the Black Hills.

- I like that poem.

Hey pop, can we get some of Mr. Clark's poems?

- I think we can make that happen.

- I had one of my books on me.

I'd gladly give it to you.

- I'm sure we can get one at the bookstore.

- Well, thank you kindly and my pocketbook.

Thanks.

You also, I need to make sure I need a way to pay for those Christmas presents.

Folks.

We're hitting the city limits.

We'll be at the station in about five minutes.

- Oh, Mr. Clark, could you do one more poem?

Maybe a Christmas one?

- Yes.

That would be just right to get us all in the mood for Christmas and presents and family.

Do you have one like that?

- I think I can accommodate that.

Oh, I wrote this one for my family because they mean all the world to me, Old folks.

The wind is blowing cold down the mountain, tips of snow and crossed the ranges laying brown and dead.

It's crying through the valley.

Trees that wear the missile toe and mourning with the gray clouds overhead.

Yes, it's sweet.

With the beat of my little horse's feet and I whistle like the air was warm and sweet for I'm riding up the Christmas trail to you old folks.

I'm riding up the Christmas trail to you, yet I'm loving every mile that's near you.

Good folks.

Loving every blessed mile that's near you.

The coyotes winter howl cuts the dust behind the hill with the ranches shining window.

I can see.

And though I don't deserve it and I reckon never will.

There'll be room beside the fire kept for me, kept with my plate.

'cause I'm late and let me hit the old kid gate for tonight.

I'm stumbling tired of the new and I'm riding up the Christmas trail.

The you old folks, I'm riding up the Christmas trail, the you.