The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
Book Club: Discuss/find out about a Classic Tale Set in Wyoming: The Virginian
Front-Ranger:
I'm starting to get rather distracted by this display of fine masculinity, so I think it is time to get back to our discussion of more paltry...um poultry matters. It seems that our young Virginian is quite taken with the pullet Em'ly even though she is (1) ugly as sin (2) a poor layer and (3) plainly crazy. At first, he is slow to warm to Em'ly, and is surprised to hear that she even has a name. When informed by Tenderfoot that he had named her himself, TV grows thoughtful. TF asks if Em'ly has ever laid an egg before and TV answers that he has never "troubled his haid" over poultry. But about an hour later, he pipes up, "I rechon this hyeh lonesome country ain't been healthy for Em'ly to live in." TF points out that there are lots of other chickens to keep her company, and TV has to concede the point. He continues musing about her like a dog with a bone:
--- Quote ---"'Well,' he said musingly, and then his mind took one of those particular turns that made me love him. 'Taylor ought to see her. She'd be just the schoolmarm for Bear Creek!'"
--- End quote ---
TV finally decides that maybe Em'ly was hatched after a big thunderstorm, because he'd seen cases where eggs were shook by thunder and wouldn't hatch. He surmised that Em'ly survived the thunderous vibrations, but was forever 'touched in the head.'
Front-Ranger:
Continuing with Chapter Six:
Em'ly next tries to highjack some of the other chicken's chicks. That episode led to an all-out war between Em'ly and the mother hens, which unnerved the Virginian completely. "He went speechless, by himself, back to the bunkhouse, and sat on his bed, while I took the abandoned bantams back to their own circle," the narrator writes.
Em'ly next raised a litter of puppies whose mother neglected them. After they got too big to boss around, Tenderfoot gathers some smooth stones for Em'ly to sit on. But the Virginian doesn't think that's fair. He takes up the stones to toss them away, and is surprised to find them warm to the touch. Then, he slips his hand in another hen's nest and pulls out an egg just for Em'ly.
Front-Ranger:
Finishing up Chapter Six:
I'm not going to tell you how Em'ly met her demise. You'll have to read that for yourself. Suffice it to say that it was a strange and upsetting experience for Tenderfoot and Virginian alike. Shortly after Em'ly is gone and buried, it's time for Tenderfoot to leave Judge Henry's ranch, and he bids TV goodbye, saying, "Don't forget Em'ly."
"I'm not likely to," answers TV, "she is just one of them parables."
The chapter finishes: "...he had now and for a long while dropped the 'suh' and all other barriers between us. We were thorough friends, and had exchanged many confidences both of the flesh and of the spirit."
After a short period to reflect on all this, let's go on to Chapter 7 and beyond, where the Virginian takes Tenderfoot on a hunting trip.
Front-Ranger:
Woo-hooo! Over 250 views for this thread already!! (I think it had something to do with the pics ;D)
Front-Ranger:
Speaking of pics, here is Owen Wister, author of the book:
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