# The Cowboy and the Maid explained — Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp

> Chapter companion for Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp by John A. Lomax.

## What happens

A cowboy recounts a moonlight walk with Texas Tom, during which Tom reveals his desire to settle down and find a wife. The narrator playfully encourages him, and the two ultimately share a romantic moment, marking the successful resolution of Tom's proposal.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Romance

The poem centers on a cowboy's bashful proposal and the narrator's playful encouragement, culminating in a romantic kiss under the moonlight.

### Community and Camaraderie

The easy, joking rapport between the narrator and Texas Tom reflects the close bonds and mutual support among cowboys.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator is the speaker of the poem, a cowboy who walks with Texas Tom and encourages his romantic pursuit.

### Texas Tom

Texas Tom is the bashful cowboy who confesses his desire for a wife and home, and successfully proposes to the narrator.

## Key lines

> Funny how it come about! Me and Texas Tom was out Takin’ of a moonlight walk, Fillin’ in the time with talk.

It's amusing how things turned out. Texas Tom and I were taking a walk under the moonlight, chatting to pass the time.

_The narrator sets the scene for the romantic encounter._

> By and by he says, “I’ve got Fifty head o’ cows, and not One of ’em but, on the dead, Is a crackin’ thoroughbred. Got a daisy claim staked out, And I’m thinkin’ it’s about Time fer me to make a shy At a home.”

Eventually he said, 'I have fifty cows, all of them excellent thoroughbreds. I've also staked a promising claim, and I think it's time for me to try to settle down.'

_Texas Tom lists his assets as a prelude to proposing marriage._

> ’Tain’t nobody’s business what Happened then, but I jist thought I could see the moon-man smile Cutely down upon us, while Me and him was walkin’ back⁠— Stoppin’ now and then to smack Lips rejoicin’ that at last The dread crisis had been past.

What happened next is nobody's business, but I imagined the man in the moon smiling down on us as we walked back, stopping now and then to kiss, happy that the tense moment of proposal was finally over.

_The narrator coyly describes the romantic conclusion of the walk._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/songs_of_the_cattle_trail_and_cow_camp_se/chapters/the-cowboy-and-the-maid
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/songs_of_the_cattle_trail_and_cow_camp_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/songs_of_the_cattle_trail_and_cow_camp_se/chapters