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Range -lore
Ruby Mosley
San Angelo, Texas
RANGE -LORE
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"hie was born in old Mexico, me have 67 years," says
Juanita Rermandes Garcia, of San Angelo, Texas.
"Me came with me father an mother to Texas when me
have 6 years. MO family collected our possessions to make
ready for transport to Texas. We put a burro to a two
wheel cart and had one burro for the pack. This was one
very good way to make the trip, in that time many people no
have the cart. Me family transported at Del Rio, make the
travel two days and make the camp for three weeks. The
plow) make ideal for cook, scrub the clothes, rest and make
reedy to continue the trip. This was free oountry, every-
thing free, pecans, wood, water, wild meat; make the trip
with no much money.
"(Una dia) one day, heap =whoa Indians make come to
our camp, fell from horses, brought meat from wild animals
to make trade to me madre (my mother) for Mexican food. Me
mother been make the tortillas and tamales for one whole
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week, to finish the trip, Indians take all and le'ave wild
meat, she make afraid they take me.
"Al]. of me family had plenty light complexion pero
,me nadre y mio (except mother end I). Mt father had all
Spanish blood, make the home in Spain when. he baby, tienen
ojos asule y polo blew° (he had blue eyes end light hair),
The big chief no like me father, no talk with him. They
say all time, me little Indian girl, make me ride the back
every day when come for trade, ne make scare most to die,
some day make carry way me to live with Indians. All time
Indians bring presenta pore me (present for me). One time
make bring a pair of moorsins very pretty; make the pretty
little beads trim, me save this little shoei long time, they
all time make give presents to me, no like other ninos (little
ftme fanny no make the know what to do, make scare of
Indian make kill if leave, neke kill if stay, all family al-
most make die of fright then see Indians, The big bunoh
Indians make fast ride on wild horses by our campt.make show
'natural born riders, we make soars end run and hide to save
life, Me no make the know of the harm from Indiatelthey
make plenty scare all time, no make,the fight.
"Well, no make the trip safe to this Combo Country,
look pretty good to me family, all pm4ple work, make plenty
money to buy rood, Many things make filtes no 'need mu0h
money, we lived in a little house down by the river where
we make the sante Fe park today. We got some more soars for
life, negro soldiers from Fort Conoho coma near our house to
make praotice for shooting with guns. They throw whisky end
drinking bottles high in the sir end shoot them in pieces
before the fall on the earth. We =eke run, hide, peep from
little holes; they might shoot us. They no care for Mexican
people, shoot Mexican as shoot animal.
"Nuestros tienen muchos amigos (We had many friends)
when oome to th.11 country: Millspaugh, Sanderson, Veck,
Metcalfe, Taylor and Ur. Nelson, this men make first market
and store in 6an.Angelo.
"White men say my father make good respectable person,
no make the difference in race or color if work hard, make
honest living for big family, no steal. Le father work for
self most time no like the boss, all time tell wrong things,
he won't to do good.' lie out the wood and sold from Jeok
miles's place, he make the farm on Mete:mite's place. He
plenty good working men.
"When I was big girl I make the marry with Mr. Carols.
We move on the Joe Mite Hall's ranch to make work. Me
husband good ranch hand, make good ride on wild horses and do
all ranoh duties expected of ranch men. We make home there
many years, my husband make head man. Mt. Hall and family
go for long time vacation, me husband make charge of ranch,
me take the house and do cooking. Me make good cook for
ranch end big families, me no cook American style, no like
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hide to leather then to merchandise. Lyerbody say he make
the best leather man in Texas.
"When me husband die ranch men come tell ma good men
gone. They no like for him to die, he make many things no
men make like. Henchmen all time buy from me, they leave
order awe fill for Mexican suppers They tell me good things,
me work herd, make good business.
"Me no citizen de Unite Estatue (of United States), no
have same like the citizen, no get pension, no have money
but 0..70 per week to make live, good people of San Angelo
City give to me. Me father, me family, me husband give
life for this good country, me work all life here but no get
nothing but good talk and 0.00 per week. Me tell Mexicans
if live hen, get citizenship papers, make better to live."
Renge-lore
Ruby Modey
San Angelo, :Texas
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Juanita Garcia, San Angelo, Texas, interviewed
February 18, 1938,