
The story opens in the rough‑and‑ready town of Wolfville, where the Old Cattleman serves as both observer and raconteur. His blunt, unvarnished voice pulls listeners into a world of dusty streets, smoky saloons, and a cast of larger‑than‑life locals—Doc Peets, Old Monte, and the ever‑scheming Jack Moore, among others. The tone is half‑hearted humor, half‑hearted reverence, capturing the grit and camaraderie of a frontier community that lives on its own rules.
When the town is faced with its first genuine funeral, the residents rally around the dead man, Jack King, whose passing threatens to upend their fragile equilibrium. The Old Cattleman recounts the hastily arranged rites, the makeshift procession, and the colorful banter that turns a somber occasion into a peculiar spectacle. Listeners are invited to watch the town’s uneasy balance of respect, rivalry, and raw survival play out, setting the stage for further tales of Wolfville’s wild, unrefined spirit.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (421K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2003-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1857–1914
Known for vivid Western stories and sharp reporting, this American writer moved easily between frontier fiction and big-city journalism. His work helped popularize the West for Eastern readers while also taking on corruption in New York politics.
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by Alfred Henry Lewis

by Alfred Henry Lewis

by Alfred Henry Lewis

by Alfred Henry Lewis

by Alfred Henry Lewis

by Alfred Henry Lewis

by Alfred Henry Lewis

by Alfred Henry Lewis