patient labor is
a growl.' 'Yes,' said another man, 'she has been working like a slave
all the week and to-morrow is Sunday, and it will be to her just the
same as any other day.' Hendricks said: 'The boss thinks more of his old
plugs than he does of his wife. See what care he takes of his horses.
One lot is resting while the other lot is working; then those that have
been working are put in the pasture, and those that have been resting
are put to work. But he never seems to think that poor worn-out woman of
his needs a rest and change.'

"Parsons added: 'That is not the worst of it. His wife is a cook-stove
slave, and a wash and butter-making machine. It does not matter how
tired she is or otherwise physically unfit, he demands his marital
privileges as a right, regardless of her wishes or protests. I know it
is a fact, for he brags about it.' Parsons continued: 'When a boy I
used to hear preachers talk about hell, and I could not see what was the
use of sending millions and billions of people to eternal torments, so I
thought there ought to be no such place as hell; but if there is a hell,
then I think the boss deserves to go there.'

"An intelligent young man from the East by the name of Travers joined in
the conversation by saying: 'When I was a boy I remember how serious my
good father felt because he thought a neighbor had died without his sins
being forgiven, and had gone to hell. At that time the word _hell_ used
to have some meaning on the minds of the people, and produced on my mind
a feeling of fear and awe. But how different it is now. If a minister
was to preach now about all wicked people going to hell, it would
produce no more effect on their minds than water on a duck's back, for
the word hell is now a spent thunderbolt, used uselessly by the mouths
of so many. It may be well for theologians to know (if any of them
believe in hell as preached) whether or not they have got through
discussing hell; their views have no weight whatever on the minds of the
masses, for they are all the time making light, fun, and sport of the
word _hell_.' 'That's so,' joined in the men, and they all laughed.

"I had been at the Lonsdale ranch about three or four months when I
received your letter asking me to return home."

"Well, Charles," said the old man Herne, "if I had not worked out for
several years on ranches, I should think your stories slightly colored,
but from my own experience I should say the half has not bee