With forty dollars a month she would be able to support her daughters and my baby brother in comfort.

Before I was allowed to go to work Uncle Aleck handed me the oath which every one of his employees must sign.

I did my best to live up to its provisions, but I am afraid that the profanity clause at least was occasionally violated by some of the bull-whackers.

Here is the oath: "We, the undersigned wagon-masters, assistants, teamsters and all other employees of the firm of Russell, Majors & Waddell, do hereby sign that we will not swear, drink whisky, play cards or be cruel to dumb beasts in any way, shape or form.
his (Signed) "WILLIAM FREDERICK X CODY." mark I signed it with my mark, for I could not write then.

After administering this ironclad oath Mr.Majors gave each man a Testament.
My first job was that of accompanying a herd of cattle destined for beef for the troops that had gone on ahead.