{"id":11548,"date":"2015-08-24T07:54:54","date_gmt":"2015-08-24T11:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11548"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:13:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:13:21","slug":"theres-wisdom-and-then-theres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11548","title":{"rendered":"There’s Wisdom, and Then There’s… (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 He thinks he knows all it takes to be a cowboy; leaving Ben to wonder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (1,070 words)<\/span><\/p>\n

Cowboy-isms Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

There’s Wisdom, and then there’s…<\/a>
\nThrowing a Houlihan<\/a><\/p>\n

There’s Wisdom, and Then There’s…<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright slowly shook his head at the sight before him. He\u2019d faced hardships before, but the past few weeks had been more difficult than even he had ever imagined. Months had lapsed since his eldest son had stepped foot on the stage coach and set out to fulfill his own dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two had spoken well into the night on many occasions; there was no changing his oldest son\u2019s resolve. But the discussions he\u2019d had of late were arguments that had never occurred before.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLord,\u201d Ben mused. \u201cHe\u2019s no more than a boy. Wants so much to prove himself all grown up; how do I help him understand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Picking up a few articles of clothing from the floor, he made his way to the sleeping figure sprawled across the bed. Curly brown hair swirled every which way. Long, thick lashes hid iridescent green eyes that grieved for the loss of another member of his family. Tear stains streaked the face of the six year old lying on his side, his thumb partially inserted into his mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting on the side of the bed, Ben attempted to straighten the covers the boy had twisted into a mess. Wiping bangs from his child\u2019s forehead, \u201cJoseph, I wish I could make you believe this is for the best.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Papa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you might be awake.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t hate him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben waited. Earlier in the evening, once again the battle of wills had ensued, only this time the child\u2019s anger was directed towards his absent brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to go. It made Adam leave home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about this before. Adam wanted to learn more than Mr. Carmichael could teach him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut he left me and missed my birthday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pulling the small boy out from the tangle of blankets and onto his lap, Ben cuddled his youngest son.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew he wouldn\u2019t be able to come home so soon. He\u2019ll also miss Hoss\u2019 birthday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI bet he\u2019ll be home for yours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not for four more years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s brow scrunched. Ben waited for his son to finish thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be ten years old before Adam returns.\u201d He let out a long exasperated sigh, sinking farther into his father\u2019s chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. You\u2019re getting good at your math.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen I don\u2019t have to go to school!\u201d Somber eyes shined brightly at the exclamation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you figure that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll if Mr. Carmichael couldn\u2019t teach Adam everything, then why should I go to that school. I don\u2019t want to learn more, and I can help you and Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I want you to have a good education.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I can learn so much more here practicin’ ta be a cowboy.”
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSon, wisdom is knowing when you\u2019ve lost your battle and accept defeat. And you, my little cowboy, need to say your prayers and go to bed. Morning comes early, and you will be going to school.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I know all about whisdumb.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I learned all it takes to be a cowboy.\u201d Joe scooted up straight and with his left hand he began counting off, on his right, what he knew to be true. \u201cOne, lettin\u2019 the cat out a the bag is a lot easier than puttin\u2019 it in. Two, remember that silence sometimes is the best answer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you think that maybe\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut Pa, I know more\u2026 Four, no three, don\u2019t squat with your spurs on. That can be painful. Four, this one I learned from Cookie, he said the quickest way to double your money was to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how is it that Cookie taught you that lesson?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, guess I shouldn\u2019t a said that one.\u201d Innocent eyes looked up. Seeing his father\u2019s arched eyebrows, \u201cI took my pennies to play poker with the hands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Oh Lord.\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFive, the easiest way to eat crow is while it’s still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s swallow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I’s talkin\u2019 crows, not barn swallows.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben tried hard to keep from laughing; the mood of the room had changed to one that Ben was willing to accept. The sullen child of the past few weeks was returning to the impish child he remembered before the death of his beloved Marie.\u00a0 His own subsequent absence and Adam\u2019s departure for college had only made things worse for the young boy. \u2018Lord, please let this be a turning point in our healing.\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere was I? Oh yeah, six, If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing is to stop diggin\u2019. Seven, never miss a good chance to shut up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled, wondering if his son understood the intent of the words of wisdom he was reciting. But he had to admit, he couldn\u2019t find fault in the child\u2019s memory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEight, it don\u2019t take a genius to find a goat in a flock of sheep. And I can definitely tell the difference between a goat and a sheep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe stopped talking, his forehead scrunched once more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, if ya got one, it\u2019s a goat and more than one is goats. There\u2019s a mouse and then there\u2019s mice, but what\u2019s more than one sheep?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA flock,\u201d Hoss answered from the doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were to go to school, Mr. Carmichael would be able to answer your questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven if he couldn\u2019t teach Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven if he couldn\u2019t teach Adam everything your brother wanted to learn,\u201d Ben corrected. \u201cYour brother earned high marks in his schooling. And he tested high on his college admittance exam. He wouldn\u2019t have done so had not Mr. Carmichael prepared him well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I could try it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben raised the covers, motioning for his son to climb back into bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood night son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNight Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben exited the room after blowing out the lamp that set on the bureau.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss waited in the hallway, \u201cI promise I\u2019ll take good care a Shortshanks on our way to Mr. Carmichael\u2019s.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you will. Now, how about you getting yourself to bed. Morning\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, it comes early. Night Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPleasant dreams, Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

~The End<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Author’s Note:\u00a0 A quick one-shot inspired by a greeting card at the Tractor Supply Store with Cowboy Whisdumb on the front.\u00a0 I felt it tied in perfectly with Cheaux\u2019s 2015 Chaps & Spurs Challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags: \u00a0Ben Cartwright, <\/span>Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright, <\/span>JPM<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 He thinks he knows all it takes to be a cowboy; leaving Ben to wonder.
\nRating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (1,070 words)
\nPart of the Cowboy-isms Series, links included within.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[39,23,4,1007,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chaps-spurs","category-drama","category-humor","category-joe-cartwright","category-prequels","wpcat-39-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-4-id","wpcat-1007-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1551,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/coming-soon-4.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":39292,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=39292","url_meta":{"origin":11548,"position":0},"title":"Throwing a Houlihan (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"July 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Chalk one more up to Little Joe and 'cowboy-isms'. 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Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (870 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10175,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10175","url_meta":{"origin":11548,"position":2},"title":"The Night Before Christmas (by freyakendra)","author":"freyakendra","date":"December 20, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: The boys have some childish fun in a poem that borrows from the original. Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (430 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Humor"","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49277,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49277","url_meta":{"origin":11548,"position":3},"title":"The Cartwright Family (by LindaBl)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"May 22, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Synopsis:\u00a0A cute new song about the Cartwrights Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 Words:\u00a0 270","rel":"","context":"In "Family"","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1008"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13630,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13630","url_meta":{"origin":11548,"position":4},"title":"A Cry for Freedom (by JennieA)","author":"JennieA","date":"January 7, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 It started with Ben giving Little Joe more responsibility for the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Little did the family realize the course Ben was setting in motion. 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