"Oh, I know what that is! We have a
picture of one in our geography! There's a lot of cattle in the
picture, and cowboys are catching them with lassos."
"Yes, that's one of the things that happen on a ranch," said Mr.
Bobbsey. "Well, your mother now owns one of those."
"She does?" cried Nan with wide-open eyes. "Oh, what are you going to
do with it?"
"I'm going to be a cowboy on it!" decided Bert, as quickly as that.
"I've always wanted to be a cowboy, and now I'm going to. When can I
go on your ranch, Mother?" and jumping up eagerly he stood beside her,
waiting for her answer.
"Oh, but, dear boy! I don't know anything about it yet," said Mrs.
Bobbsey. "The letter has just come, and your father and I were talking
over the news when you came. Poor Uncle Watson! I never knew him very
well, though I had heard he was quite rich. But I never expected he
would leave me his fine ranch, to say nothing of a lumber tract."
"What's a lumber tract?" Nan asked. "Is it a lumberyard like yours,
Daddy?"
"No, my dear," answered Mr.
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