Alfred_NP1 Bertram_NP1 Guthrie_NP1 Jr_NNA ._. 
was_VBDZ a_AT1 hell_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 writer_NN1 ,_, but_CCB he_PPHS1 could_VM be_VBI an_AT1 ornery_JJ cuss_NN1 ._. 
Bud_NN1 ,_, as_CSA he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ called_VVN ,_, could_VM be_VBI dogmatic_JJ ,_, insistent_JJ ,_, opinionated_VVD ,_, and_CC contrary_NN1 ._. 
At_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, however_RR ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 gentleman_NN1 in_II the_AT old-fashioned_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO the_AT word-gallant_JJ ,_, fair-minded_NN1 ,_, generous_JJ ,_, and_CC kind_NN1 ._. 
Some_DD people_NN hated_VVD him_PPHO1 for_IF his_APPGE unabashed_JJ political_JJ and_CC environmentalist_NN1 opinions_NN2 ,_, while_CS others_NN2 loved_VVD him_PPHO1 for_IF the_AT man_NN1 he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ ._. 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD a_AT1 firm_JJ social_JJ conscience_NN1 and_CC was_VBDZ determined_VVN in_II his_APPGE writing_NN1 to_TO reflect_VVI what_DDQ he_PPHS1 saw_VVD as_II the_AT historical_JJ truth_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ not_XX a_AT1 stern_NN1 man-he_PPHS1 could_VM be_VBI funny_JJ ,_, a_AT1 prankster_NN1 ,_, and_CC a_AT1 person_NN1 who_PNQS loved_VVD a_AT1 good_JJ time_NNT1 ,_, drinking_VVG ,_, socializing_VVG ,_, and_CC telling_VVG stories_NN2 ._. 
People_NN liked_VVD to_TO be_VBI around_II him_PPHO1 ._. 
There_EX is_VBZ no_AT doubt_NN1 that_CST his_APPGE novel_NN1 The_AT Big_JJ Sky_NN1 was_VBDZ his_APPGE greatest_JJT achievement_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 has_VHZ said_VVN that_CST his_APPGE attraction_NN1 to_II the_AT subject_NN1 of_IO the_AT mountain_NN1 man_NN1 came_VVD out_II21 of_II22 his_APPGE attachment_NN1 to_II the_AT history_NN1 of_IO the_AT West_ND1 and_CC a_AT1 desire_NN1 to_TO tell_VVI the_AT truth_NN1 about_II a_AT1 character_NN1 that_CST was_VBDZ too_RG often_RR treated_VVN heroically_RR ._. 
He_PPHS1 wanted_VVD to_TO balance_VVI the_AT scales_NN2 ,_, presenting_VVG both_DB2 the_AT character_NN1 's_GE unworthy_JJ and_CC his_APPGE worthy_JJ traits_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ at_II his_APPGE core_NN1 a_AT1 realist_NN1 ._. 
In_II trying_VVG to_TO achieve_VVI this_DD1 balance_NN1 ,_, get_VV0 at_II the_AT historical_JJ truth_NN1 ,_, and_CC represent_VV0 that_DD1 truth_NN1 in_II fiction_NN1 ,_, Guthrie_NP1 joins_VVZ a_AT1 whole_JJ list_NN1 of_IO writers_NN2 about_II the_AT West_ND1 who_PNQS have_VH0 tried_VVN to_TO refute_VVI Western_JJ myth_NN1 ,_, to_TO tell_VVI it_PPH1 as_CSA it_PPH1 was_VBDZ ._. 
These_DD2 writers_NN2 include_VV0 Wallace_NP1 Stegner_NP1 ,_, Ivan_NP1 Doig_NP1 ,_, Fredrick_NP1 Manfred_NP1 ,_, Vardis_NP1 Fisher_NP1 ,_, Willa_NP1 Cather_NP1 ,_, William_NP1 Kittredge_NP1 ,_, Norman_NP1 Maclean_NP1 ,_, James_NP1 Welch_NP1 ,_, Mari_NP1 Sandoz_NP1 ,_, Frank_NP1 Waters-the_AT list_NN1 goes_VVZ on_RP and_CC includes_VVZ almost_RR every_AT1 Western_JJ writer_NN1 we_PPIS2 consider_VV0 "_" literary_JJ "_" versus_II what_DDQ Guthrie_NP1 called_VVD the_AT purveyors_NN2 of_IO the_AT "_" gun_NN1 and_CC gallop_VV0 "_" story_NN1 ._. 
Guthrie_NP1 joins_VVZ these_DD2 other_JJ writers_NN2 in_II another_DD1 way_NN1 :_: like_VV0 them_PPHO2 ,_, he_PPHS1 writes_VVZ nostalgically_RR of_IO a_AT1 West_ND1 lost_VVD ,_, lost_VVN to_II exploitation_NN1 ,_, development_NN1 ,_, and_CC population_NN1 growth_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ Walter_NP1 Van_NP1 Tilburg_NP1 Clark_NP1 called_VVD the_AT essential_JJ characteristic_NN1 of_IO the_AT West_ND1 ,_, its_APPGE open_JJ spaces_NN2 ,_, would_VM seem_VVI either_RR gone_VVN or_CC in_II the_AT process_NN1 of_IO going_VVG ._. 
Like_II these_DD2 other_JJ writers_NN2 ,_, Guthrie_NP1 was_VBDZ in_II love_NN1 with_IW the_AT land_NN1 he_PPHS1 came_VVD to_TO know_VVI intimately_RR ,_, and_CC much_DA1 of_IO his_APPGE fiction_NN1 is_VBZ touched_VVN by_II a_AT1 regret_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 lost_JJ love_NN1 ._. 
His_APPGE childhood_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT story_NN1 of_IO how_RRQ he_PPHS1 came_VVD to_TO become_VVI so_RR attached_VVN to_II the_AT plains_NN2 ,_, benches_NN2 ,_, and_CC mountains_NN2 of_IO Montana_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 attachment_NN1 that_CST marked_VVD him_PPHO1 so_RG deeply_RR that_CST it_PPH1 became_VVD the_AT generator_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE character_NN1 and_CC the_AT motive_NN1 for_IF his_APPGE writing_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ born_VVN on_II January_NPM1 13_MC ,_, 1901_MC ,_, in_II Bedford_NP1 ,_, Indiana-another_DD1 among_II the_AT many_DA2 prominent_JJ Western_JJ writers_NN2 born_VVN in_II the_AT East_ND1 or_CC Midwest_NP1 ._. 
Six_MC months_NNT2 after_II his_APPGE birth_NN1 his_APPGE family_NN1 moved_VVN to_II Choteau_NP1 ,_, Montana_NP1 ,_, which_DDQ ,_, although_CS he_PPHS1 did_VDD n't_XX always_RR live_VVI there_RL after_CS he_PPHS1 grew_VVD up_RP ,_, became_VVD his_APPGE place_NN1 ,_, the_AT center_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE writing_NN1 universe_NN1 ._. 
Choteau_NN1 is_VBZ in_II the_AT central_JJ northwest_ND1 of_IO Montana_NP1 ,_, on_II the_AT windswept_JJ ,_, short-grass_JJ plains_NN2 some_DD thirty_MC miles_NNU2 from_II the_AT Eastern_JJ Front_NN1 of_IO the_AT Rocky_NP1 Mountains_NNL2 ,_, which_DDQ rise_VV0 up_RP steeply_RR from_II the_AT flatland_NN1 without_IW much_DA1 in_II the_AT way_NN1 of_IO foothills_NN2 ._. 
The_AT historian_NN1 Joseph_NP1 Kinsey_NP1 Howard_NP1 talks_NN2 about_II the_AT appearance_NN1 of_IO these_DD2 mountains_NN2 as_CSA "_" a_AT1 flat_JJ gray-blue_JJ silhouette_NN1 ..._... gigantic_JJ paper_NN1 cutouts_VVZ against_II the_AT sky_NN1 ._. "_" 
As_RG much_RR a_AT1 historian_NN1 as_CSA fiction_NN1 writer_NN1 ,_, Bud_NP1 has_VHZ said_VVN about_II the_AT area_NN1 he_PPHS1 called_VVD home_RL that_CST "_" the_AT nation_NN1 got_VVD its_APPGE first_MD real_JJ knowledge_NN1 of_IO the_AT region_NN1 from_II the_AT Lewis_NP1 and_CC Clark_NP1 expedition_NN1 of_IO 1804_MC -_- 1806_MC ._. 
The_AT news_NN1 the_AT captains_NN2 brought_VVD back_RP alerted_VVD the_AT fur_NN1 dealers_NN2 of_IO St._NP1 Louisand_NP1 the_AT east_ND1 ,_, and_CC it_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 very_RG few_DA2 years_NNT2 before_II keelboats_NN2 plied_VVD the_AT upper_JJ Missouri_NP1 ,_, bringing_VVG trappers_NN2 who_PNQS scattered_VVD to_II the_AT beavered_JJ streams_NN2 ._. "_" 
Located_VVN on_II the_AT Teton_NP1 River_NNL1 ,_, Choteau_NP1 started_VVD in_II the_AT early_JJ furtrading_JJ days_NNT2 in_II the_AT 1830s_MC2 and_CC 1840s_MC2 as_II a_AT1 trading_NN1 outpost_NN1 and_CC then_RT an_AT1 Indian_JJ agency_NN1 ._. 
Later_RRR it_PPH1 became_VVD a_AT1 settlement_NN1 ,_, and_CC at_II the_AT turn_NN1 of_IO the_AT century_NNT1 ,_, a_AT1 village_NN1 with_IW several_DA2 hundred_NNO people_NN ._. 
When_CS the_AT Guthries_NP1 moved_VVD there_RL in_II 1901_MC ,_, it_PPH1 had_VHD one_MC1 church_NN1 ,_, four_MC saloons_NN2 ,_, two_MC generalstores_NN2 ,_, and_CC an_AT1 elementary_JJ and_CC high_JJ school_NN1 ._. 
To_II the_AT north_ND1 of_IO Choteau_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 large_JJ Blackfeet_NN2 Reservation_NN1 ,_, whichoriginally_RR extended_VVN to_TO include_VVI the_AT town_NN1 's_GE present_JJ location_NN1 ._. 
At_II thattime_NNT1 ,_, the_AT town_NN1 was_VBDZ the_AT reservation_NN1 headquarters_NN ,_, called_VVN Old_JJ Agency_NN1 ._. 
The_AT trading_NN1 post_NN1 was_VBDZ named_VVN after_II the_AT general_JJ manager_NN1 of_IO the_AT American_JJ Fur_NN1 Company_NN1 of_IO St._NP1 Louis_NP1 ,_, Pierre_NP1 Chouteau_NP1 Jr_NNA ._. 
(_( the_AT misspelling_NN1 of_IO the_AT town_NN1 was_VBDZ allowed_VVN to_TO stand_VVI in_BCL21 order_BCL22 to_TO distinguish_VVI it_PPH1 from_II nearby_JJ Chouteau_NN1 County_NN1 )_) ._. 
In_II more_RGR recent_JJ years_NNT2 ,_, the_AT town_NN1 has_VHZ become_VVN the_AT Teton_NP1 County_NN1 seat_NN1 ._. 
Surrounding_JJ Choteau_NN1 are_VBR the_AT sheepand_NN1 cattle_NN2 ranches_NN2 that_CST supported_VVD and_CC still_RR support_VV0 it_PPH1 ._. 
Farther_RRR out_RP ,_, going_VVG west_ND1 up_II Teton_NP1 Canyon_NP1 Road_NNL1 ,_, we_PPIS2 can_VM now_RT enter_VVI what_DDQ has_VHZ become_VVN the_AT Lewis_NP1 and_CC Clark_NP1 National_JJ Forest_NN1 ;_; beyond_RL that_CST we_PPIS2 encounter_VV0 the_AT vast_JJ Bob_NP1 Marshall_NP1 Wilderness_NN1 area_NN1 ._. 
Bud_NP1 's_GE concern_NN1 about_II his_APPGE speaking_JJ disability_NN1 and_CC his_APPGE resulting_JJ interest_NN1 in_II public_JJ speaking_NN1 went_VVD beyond_II the_AT Speakeasy_JJ Club_NN1 and_CC led_VVD him_PPHO1 to_TO become_VVI a_AT1 leader_NN1 in_II organizing_VVG the_AT Lexington_NP1 Public_JJ Forum_NN1 ._. 
Throughout_II the_AT forties_MC2 he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ instrumental_JJ in_II bringing_VVG a_AT1 series_NN of_IO lecturers_NN2 on_II a_AT1 variety_NN1 of_IO subjects_NN2 to_II the_AT city_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD become_VVN something_PN1 of_IO an_AT1 expert_NN1 on_II public_JJ speaking_NN1 ,_, andhis_NN1 own_DA ability_NN1 had_VHD progressed_VVN to_II the_AT point_NN1 where_RRQ he_PPHS1 could_VM speak_VVI with_IW some_DD confidence_NN1 ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 contemporaries_NN2 he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ nota_NN1 particularly_RR impassioned_JJ speaker_NN1 but_CCB always_RR managed_VVN to_TO convey_VVI material_NN1 of_IO interest_NN1 in_II a_AT1 voice_NN1 that_CST was_VBDZ clear_JJ and_CC deliberate_VV0 ._. 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD overcome_VVN his_APPGE demons_NN2 ._. 
Evidence_NN1 for_IF this_DD1 came_VVD after_II the_AT successful_JJ publication_NN1 of_IO The_AT Big_JJ Sky_NN1 ,_, when_CS he_PPHS1 agreed_VVD to_TO go_VVI on_II the_AT lecture_NN1 circuit_NN1 ._. 
A_ZZ1 New_NP1 York_NP1 lecture-management_JJ agency_NN1 ,_, Lee_NP1 Keedick_NP1 (_( "_" Manager_NN1 of_IO the_AT World_NN1 's_GE Most_RGT Celebrated_JJ Lecturers_NN2 "_" )_) ,_, had_VHD contacted_VVN him_PPHO1 in_II May_NPM1 of_IO 1947_MC ._. 
They_PPHS2 knew_VVD of_IO Bud_NN1 because_CS he_PPHS1 scheduled_VVD lecturers_NN2 as_CSA president_NN1 of_IO the_AT Lexington_NP1 Public_JJ Forum_NN1 ,_, and_CC Keedick_NP1 wrote_VVD to_TO ask_VVI if_CSW he_PPHS1 could_VM stop_VVI by_RP and_CC see_VVI him_PPHO1 in_II Lexington_NP1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 would_VM like_VVI to_TO add_VVI Bud_NN1 to_II his_APPGE roster_NN1 of_IO speakers_NN2 ._. 
Bud_NP1 waited_VVD until_CS the_AT next_MD year_NNT1 to_TO sign_VVI on_RP and_CC gave_VVD a_AT1 half_DB dozen_NNO lectures_NN2 each_DD1 year_NNT1 for_IF three_MC years_NNT2 ,_, traveling_VVG to_II places_NN2 like_II Chicago_NP1 ,_, Indianapolis_NP1 ,_, Nashville_NP1 ,_, and_CC Louisville_NP1 ,_, speaking_VVG at_II colleges_NN2 and_CC tocivic_JJ groups_NN2 and_CC women_NN2 's_GE clubs_NN2 ._. 
His_APPGE fees_NN2 ran_VVD from_II $150_NNU to_II $300_NNU ,_, but_CCB he_PPHS1 had_VHD to_TO provide_VVI for_IF his_APPGE own_DA travel_NN1 and_CC hotel_NN1 expenses_NN2 ._. 
By_II early_RR 1951_MC he_PPHS1 had_VHD been_VBN summoned_VVN to_II Hollywood_NP1 ,_, and_CC realizing_VVG that_CST his_APPGE lecturing_JJ activities_NN2 were_VBDR not_XX adding_VVG substantially_RR to_II his_APPGE new_JJ income_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 quit_VVD ._. 
During_II 1950_MC Bud_NP1 was_VBDZ busy_JJ ,_, nearly_RR overwhelmed_VVN as_CSA one_MC1 thing_NN1 piled_VVD up_RP on_II another_DD1 ._. 
Early_RR in_II the_AT year_NNT1 his_APPGE sister_NN1 Jane_NP1 's_GE son_NN1 ,_, Bobby_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ diagnosed_VVN with_IW childhood_NN1 schizophrenia_NN1 and_CC was_VBDZ ,_, at_II Bud'ssuggestion_NN1 ,_, sent_VVN to_II the_AT Brown_JJ Schools_NN2 in_II Austin_NP1 ,_, Texas_NP1 ._. 
The_AT school_NN1 specialized_VVN in_II dealing_VVG with_IW children_NN2 who_PNQS had_VHD mental_JJ and_CC emotional_JJ difficulties_NN2 ._. 
Because_CS Bud_NP1 was_VBDZ paying_VVG for_IF his_APPGE nephew_NN1 's_GE treatment_NN1 ,_, the_AT staff_NN reported_VVN to_II him_PPHO1 in_II some_DD detail_NN1 about_II Bobby_NP1 's_GE condition_NN1 and_CC progress_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 ,_, in_II turn_NN1 ,_, followed_VVD that_DD1 progress_NN1 closely_RR ._. 
At_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, Bud_NP1 's_GE dad_NN1 ,_, staying_VVG with_IW Jane_NP1 in_II Missoula_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ experiencing_VVG declining_JJ health_NN1 ,_, and_CC it_PPH1 seemed_VVD clear_JJ that_CST he_PPHS1 would_VM not_XX be_VBI able_JK to_TO return_VVI to_II Choteau_NP1 and_CC live_VVI by_II himself_PPX1 ._. 
Jane_NP1 ,_, working_VVG as_II a_AT1 teacher_NN1 ,_, would_VM be_VBI unable_JK to_TO care_VVI for_IF him_PPHO1 ._. 
Bud_NN1 ,_, once_RR21 again_RR22 ,_, came_VVD to_II the_AT rescue_NN1 and_CC took_VVD over_RP making_VVG arrangements_NN2 for_IF his_APPGE fatherto_NN1 stay_VV0 in_II a_AT1 nursing_NN1 home_NN1 in_II Missoula_NP1 and_CC for_IF the_AT Choteau_NN1 house_NN1 to_TO be_VBI sold_VVN ._. 
The_AT whole_JJ family_NN1 was_VBDZ worried_VVN about_II the_AT father'sability_NN1 to_TO make_VVI the_AT adjustment_NN1 ._. 
Then_RT ,_, in_II the_AT summer_NNT1 of_IO 1950_MC ,_, Bud_NP1 joined_VVD the_AT writers_NN2 '_GE conference_NN1 at_II Missoula_NN1 with_IW Joe_NP1 Howard_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS ran_VVD the_AT show_NN1 ,_, and_CC with_IW Benny_NP1 DeVoto_NP1 and_CC Helen_NP1 Everitt_NP1 ._. 
Also_RR that_DD1 summer_NNT1 ,_, he_PPHS1 joined_VVD Benny_NP1 DeVoto_NP1 in_II a_AT1 memorable_JJ adventure_NN1 to_TO follow_VVI once_RR21 again_RR22 the_AT Lewis_NP1 and_CC Clark_NP1 path_NN1 along_II the_AT Missouri_NP1 River_NNL1 ._. 
The_AT trip_NN1 was_VBDZ arranged_VVN by_II Bill_NP1 Lederer_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS later_RRR wrote_VVD The_AT Ugly_JJ American_JJ and_CC who_PNQS ,_, along_II21 with_II22 Bud_NP1 and_CC Benny_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ an_AT1 alumnus_NN1 of_IO the_AT BreadLoaf_NN1 Writers_NN2 '_GE Conference_NN1 ._. 
DeVoto_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 novelist_NN1 and_CC editor_NN1 but_CCB was_VBDZ best_RRT known_VVN for_IF his_APPGE histories_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 trilogy_NN1 chronicling_VVG the_AT impact_NN1 of_IO the_AT West_ND1 on_II American_JJ culture_NN1 :_: The_AT Course_NN1 of_IO Empire_NN1 (_( exploration_NN1 from_II the_AT sixteenth_MD to_II the_AT nineteenth_MD centuries_NNT2 )_) ,_, Across_II the_AT Wide_JJ Missouri_NP1 (_( the_AT Rocky_NP1 Mountain_NNL1 fur_NN1 trade_NN1 )_) ,_, and_CC The_AT Year_NNT1 of_IO Decision_NN1 :_: 1846_MC ._. 
Guthrie_NP1 was_VBDZ concerned_JJ with_IW much_RR the_AT same_DA territory_NN1 ,_, althoughhe_NN1 planned_VVD a_AT1 series_NN of_IO novels_NN2 that_CST brought_VVD the_AT history_NN1 of_IO the_AT Westforward_NP1 into_II the_AT twentieth_MD century_NNT1 ._. 
In_II an_AT1 interview_NN1 in_II 1949_MC ,_, he_PPHS1 outlined_VVD his_APPGE plan_NN1 :_: "_" I_PPIS1 want_VV0 to_TO write_VVI a_AT1 series_NN of_IO at_RR21 least_RR22 four_MC panelson_NN1 the_AT Western_JJ movement_NN1 ._. 
In_II them_PPHO2 I_PPIS1 want_VV0 to_TO try_VVI to_TO interpret_VVI American_JJ life_NN1 to_II the_AT American_JJ people_NN ._. 
It_PPH1 disturbs_VVZ me_PPIO1 to_TO see_VVI people_NN highballing_VVG over_II the_AT trails_NN2 without_IW any_DD idea_NN1 of_IO what_DDQ they_PPHS2 're_VBR doing_VDG ._. 
You_PPY know_VV0 about_II my_APPGE first_MD two_MC books_NN2 ._. 
The_AT third_MD will_VM be_VBI the_AT story_NN1 ofthe_NN1 cow_NN1 camp_NN1 and/or_CC gold_NN1 camp_NN1 days_NNT2 ._. 
Maybe_RR both_DB2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 'm_VBM not_XX sure_JJ ._. 
The_AT fourth_MD book_NN1 will_VM be_VBI the_AT interior_JJ Northwest_ND1 from_II the_AT turn_NN1 ofthe_NN1 century_NNT1 to_II the_AT present_NN1 ._. "_" 
In_II fact_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 ended_VVD up_RP with_IW a_AT1 series_NN of_IO six_MC books_NN2 ,_, covering_VVG the_AT stream_NN1 of_IO western_JJ history_NN1 from_II the_AT mid_JJ nineteenth_MD to_II mid-twentieth_MD centuries_NNT2 ._. 
Bud_VV0 only_RR half-seriously_RR suggested_VVN that_CST Lederer_NP1 might_VM have_VHI arranged_VVN the_AT trip_NN1 not_XX only_RR with_IW thoughts_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE friendship_NN1 but_CCB also_RR with_IW the_AT thought_NN1 that_CST "_" an_AT1 outing_NN1 with_IW us_PPIO2 would_VM give_VVI him_PPHO1 the_AT real_JJ secret_NN1 of_IO authorship_NN1 ._. "_" 
Both_RR Bud_NP1 and_CC Benny_NP1 were_VBDR Pulitzer_NP1 Prize_NN1 winners_NN2 ._. 
Lederer_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 commander_NN1 in_II the_AT Navy_NN1 at_II the_AT time_NNT1 ,_, had_VHD obtained_VVN the_AT sponsorship_NN1 of_IO the_AT Air_NN1 Force_NN1 and_CC the_AT Army_NN1 Corps_NN of_IO Engineers_NN2 ,_, and_CC the_AT three_MC writers_NN2 would_VM travel_VVI 1,400_MC miles_NNU2 by_II plane_NN1 ,_, boat_NN1 ,_, car_NN1 ,_, and_CC foot_NN1 ,_, retracing_VVG the_AT Oregon_NP1 Trail_NN1 and_CC looking_VVG at_II flood-control_JJ projects_NN2 on_II the_AT Missouri_NP1 River_NNL1 ._. 
Richard_NP1 Hugo_NP1 died_VVD of_IO leukemia_NN1 in_II October_NPM1 of_IO 1982_MC ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ only_RR fifty-eight_MC ._. 
Deeply_RR affected_VVN by_II his_APPGE untimely_JJ death_NN1 ,_, Bud_NP1 Guthrie_NP1 wrote_VVD a_AT1 poem_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE own_DA dedicated_JJ to_II Richard_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 poem_NN1 never_RR sent_VVN to_II his_APPGE widow_NN1 or_CC published_VVD ._. 
Despite_II his_APPGE family_NN1 's_GE disparagement_NN1 of_IO Bud_NP1 's_GE poetic_JJ abilities_NN2 ,_, this_DD1 isa_NN1 moving_VVG and_CC beautifully_RR worded_JJ poem_NN1 ._. 
Appropriately_RR ,_, it_PPH1 shows_VVZ Hugo_NP1 's_GE influence_NN1 on_II him_PPHO1 over_II the_AT last_MD few_DA2 years_NNT2 ,_, displaying_VVG it_PPH1 both_RR in_II the_AT poem_NN1 's_GE form_NN1 and_CC language_NN1 ._. 
Guthrie_NP1 was_VBDZ influenced_VVN by_II his_APPGE friends-he_PPHS1 listened_VVD to_II them_PPHO2 ,_, whether_CSW Jim_NP1 Welch_NP1 or_CC Dick_NP1 Hugo_NP1 ._. 
No_RR21 longer_RR22 were_VBDR Tennyson_NP1 and_CC E._NP1 A._NP1 Robinson_NP1 his_APPGE guides_NN2 ._. 
More_DAR than_CSN two_MC years_NNT2 before_II Dick_NP1 Hugo_NP1 's_GE death_NN1 ,_, the_AT Guthries_NP1 had_VHD another_DD1 visitor_NN1 at_II the_AT Barn_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 student_NN1 from_II an_AT1 eastern_JJ university_NN1 showed_VVD up_RP at_II their_APPGE door_NN1 and_CC asked_VVD to_TO see_VVI Mr._NNB Guthrie_NP1 ._. 
Carolcould_VV0 hardly_RR deny_VV0 Bud_NP1 was_VBDZ there_RL ,_, since_CS he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ in_II plain_JJ view_NN1 of_IO the_AT doorway_NN1 ._. 
Inside_RL ,_, the_AT student_NN1 blurted_VVD out_RP the_AT usual_JJ question_NN1 ,_, and_CC Bud_NP1 calmly_RR gave_VVD his_APPGE usual_JJ answer_NN1 ,_, "_" What_DDQ do_VD0 you_PPY think_VVI happened_VVN to_II him_PPHO1 ?_? "_" 
Then_RT he_PPHS1 went_VVD on_RP to_TO explain_VVI that_CST he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ "_" finished_VVN with_IW that_DD1 book_NN1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ n't_XX ._. 
It_PPH1 may_VM be_VBI that_CST this_DD1 clean-cut_JJ Ivy_NN1 League_NN1 young_JJ man_NN1 who_PNQS cared_VVD enough_RR about_II Boone_NP1 to_TO seek_VVI out_RP the_AT author_NN1 clear_JJ across_II the_AT country_NN1 tipped_VVD the_AT balance_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT idea_NN1 of_IO continuing_VVG the_AT story_NN1 grew_VVD until_CS he_PPHS1 began_VVD to_TO ask_VVI his_APPGE friends_NN2 and_CC family_NN1 if_CS they_PPHS2 thought_VVD it_PPH1 was_VBDZ ,_, indeed_RR ,_, something_PN1 he_PPHS1 should_VM do_VDI ._. 
All_DB during_II the_AT late_JJ 1970s_MC2 ,_, however_RR ,_, he_PPHS1 continued_VVD trying_VVG to_TO push_VVI his_APPGE plan_NN1 with_IW agent_NN1 and_CC publisher_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 collection_NN1 of_IO personal_JJ essays_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 sent_VVD several_DA2 of_IO these_DD2 essays_NN2 to_II Carol_NP1 Brandt_NP1 ,_, but_CCB Houghton_NP1 Mifflin_NP1 did_VDD not_XX think_VVI such_DA a_AT1 collection_NN1 would_VM sell_VVI ._. 
The_AT only_JJ fruit_NN of_IO this_DD1 effort_NN1 was_VBDZ that_CST Carol_NP1 sold_VVD some_DD of_IO the_AT essays_NN2 to_II magazines_NN2 ._. 
Then_RT ,_, in_II early_JJ June_NPM1 of_IO 1980_MC ,_, Bud_NP1 wrote_VVD to_II Carol_NP1 with_IW a_AT1 new_JJ proposal_NN1 :_: I_PPIS1 have_VH0 long_RR been_VBN aware_JJ of_IO a_AT1 gap_NN1 in_II my_APPGE western_JJ panel-_NN1 between_II the_AT fading_JJ out_II21 of_II22 Dick_NP1 Summers_NP1 at_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO The_AT Way_NN1 West_ND1 and_CC the_AT appearance_NN1 of_IO Lat_NP1 Evans_NP1 in_II These_DD2 Thousand_NNO Hills_NN2 ._. 
The_AT gap_NN1 covers_VVZ 30_MC years_NNT2 ,_, in_II that_DD1 time_NNT1 many_DA2 things_NN2 happened_VVD in_II the_AT interior_JJ northwest_ND1 and_CC Montana-the_AT thinning_NN1 of_IO the_AT buffalo_NN1 ,_, the_AT signing_NN1 of_IO Indian_JJ treaties_NN2 ,_, the_AT formulation_NN1 and_CC implementation_NN1 of_IO the_AT reservation_NN1 system_NN1 ,_, Texas_NP1 cattle_NN2 drives_VVZ ,_, the_AT increasing_JJ plight_NN1 of_IO the_AT Indians_NN2 ,_, the_AT beginnings_NN2 of_IO white_JJ settlements_NN2 and_CC finally_RR the_AT massacre_NN1 on_II the_AT Marias_NP2 in_II 1870_MC ._. 
Inserted_VVN in_II this_DD1 list_NN1 should_VM be_VBI the_AT Montana_NP1 gold_NN1 strikes_NN2 and_CC the_AT road_NN1 bandits_VVZ under_II the_AT direction_NN1 of_IO the_AT infamous_JJ Sheriff_NN1 Plummer_NN1 ._. 
