George W. (George Wilbur) Peck
Peck's Bad Boy with the Cowboys
"Peck's Bad Boy with the Cowboys" by George W. Peck is a humorous novel written during the early 20th century. The book recounts the adventurous and comical escapades of a spirited boy named Hennery and his bumbling father, known as Pa, as they navigate the Wild West. Filled with amusing incidents, encounters with cowboys and Indians, and Pa's misguided attempts at heroism, the narrative offers a lighthearted take on frontier life and the challenges faced by these characters. The opening of the book sets the stage for Pa's enthusiasm over an opportunity to engage in wild west showmanship following a commission from circus managers. As they embark on their journey westward, their misadventures begin when they hire a colorful cast of characters, including a native Indian interpreter and a reformed cowboy, to guide them. Pa's aspirations of becoming as famous as Buffalo Bill lead to a series of humorous missteps, including an encounter with a grizzly bear and a humorous misunderstanding involving a salt pickup with buffalo calves. These comedic situations hint at a larger theme of the clumsy realities of trying to play hero in an environment meant for the ruggedly skilled.