In "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry, a character named Po Campo provides another character with a treat—a hailstone coated in molasses. This simple act evokes a mix of emotions as he enjoys the sweetness, reflecting on the contrast between happiness and sadness in his life.
As the men around him prepare to take on their roles as cowboys once more, the scene captures a moment of introspection. The act of licking the hailstone serves as a metaphor for the complex feelings that accompany their rugged lifestyle, illustrating the bittersweet nature of their experiences on the frontier.