Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-21
From The Western Sourcair.
THE INDIAN HATER.

through Illinois, stopped one day at a village for
n few hours, and stepped into a sore to purchase
some trifng article of which stood in need. Fin
ding number OF persons there, and being not uii-
willing TO while away few minutes in conversations
1 leaned my back against the counter, and addressed
myself to we'll dressed farmer who answered INV
enquiries respecting the country with intelligence
and cvility.
While thus engaged, my attention was dawn to
a person who stood near. He was a man who might
have been about 80 years of age. His height did not
exceed the ordinary stature, and his person was rath
-r slender than otherwise: but there was sonnet hinU
III his air and tentures, which distinguished hun from
common men. The expression OF his countenance
was keen and daring. His forehead was elevated.
his cheekboncs high, his lips small and compressed
while long exposure to the climate had tanned his
complexion TO a deep olive. The same cause SEEM
ed to have hardened his skin and muscles so as to
give HIM the appearance OF a living pstrifaction.
There was over all settled gloom-a kind of for
ced composurc, which indicated resignation but not
content. In his eye, there was something peculiar
yet il difficult 10 tell in what that REGULARITY
consisted IL was Il small grey orb, whose calm
bold, direct, glance seemed TO vouCh, that il had not
covered with shame, guaed In DANCER There
was blended IN that eye searching keerncss with
a quiet vgilanae---a watchiul, sagacous self DOS
session-so often observable ia the physoqaonlv of
those, who are IN The habit Of expecting, meeting
and ovcrc Iuling peril His heavy cye-brovs had
been black but time had touched them with his
pcncil.-Ile was dressed in Coarse grcv huntiro
Shirt, girded round the waist with broad lcathern
belt, tightly drawn, II which rested long knife
weapon common TO the western hunter. Upon the
whole, there was about this man an cvpress;on NJ
grim and gloomy sternness fxedness of purpose and
intense, but smohcred passion, which stamped him
as of Uncommon mould; yet there were indications
of openness and honesty, which forbade distrret
His was not the uubusmg front of hardy gull: nor
the lurking glance OF underhanded vliainv.
stranger would not have hcsitated to confJc in his
:ath or courage but would have trcmbled at the idea
o:provoking his hostility
had barely tiino IN m, lo ,'t~e, IL.
s>fafel indians, who had strocd into the VILLAGE
cn.':a'i the store The effect of their presence IN
G: tao tsckwoodsman, whom have described was
:nf'ta aaous and violent. His eyes rolled wildly.
- - ]" A-d been suddenly stung to madness rlc3
'a!rs "ts strange fercness, supernatural lustrc
"- ina. which flashes from the eye balls Of the pan
thor, when crouched in dark covert, and ready 70
cart upon bis prey His hollow cheek was flushed
he muscles. hat but moment before seemed so ri
git, became flexible, and moved conYulsivcy-IIis
hand Sizing quietly to the hilt of his large knife Is
II by instinct, grasped it firmly; and it was easy to
perceive that single breath would be sufficient 10
blow up the smOtherd fire. But, except these indj-
cations he remained notonless as a statue razing
with LOOK of intense ferocty at the intrudcrs The
Indians halted "hcm their eyes met his and cxcIanr-
ed gances OF Intelligence with each other.-WhetL l.
er 1t was from instinct, that they kncH the man
or whether that sagacity, which is natural to their
race led them to read danger in his scowliuq yisac
they seemed willing to avoid him, and retired The
oackwoodsDan made motion as if to follow; but sew
silent scene with interest, gently withheld him. and
after conversing with him few moments in an eorn
nest, but under tone, ledhm off in one direction Will
the Indians rode away in another.
Having understood from the fnTrner wiz, ,c,,o-,
had been talking, that he about to return homo
and that my route led through his neghborhood
cheerfuy acceptedthe offer of his company ami we
set out together Our discourse very naturally fell
upon the we had witnessed and cynrossoS =
earnestly to learn something of the history and char
ncter OF the man, whose image had IMPRESSED itserl
so forcibly upon my mind.
"de is strange, mysterious looking being" said
Than other men,"
SAMUEL MoNsoN is very good neighbour" &C.
piled the farmer, cautiously.
'You say that in tone" rejoined !, (which seems
TO imply that in some other respects he nav not be
good"
well, as to that cannot say Of my own knowl.
edge, that know any harm of the man"
And what do other people say Of him.
The farmer hesitlted, and then with a caution We
~ common among people Of ills description Tcpli-
el:--
people often say more than they can prove. It's,
not good to be talking Of ones neighbours And Non.
SOC, as | said before, good ncighbor.'
But bad man, as I understand YOU"
"No-iar from THE mans well enough --cx-|
cr?t- and here he lowered his tone, and looked
tiously around
rifle"
''tiOw so;--does he shoe, bis ncishbors cattle,
NO sT-SaWucl MonsJn is much aboYo mean
action, my other man
"Whattheu:--is lie quoryL.soine.'
@Oh, bless yOu, no!--4'hcrc's not pcaccab!cr
man in the sojuementi--but hc used 20 be a treat
Indian fighter in The last war, and he got sort
o'haunted 10 the wUods:-nnd folks do saw. that fc
Is still rather too Keen the track Ola noccasin"
81 do not exactly comprehend YOU my dear
sir. The Indians are, believe, COW quiet, and AZ
peace with us"
"Why, yes, they arc very poaceabl9.--Thcy never
nc.ie near es, cXcl..t now and then a little party
comes IN TO trade"
"Ihey arc civil, nre thoy mott.
" 90 sr, quite grecablc-batinp the killing OF
hog once M whIlc-and Chat we don't vally--scc-
ing that it is hut just natur 10 the poor savage 20
shoot any thing that runs IN the woods"
ain what way then docs this Monson interfere with
,ten'"
- Id not say, Stranger, That Monson doge it.
So. t1. V,nllnt hurt m1ns character; bit the
.e' a1 nth ore about tbs. Now md then an IN |
81 r. Wi..ro and sometimes one is found dead in |
-. a.