Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-09-01
Prem catIia,. .L.si..r.s.

My attention was, directed by Major
Sanford the Indian Agent, to one. of The
most miserable and helpless looking Oh.
l5ects that lever had seen in ms-hie--a.
very aged and emaciated man 81 the tribe,
who told me be was 10 be exposed
| The tribe were going where hunger
and dire necessity compelled them to go
and this pitiabls object who had once
been chief and "a man OF distinction in
his tribe, who was now tooiold to travel,
being reduced 10 rnsre skin and bones
va. 10 be left to stsrvs, and meet with
such death as might fall to his.lot. lin-
lgered around this poorold fofsaken tpatFi-
arch tor hours before We started 10 in-
dulge tears Of sympathy which were flow
| ing for the sake Of This poor benighted
and decrepid old man, whose worn out
limbs were no longer able 10 support him i
their kind and faithful offices having long
since been performed; and his body aud
mind doomed 10 ineer into the RitAering
agony Of decay, and gradual solitary dea!h.
Wept, and il was q pleasure 10 weep,
for the painful looks and dfeary prospects
Of this old veteran. whose. eyes were
dimmed, whose vensrabls locks were
whitened by an hundred years " hose
venerable, locks were almost naked and
Trembling, as be eat BY small FIRE which
tIis sf.trlA 9 r tre>i - l.a.tsI ..ts.-
oi wood within bis reach. and buffaio's
skin stretched upon some crotches over
biz haadt Such wasto DO his only dwell--
INK. and such the eha1eestor bis life, with
only few half picked bones that were
laid within bis reach andsa dish Of wa
ter, without weapons OF means Of any
kind 70 replenish them. ot sirsngthHtoa
move bis body from it's locality, In this
sad plight ! moprnful!y contemplated this
misefable remnant OF existence, who had
lunluckily outliYed the fates and accidents
Of war to die alone, al deaths leisurs.- -
His friends and bis children had all left
him, und were preparing in q little Time
10 be on the march. He had told thom
| to leave him, ''he was too DID," hs,ssid !,
"and too feeble 10 march My childrsn !.
said be, "our nation is poor and il is ne 5
Ecessary tina, you should all 60 10 the coun-
| Try where you can get meat my eyes
are dimmed, ard my Strengths no more \;
my days are nearly all numbered. and I
am burdent6 my children. | cannot
90, and wish 10 die. Keep your hearts,
stout, and think not Of me; / am no longer
good for any thing 10 this way they1
had finished the cerenony OF exposing
hin, and taken theft fnal leave Of him -
| advanced 70 the old man, aud was, IN:
doubtedly, the last human being thai held
converse with him. Tsat by the side of
him; and though he could not distinctly
see me, be shook me heartily by tbs hand
and smiled, evidently aware that | was q
white man, and that sympalhized With
his inevitable misfortunel / shock hands
again with him.. turning my course toward
The steamer. which was mile OF more
from me, and ready 70 resume Der yey age
Iup the Missouri.
This cruel custom Of exposing their
aged people, belongs. Think. 10 al he
tribes who roam about the pfsiriess max
ling severe marches, when such decreptd
persons are totally unable togo, unable
10 ride or walk, when they have no
means o. carrying them. Il oksn bec6n4s
absolutely necessary in such cases that
they should be left and they unifermly=
insist upon il. rs
When passing BY the size ofthe Pom.
cab village, lew monihs after ihs, ID
hmy canob ! went ashore with nv men !,
and found the poles sand the buffalo .kia
standing as they were left over ths old
Eman's head. Thssfrebrands were lying
nearly as / Ieft them; and found afs.w
yards distant the skull and others 81 his
bones. which had been picked and eieane d
I BY the wolves which Is probably oil that
any human being capeyer know Of Lis
final and melancholy fate.
4 Ssmpothy.-Ii is from having suffered
ourselves tina. we learn TO spprsciate the
misfortunes and The wants Of others, and
{ become doubly interested 10 preventing
Of relieving ID EN- Tho human heart, 4
Dc an elegant French author observes.
! resembles certain medicinal trees, which
Weld moi ihsir healing balm unth they
! have themselves been wounded.
Sid a fond lover yesterday 10 bis
4 friend,
aiWelI, Jim, i kissed julia fos The 6rst
Il line last night, and ! declare i electrified
i ~