Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-10-20
BLOOMINGTON, IOWA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, ls4s

an Indian trader. he opened Temporal
~ trading house on tbs east bank of the
Onondaga creek, near It's outlet. At that
time he dressed In Indian costume, and
spoke the several Indian dialects like ma
tive. He was for many years previous TO
his death, agent and interpreter to the
Onondagas. A short time after young
Webster had made his habita,ion among
the Indians, he accidentally became an
eyewitness to a rather romantic incident
which many of the aged inhabitants yet
living have often heard him relate, and the
story of which may be vouched for as true.
Il may throw feeble ray Of light upon
Indian character. with respect to the VIZ
tues Of fortitude, fidelity and honor, which
though not always duly accredited, ofen
adorn the savage life.
In one of the lovely villages then SO
common among the Cayugas. lived two
young men Of that naii5:. From boyhood
they had been laugh. together the use Of
the bow and arrow, the leap. the dance,
the exciting tolls of the chase. the mimic
arts of war. When the innocent sports Of
youth had given place TO the sierner occu.
pations of manhood, hand In hand they
bounded over the hills and shot across the
plains with an alacrity that knew no lin
it's and when the wrongs Of their country
men cried for vengeance, they stood side
by side ready for the war path. and woe
be,ide the enemy tina. crossed the tract of
Man tin-o-ah and Os>sa-hin-ta. The in>
teres,s of these friends were one. Their
amusements and occupations were similar.
Their desires and wishes we're alike
Their lives and fortunes were completely
interviewer one with the other, and their
whole souls seemed bent on seeking meth
DDS TO promote each others happiness. It
could hardly be supposed tha.'a friendship
SO intimate and Of so long duration. could
possibly be shaken. But inevitable fate
would have it otherwise. In neighbor-
ing village lived Kah-yan-sa. the admired
of all, the beloved of her nation she was
young, gay, beautiful--sprigh,ly as ga
zelle, timid as the lawn. and graceful as
fairy of olden time. The young warriors
often wandered in company to the dwell;
ling of the fair one. 1t is not to be worI
a.--a-.. .i.vi. gfss =, e-2,css:
pro,racted, they delighted TO be in her SCI
ciety and in each others. y
They were willing and welcome visitors
al the dwelling of Kah yan-sa, and wele
always 10th to leave. She received Their
visits with pride and satisfaction. Sic
loved to listen TO the tales related OF their
fea.s in the chase, their proves in ards
and their lofty bearing in the coun&l
room. As yet she had regarded them only
az friends to herself and to each other.--
She honored them as the ready champions
to avenge the wrongs against their coun-
try inflicted by the foeman. The hreslde
of her parental wigwam was often again
made cheerful by the presence Of the two
friends, & the hours always wore smooth
" and pleasantly away. On time the
two young friends set out on different
hunting parties, not by design or from
choice, for had they been left to them
selves, they would have passed on togeth-
er. But the old men directed. and in those
days. among the Cayugas, the young men
obeyed. Success had marked their prog
ress in many weary toll and danger
bear and deer had fallen in numbers before
them, and their boldness ard address could
not be exceeded. After an absence of
several weeks the party to which Man tin.
o-ah belonged, returned richly ladened
with skins, and the more substantial bur-
dens OF the chase. The old men and wo-
men, the children, the youthful maidens.
went out to welcome them on their return;
feasting and dancing followed, all things
passed on in the usual routine of aboriginal
amusement and thanksgiving on such cca
casions. One Of the first places TO which
Man.tin-o.ah bent his steps after his return
was the cabin Of the fair Kah-yan-sa; for
the magic name had become more and
more endeared to him, as absence had ri
pened his hitherto tender impulses to per
feet love.
She received him with extended arms,
and now openly avowed what before she
had scarcely dared 10 breath. The tender
passion as it existed between them was
pure and reciprocal. 1t increased. Each
sought happiness in the society Of the 9th
er and could find little enjoyment else>
where. Days passed fee,ingly away
All things proceeded in the calm sunshine
Of rational frui,ion AT length the party
10 which Os-sa- hin-ta belonged, returned
also. They, TOO, had been successful, and
fortune 10 him had not been less propi-
ious than % his friend. He too, hasten.
ed 10 The dwelling place Of the kind heart
ed Kah-yan-sa. He entered. but the open
ed smile Of gladness, as at other times.
dimpled not her cheek. An embarrassed
greeting, and a cool uninviting welcome