Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-11-22

al Ia Eses From the .Amerieas Rssisv..
The msath Of wind.root.
AN INDIAN STORY. NH,
less sifi BY ~. wHrrMAx. m6
THaEr hundred years aeo-so / hear
the tale not long since, from the mouth ,
one educated like y white man, but born !
the race from which Logan and ,TeSumse
ssprang -three hundred years ago. Their
lived on lands now forming an easter
county Of the most powerful of the Amer
lean States, petty Indian tribe, governe
by brave and wise chieftain. This chiel
tain Was called by name which in our Ian
guage signifies Unrelenting. His deeds q
courage and subtility made him renowine
through no small portion Of the norther,
continent. There were only two dweller
in his lodge-himself and his youthful son
for twenty moons had filled and wane,
since his wife, following four Of her of
spring, was placed in the burial ground.
AS the Unrelenting sal alone one even
ing in his rude hut, one Of his people cam,
TO inform him that traveller from dis
tant tribe, had entered the village and de
sired iced and repose. Such a petitio,
was never sighted BY the red man; ana
the messenger was sent back with an in
vitation for the stranger to abide in III.
lodge Of the chief, himself. Among thai
simple race no duties were considered
more honorable than arranging the house.
held comforts Of guest. Those dutie.
were now performed by the hosts own
hand, his son not having yet returned from
the hunt on which he had started with .
few young companions at early dawn. IL
little while the wayfarer was led into the
the dwelling by him who had given the
first notice Of his arrival.
You are welcome my brother said the
Unrelenling. The person to whom this
kind salute was addressed was an athletic
Indian; apparently of middling age, and
habited in the scant attire Of his species.
He had the war turf on his forehead, un-
der which flashed a pair of brilliant eyes.
His rejoinder was friendly and brief.
The chiefs tent is lonesome--his peo-
pie are away? Continued the stranger, af-
ter apause. casting a glance Of inquiry
around. r s ss4
MY brother says true that, it Is lone
some,' the other Answered. Twelve sea.
son ago, the Unrelenting saw 1--WE children
in the shadow Of the wigwam, and their
mother was dear to him.. He was strong
like a cord Of many fibres. Then the
breath Of Manitu snapped the fibres one
by one asunder. He locked with i pleas
ant eye on my sons and daughters, and
wished them for HIMSELF ~
The Unrelenting turned as he spoke,
and pointed to ain object Just inside the
opening of the tent.
A moment or two before, the figure Of
q boy. had glided ncisslessly in and taken
his station back of the chief. Hardly
Twelve years seemed the age Of the new
conner. He was noble Child! His limbs
never distorted with the ligatures Of civil
lied lie, were graceful as the ash, and
symme.aical and springy as the bounding
stays. 1t was the last and liveliest Of the
chieftain's sons-the soft-lipped, nimble
Wind Foot.
With the youths assistance, the prepar-
atoms for their frugal meal were soon com
pleted. After finishing it, as the stranger
to be weary, heap OF skins
was arranged for him in one corner Of the
lodge, and he laid him down to sleep.
1t was lovely summers evening"
The moon shone and the stars twinkled,
ind the, thousand voices Of forest night,
sounded in every direction. The chief
and his son reclined at the opening eff the
ent, enjoying the cool breeze which blew
freshly upon them, and tapped the piece
If deer hide that served for the door,
t1inging it down so as to dark
en- the apartment, then raising it suddenly
up again, as if to let in the bright moon
oeaiiis.
Wind Foot spoke Of his hunt that day.
He had met with no success, and, in a
BOYS. impatient spirit, wondered why It
was that others arrows should hit the
mark, and failure be reserved for him
llope. The chief heard him with a sad
'mile, as he remembered his own youthful
rats; he .soothed the child with peniie
words, telling him that brave warriors
'ometimes went whole days with the same
MANY Year. since said the chi chief,
when my cheek was soft and nv arms
cit the nutnbness Of but few winters. /
myself vainly traverssd our hunting
,ro,ihds, as yod have done to-day. The
Dark Influence was around me, and not 1
Jingle shaft would do its bidding.' 80
'Ahd my father brought home nothing
o his lodge?' 81. ~
the <Gnfeieniing |; came inae back without
my game the other answered; but he
brought what was dearer to him and his
people than the latest deer or the sweetest
bird lneat-he brought the scalp Of an ac-
cursed Kansi!'.,
The voice Of the chief was was deep and
Iharp in its tone Of hatred.
will my father, said Wind-F DOT, tell
The child started and paused. An. ex.
:lation, asudden cultural noise, came from
hat part Of the tent where the stranger
was. sleeping. The dry skins which form
d the bed, fustled, as If he who lay there
was changing his position, and then all
continued silent. The Unrelentine pro-
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