The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1846-06-05
MISCELZA.NH.
OR CONFIDENCE RETURNED.

\
from Utica. He brought his family with
him; among whom was widowed daugh.
ter with an only child, fue boy about
four years old. You will recollect, that
the country round was an unbroken for
est, and this was the domain Of the savage
tribes.
Judge W saw the necessity ofkeep-
ing on good terms with the Indians, for as
The was nearly alone he was completely at
their mercy; accordingly, he took every
opportunity to assure them Of his kindly
feelings, and to secure their good will in
return. Several of the chiefs came to see
him, and all appeard pac6ed, tut there
was one thing that troubled him, an aged
chief of the Seneca tribe, and one Of
great influence, who resided at the dis
tance Of half dozen miles, had not yet
been TO see him, nor could he by any
means ascertain the views and feelings of
the sachem in respect to his seltlemec!
in that region. At last he seut him a
chief would visile him the morrow.
True to his appointment, the sachem
came. Judge W received him with
marks of respect, and introduced his W ife, j,
his daughter aud little boy. The inter-
} view that followed was interestidn. Up
on its results the Judge was convinced
miuh nd ha
therefore, exceedingly anxious to make
a layorabie impression upon the distin.
gnished chief He expressed to him his
desire to settle in the country, to live on
terms of amity and good feeling with the
Indians, and TO be useful to them, by in
Producing among them the arts Of civili-
zation.
The chief heard him out and then said:
Brother, you ask much, and you pro m
ise much. What pledge can you give of
our good faith!"
deception" was the reply.
'The white mans word may be good TO
to the white man, yet 1t is but wind when
spoken to the Indian" said the sachem.
81 have put my life into your hands,
said the Judge, "is this not an evidence
of my good intentions! l have placed
confidence in the Indian. and will not be-
lieye that he will abuse or betray the
trust that is thus reposed.''
$50 mach is weli," replied the chief,
"lhe Iudian will repay confidence with
confidence If yon wil trust him he will
, trust you. But ! must have pledge
Let this boy go with me to my wigwam;
, | will bring him back in three days with
my answer!"
If an arrow had pierced the bosom OF
the mother, she could not have felt a
deeper paog than wentto her heart, as
the lndian made this proposal. She
sprang from her seat, and running to the
boy, who stood at the side of the sachem,
looking into his face with pleased wonder
and admiration, she encircled him in her
arms, and pressing him close to her bo.
som, was about TO fly from the ROOM
A gloomy and envious frown came over
the sacLem's brow, butbe did not speak.
But not SO with Judge W. lie
knew that the success Of their enterprise,
The lives Of his family, depended upon tie
decision of the momeat. "Stay, stay, my
beseech you. lie is not more to you than
to me. / would not risk hair of his
head. But, my dear, he mus! go with the
chief. God will watch over him! He
will be as safe in the sachem's wigwam as
beneath cur roof in your arms
The agonzed mother hesitated for a
moment; she then slowly returned, plac-
| ing the boy on the knee of the chief, and
kneeling at his feet burst into flood of
tears. The gloom passed from the sa-
chem's brow, but he said not word. He
arose, took the boy in his arms and de-
parted.
| shall not attempt to describe the ago.
ny of the mother for the three ensuing
days; she was agitated by contending
hopes and fears. m the night she awoke
from sleep, seeming to hear screams of
her child calling upon his mother for hel p!
But time wore away, and the third day
came. How slowly did the hours PAST
The morning waned away, noon arrived,
and the afternoon was far advanced,
yet the sachem came not! There was
gloom over the whole household. The
mother was pale and silent, as if despair
was settling coldly around her heart.-l
Judge W walked TO and fro, going |
every few minutes TO the door. aud look /
log through the opening 10 the forest to-
wards the sachem's abode
! Al last, at the rays of the setting sun
we're thrown upon the tops Of the forest
around, the eagle feathers Of the ehieftain