Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-09-15

breakfast. The pale face woman gave me mine. >
The white man better than he once was, he
said. Once he kill Indian now he feed him.
THAT must have been a good many years ago.
said TobasSon, the husband of the woman.
May be fore you born.' said the old Indian.
: That when was young man like you. been
in these woods fore now--when Indian and pale
| face fight and kill each other.'
! 'Not here in these woods y said Tobassan, ex-
! pressing some surprise.
I May be not right here, but farther younder,
replied the old man. pointing his long bohy finger
iowa rds the Atlantic ocean. "A trees here then,
and pale faces live here, but tor.n there
And do you remember it q asked Tobasson,
gazing aHxouly into the old mans face.
Me remember i: very well, replied the old In
dian Me kill one pale face in the war, md ma Y
be more, but we all friends now. The white man
wicked then he shoot Indian, and drive him
from his hunting ground.'
The pale faces were wicked 10 do so, for the
hunting grounds belonged to the red man. said
the daughter, spreading some bread and meat be.
fore her father and husband.
You speak very well,' he said, while a smile
passed over his dark, nrinkled face.
| They now busted themselves in eating, while the
young wife sat and looked on, appa renIly much
pleased if she were hungry and eating too.
Bascom and his wife were so much pleased with
the young Indian woman they thought they would
60 TO The lodge and see them. They did so, and
arrived there just they had finished their meal.
Me glad to see you come said the young wife,
addressing Mr.. Bascom.
Me thank pale face for giving Us good break
fast said The old Indian.
a nd we thank YOU, too said TCbassoIi, look
ing pleasantly them.
~ re guile welcome, replied Mr.. Bn5com.
Make some good baskets and will buy them
| Me most TOO old now, but T'obasson make
| good ones said the old Indian. Me learn him
| when he was young
.Tobassson is not so dark colored as you are,
! said Bascom. j reckon he's not q full booded
| Indan, is he 2
May be he not. but he live with Indians great
while, said the old man. 'lle very much Ike
! Indians now, Tobasson hunt well and shoot moose
a good way off,
! lie will beat you now, suppose said Bascom.
! 'Ah, he see farther and hand more steady re.
piled the old Indian. 'Me beat him once, but me
learn him now.
! You can shoot now as well as can when you
are not too tired said Tobasson.
! Maybe can, sometimes, but me very old now,
he replied. 'Al trees here cnce, and good hunt,
ing ground for Indian.
Yes, and well do remember it for | came
here when there wasn't white man within ten
miles of me- said Bascom. Il cut down the trees
and cleared up the farm
You very smart young man them said the old
Indian. Pale facescul down trees very fast, ant
drive Indian back
Il suppose the Indians thought we had no right
here said Bascorn.
The Great Spirit gave Indian hunting ground
but white man drive him away, replied the old
! Indian.
| Perhaps the white men were wrong sometimes,
but the Indians very cruel said Bascon.
'PaIe face cruel frst,' said the old man, while
his dark eyes sparkled as if he still felt those emo
! tions which stirred the hearts of the Indians
| against the white settlers.
! Il don't know but you re more than half right,
re piled Bascom.
we think the red man all right. and the Great
Spri, think so too, said the old of the forest.
well. we don't rob you now, but give you food
and Blankets said Mr.. Bascom.
! Indians no want your food and blankets if pale
face hadn't driven him away from his hunting
grounds replied the old Indian. He live better
than he does now. Your fre-water hurt him and
made him wicked.
! q must confess there is too much truth in what
you say answered Buscom. q was young then,
I | never killed an lndian.'
'May BE your father did, quickly answ cred The
old man.
! Il believe he did, but he's dead now said Bas-
| com.
.'The Indian would have sculped him if he
could,'' said the old man.
q SUPPOSE replied Bascot1i, beginning TO feel as
the old Indian had the better part of the argu.
ment. II was the women's turn 10 talk now, for
| thus far they had been listeners.
| 'How long have you been married 2 asked Hrs.
| Bascom. addressing the squaw.
! May be two years. replied the young wife.
Never had any children, suppose g inquired
Mrs. Bascom.
Me had one papoose. and he died. answered
the Indian woman, while tear started into her
dark eye al the recollection Of her child. You
have papoose 2
! Il had one little boy, but we lost him when he
was six years DID, said Mrs. Bascom, while tears
ran down her checks also.
| A strong sympathy once excited between
them Mrs. Bascom overcome, that she
/ fell the neck of the Indian woman, and kissed
her. The old Indian gazed upon them, and felt
some strange emotions. He was pleased and as
tonished at such demonstration.
'The Indian and paIe-face love each other,' said
the old man. 'Borh love papoose, md they feel
sorrowfut. Ne love papoose ard squaw too and
me feel bad.'
Well, such is the lot of humanity said Mr..
Bascom. we must all be reconciled TO the deal.
ings of the Great Spirit. who is just nd mercifu'
Your papoese didn't die, but he went away
away when you lived in log house, said the old
| Indian.