Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-07-17
VoLUME ". NUnBER 3e.
4 Noble EXamnle.

About the year l776, a circumstance occur
red which deserves TO be written on adamant.
In the wars of New Englnnd with the abo-
riginles, the Mohegan tribe of Indians early
become friends of the English. Their favor
Ite ground was on the banks ofthe river (now
the lIlames,) between New London and Nor
wlch. \ small remnant of the Moherans sill
exist, and they are scarcely protected in the
possession and enjoyment of their favorite
domain on the banks Cf the Thames. The
government OF this tribe had become heredit-
ary IN the family of the celebrated chief I'm
cas-. During the time Of my fathers mer-
chantlle prosperity he had employed several
Indians Of this tTibe in hunting animals,
whose skins where valuable for their fur
Among these hunters was one named Zachary,
OF the royal race, an excellent hunter but as
drunken worthless an Indian as ever lived
When he had somewhat passed the age Of so,
several members Of the royal family who
stood between Zachary and the throne of his
tribe died, and he found himself with only
one life between him and the empire.
In this moment his better genius resumed
its sway. and he reflected seriously. How
can such drunken wretch as am aspire to
be the chief Of this honorable race? What
viii my people say and how will the shades
OF my noble ancestors look down with indig-
nation upon such a base successor1 Can
succeed 10 the great Uncas! / will drink no
more!' He solennly resolved never again
to taste any drink but water, and kept his res
olution.
had heard this story. and did not entirely
believe It; for young ! was | already par
took Of the prevailing contempt for Indians
in the beginning Of May, the annual election
Of the principal officers of the (then) colony
was held at Hartford, the capital. My father
attended briefly officially, nd it was custom
airy for the chief Of Mohegans also to attend.
Zachary had succeeded to the rule of the
tribe My fathers house was situated about
midway on the road between Mohegan and
Hartford, and the old chief was In the habit
Of coming few days before the election and
dining with his brother Governor One day
the mischievous thought struck me 70 try the
old mans temperance. The family were seat
ed at dinner, and there was excellent home
brewed beer on the table. l addressed the
old chief: Zachary, this beer is excellent
will you taste it o.
The old man dropped his knife and fork
leaned forward with a stern intensity of ex-
pression-his black eye sparkling with indig-
nation, was fixed on me.
I" John" said he, lyon do not know what
you are doing. Iou are serving the devil,
boy Do you not know that | am an lndi-
an! L tel! you that am, and that, i'll should
but taste your beer, | could not stop until
got TO rum, and become again the drunken
contemplate wretch your father once knew
me to have been. John, while YOU live. new
er tempt any to break a good resolution.
Socrates never uttered a more valuable pre-
capt. DemostheEes could not have given it
more selemn tones Of eloquence. | was
thunderstruck. My parents were deenlv af-
fected; they looked at each other, at me, and
at the venerable Indian with deep feelings of
awe and respect. They afterwards frequent
ly reminded me of the scene, and charged me
never to forget. Zachary lived to pass the
age of eighty, and sacredly kept his resolu-
ton.
tie lies buried in the royal burial place OF
his tribe nedr the beautiful falls of the Yantic
the western branch of the Thames, in Nor
wich, on the land now owned by my friend
Calvin Goddard Esq, visited the grave of
the old chef lately, and repeated to myself
his inestimable lesson Colonel TruH5uL
Autobiography.