Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-02-14

bIs aaa Ignorant race, but WITH slt their |
degradation. they possess some Of the
virtues in singular degree. The wo-
men are proverbially chaste and modest, :
and Of all the young girls that annually
visit our city, none have been known to
depart from the path Of reclitude. A I
strong interest therefore surrounds these
Establishments Of their station, and they
pass unharmed through The strexts Of I
our city. Many Of them are quite hand
some, and possess, beneath their rustic
garbs-the calico gown and the red
blanket-considerable graces Of manner
aud appearance As they invariably re-
fuse to talk English, very little conver-
sation can be had with them, and that
lonly IN reference 10 the small bargains
which they desire TO make. !" Chumpa,p
and /" Picayun, are almost the only words
which they employ in their intercourse
with our infabitants. Still, they are not /
reserved in their movements where they
wish to make bargain, and enter the
different houses Of the city, stores, dwell |
lings, and Offices, without ceremony, hes
itation OF announcement. Who has not
been startled many a morning, by a
voice, at the chamber door, excIaiming
/" ChumpaT"
The stoical demeanor Of these Choc-
I taw maidens has often led 10 the i'm
preston that they are destitute of natu-
raj sensibilities and sentiments of their
/. sex. They have the bright. flashing
eyes, well developed, symmetrical, and
infexible forms, beautiful small hands
r. r. =
+ brilliant articles of dress, rings. beads.
: and other personal decorations, the taste
E and vanity Of their civilized sisters; is it
E possible that they are destitute Of those
0 delicate sympathies and tender affec-
r tions which have marked women in all
e other classes and conditions of life?-
This question has doubtless suggested
itself to many, as ar interesting problem
Of character In one instance, at least,
an attempt-perhaps heartless one
was made 20 solve it. and it is to that the
story which have 10 tell refers II
come to my knowledge in all its details,
but will attempt to narrate It in such
manner as not 10 detain the reader with
particulars which he can imagine for
+ himself.
Among the Choctaw gipsies. VINO VS.
e tied Mobile in the winter of 1916, was
o one Of unusual beauty and attractions
e Altho' scarcely developed into woman
e hood-not more than seventeen suns"
s having kissed the rich bronze Of her
cheek-she was yet tall, round-limbed,
d straight, and graceful very model Of
E. feminine form. Her features, more
It prominent and regular than is usual
d with her tribe, were delicately sculpture
d ed, and the erect attitude of her head,
It with her large fawn-like eyes and abun
n dant coal-black halr. always neatly plai-
l ted in massive folds, gave to her appear
ance an air of superiority such as the
n youthful Pocahontas is said to have pos
h sessed. Her dress was extremely neat,
: though with large number Of silver and
y wempum ornaments, and her small feet,
which any Of the fair promenadors on
y Dauphin might have envied, was invari.
: ably dressed in mocasins ornamented in
e the most fanciful style with many col.
ct ored beads. As she walked about the
81 streets of Mobile, arrayed in this way,
s with her parcel of pine swung acros:
a. her shoulders, she attracted the atten
ir' ton Of all spectators, for her beauty
TO though she would hold converse will
III none except in the few words, by which
s. she endeavored to dispose of her bar
rs den.
al Much interest was naturally felt il
this young girl, and many efforts wer,
made to learn something of her charac
ter and history. Nothing further coule
as be cleaned, (and this was told by g Cap
i'll tain Billy" drunken Chociaw, FIRE
~ queRty seen, in garrulous moods, in ou
he street, than that she was the daughte
Ut of an Indian chief of much note VIII,
n died many years before, leaving her al
y only infant child. with her mother, Il
g. their cabin on the Pascagoula. Her sin
lr- gular beauty had made her quite bell,
e. with the young Chocto@ warriors, bu
ne she was very shy, and was called in thv
ar Indian tongue, the Wild Fawn of Pasca
in goula. She supported her mother, VIII
ey was very old, and herself, by her sraffi
in berries and Iightwood. Her perso
n, nal charms made her one of the mos
no successful dealers in those articles, an
De- every one particularly the young men {
'on Mobile, were glad TO give the preferenc
he in their patronage to this young and a
la. tractive creature. Many were the e
er- forts made to gain her smiles, and enli
icy her in conversation. but they were all
an vain. She would go her daily rouu
ON and enter with perfect unrescrve, Il
'us rooms or Offices Of her patrons. deposi
J Of her little load Of pine, receive her dim
g a and then quickly retire with tie sticks
len her hands to procure another parcel.
and Things glided on in this way for son
les, months, during the winter Of which