Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-12
DAILY EVENING STAR.
From the Au' obiosraphy nj Col. Tmmbull.
A Noble Example Of Early Times
bout the year ZIG a circumstance OF

n nUOle VI A~oiIy AIUos
About the year ZIG circumstance oc-
Cured, which deserves to be written in
adamant. In the wars of New England
with the aborigines, the Mohcgan tribe of
Indians early became the friends of the
English. Their favorite ground was on
the banks of the river (now the Thames
between New London and Norwich. A
small remnant of the Mohegans still ex-
ist, and they are sacredly protected in
the possession and enjoyment of their ia
vOrite domain on the banks Of the Thames.
The government of this tribe had become
hereditary in the family of the celebrated
Uncas. During the time OF my fathers
mercantile prosperity, he employed sew
eral Indians of this tribe in hunting ami
mails, whose skins were valuable for their
fur. Among these was one named Zach
ary, of the royal race, an excellent hunter
as ever lived, but much addicted to rum.
When he had somewhat passed the age
Of fifty, several members of the royal fam
lily who stood between Zachary and the
throne of his tribe, died and he found
himself with only one left between him
and the empire. In this moment his
better genius resumed its sway, and he
reflected seriously. Glow can such a
drunken wretch as | am aspire to be
chief of this honorable race! Can SIC
coed to the great Uncas9 / will drink
no moren' lie solemnly resolved never
again to taste any drink but water; and
he kept his resolution.
heard this story, and did not entirely
believe it, for young as | vas, I had al
ready partook in the prevailing contempt
for Indians. In the beginning of May
the annual election of the principal Off
Gers Of the (then) colony was held at
Hartford, the capitol.
My father attended officially. and it
gans also to attend. Zachary had sue
ceeded to the rule of his tribe. My faith
er's house was situated about midway on
the road between Mohegan and Hartford,
and the old chief was in the habit of COM
ing a few days before the election, and
dining with his brother governor. One
day the mischievous thought struck me,
to try the sincerity of the old man S tenn
perance. The family were seated at dim
her, and there was excellent home brewed
beer on the table. | addressed the old
chief-''Zachary, this beer is excellent;
will you taste it 2"
The old man dropped his knife and
fork-leaned forward with stern inten-
sity of expression : his black eyes spark
ling with Indignation was fixed on me.
John, said he you do not know what
YOU are doing You are serving the devil.
boy! tell you that am an Indian, and
that if [ should but taste your beer |
could net stop until had got to rum,
and become again the drunken, contempti-
bic wretch, your father remembers me to
have been. John, while you live, never
tempt man to break good resolution"
Socrates never uttered more valuable
precept. Demosthenes could not have
given it more solemn notes of eloquence.
| was thunderstruck. Ny parents were
deeply affected: they looked at each other,
at me, and at the venerable old Indian,
with deep feelings of awe and respect
They afterwards frequently reminded ME
of the scene, and charged me never to
forget it. Zachary lived to pass the age
of eighty and sacredly kept his resolution.
lie lies buried in the royal burying place
of his tribe, near the beautiful falls of the
1antic, the western branch Of the Thames,
in Norwich, on the land now owned by
my friend. Calvin Goddard, Esq. visit
ed the grave of the old chief lately, and
repeated to myself this incstimabe lesson.