Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-05-21
NAoMAN-AN INDIAN TALE.

plank, (between whose noble promontofy lawn ana
our own highland eyrie these two streams have
their meadow-meeting and united forte-yolng)
gives me the following tradition which may
possibly contain the etymology. It is slip from
an old newspaper and copy it as it stands )
"Little more than century ago, the beautiful
region watcred by this stream was possessed by a
small tribe of Indians which has long since be-
come extinct or incorporated with some other saw
age nation of the West. Three four hundred
yards from where the stream discharged itself into
! the Hudson, white family of the name of Stacey
had established itself, in long house. by tact per-
mission of the tribe, to whom Stacey had made
himself useful by variety of little arts highly
estimated by the savages In particular TREND
ship existed between him and old Indian call
| ed Naoman, who often came to his house and par
took of his hospitality The Indians never forgive
! injuries or forget benefits. The family consisted
! of Stacey, his wife and children-a boy and girl
( the former five, the latter three years old.
| One day Naoman came to Stacey's log hut in
his absence, lighted his pipe and sat down. He
looked very serious, sometimes sig hed deeply, but
said not word. Stacey's wife asked him what
was the matter, and if he sick. He shook
his head, sighed, but said nothing, and soon went
away. The next day he came again, and behaved
| in the same manner. Stacey's wife began to think
strange of this and related it to her husband, who
advised her to urge the old man to an explanation
the next time he came. Accordingly, when he
re peated his visit the day after, she was more i'm
Fortunate than usual. AT last the old Indian said
am a red man. and the pale faces are our enc
mies-why should speak 3 But my husband and
are your friends; you have eaten salt with us
thousand times, and my children have sat on your
knee often. If you have anything on your
mind tell it me. 1t will cost me my life, if 1t Is
known, and the white faced women are not good
at keeping Secrets replied Naoman. Try me and
see. Will you swear by your Great Spirit, you
will tell none but your husband? have none
else to tell. But will you swear?' do swear
by our Great Spirit [ will tell none but my hus-
band Not if my tribe should kill you for not
telling' Not if your tribe should kill me for not
telling.
Naoman than proceeded to tell her that, owing
to some encroachLnents of the white people, below
the mountains, his tribe had become rrltated, and
were resolved that night to massacre all the white
settlers within their reach That she must send
for her husband, inform him of the danger, and as
secretly and speedily possible take their canoe
and paddle with ali haste over the river to FishkiIl
Tor safety. BE quick and do nothing that may
excite suspcion, said Naoman, he departed.
The good wife sought her husband, who
down on the river fishing, told him the story, and
us no time to be lost, they proceeded to their
boat, which was unlukcilly filled with water. 1t
took some time to clear it out, and meanwhile Sta
cey recoected his gun which had been left be-
mnd. He proceeded to the house and returned
with it; it took up considerable time, and precious
time it was the poor family:
The daily visits of old Naoman, and his more
than ordinary gravity, had excited suspicion in
some Of the tribe, who had accordingly paid par
ticular attention to the movements OF Stacey.
One of the young lndlans who had been kept OH
the watch, seeing the whole family about to take
their boat, ran to tue little In iian village about
mile off, and gave the alarm. Five Indians collect
ed, ran down to the riverside where their canoes
were moored, jumped i'll and padded for Stacey,
who by this time hal got distance out in the
stream. They gained OH him fast, that twice
he dropped his paddle and TODD up his gun. But
his wlle prevented his shooting, by telling him
that if he fired, and they were afterwards overta-
ken, they would meet no mercy from the Indians.
lie accordingly reraned, and piled his paddle till
the sweat rolled i'll big drops down his forehead
All would not do; they were overtaken within
hundred yards of the shore, and carried back with
shouts of yelling triumph.
When they got ashore, the Indians set fire to
Stacey's house, and dragged himself his wife and
children to their village. Here the principal old
men, and Naoman among the rest assembled to
deliberate upon the affair. The chief among them
stated that some of the tribe had undoubtedly been
guilty Of treason IN appnsIng Stacey, the white
man, of the designs OF the tribe, whereby they
took the alarm and we'll nigh escaped. lie pro-
posed to examine the prisoners as to who gave
information. The old men assented to this, and
Naoman among the rest. Stacey was first inter
rogated by one of the old men, who spoke English,
ami Interpreted to the Others Stacey refused to be-
tray his informant. His wife was then question
ed, WHILE at the same moment, two Indians stood
threatening the two children with tomahawks in
case she did not confess. She attempted to evade
the TRUTH by declaring that she had dream the
night before, which had alarmed her, and that she
had persuaded her husband to fly. The Great
Spirit never del ms to talk in dreams to a white
face said the old Indians: Woman, thou hast
two tongues and two faces, speak the truth, or
thy children shall surely die. The little boy and
girl was then brought close to her, and the two
savages stood over them, ready to execute their
bloody orders.
Wilt thou name, said the old Indian, the red
man who betrayed his tribe. 1 will ask thee three
times The mother answered not. Wilt thou
name the traitor This is the second time The
poor mother looked at her husband, and then at
her children, and stole glance at Naoman, who
sat smoking his pipe with invincible gravity She
wrung her hands and wept, but remained silent. |
8 Wilt thou name the traitor tits the third and last
time' The agony of the mother waxed more bit |
ter again she sought the eye of Naoman, but it
was cold and motonless; pause of a moment
awaited her reply, and the tomahawks were raised
over the heads of the children, who besought their
mother not to let them be murdered.
Stop cried Naoman. All eyes were turned