The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-11-02

r''r a husband. In order to remove some
of her objections, they took measures
to make some provision for her future
mantainancc and presented to the
brave all that in their simple mode
of living, an Indian could desire. At
about this time Il party was formed to
go to tho Red Pipe Stone, ON the
shores Of the Mississippi, above the
falls of st. Anthony, to procure some
of the charmed stone for their pipes
The parents and brothers Of Ononi-
bidga were of the party, and she her
self was also one with them. 1t was
on their assembling at this bluff, pre-
vio'Is to their departure. that they Of:
ferrd their presents to the brave. En-
conrged by these, he again renewed
his suit, but was, as heretofore, unsuc-
ccssiul.-IIer family and friends,
angry at what they supposed unius-
tiliablc obstinacy Oh her part, rcmon-
stratcd severely, and even used
threats to compel her to obedience.
"Wcll, thcn,' said Ononididaga, "you
have left me no hope. told you did
not love him. and that would
not live with him. now wish to re-
main single, but you will not allow me
even that poor boon. You say you
love me, and that YOU are my par
cnts, my brothers and my friends; yet
yon have driven from me my hun
ter; and | will ncrcr! nevcr!. .lnve anotll.
er. You have forced him toSroam an
outcast from village to village, and
from tribe to tribe, and, this moment,
perhaps, he is alone, far from his
native tribe, none with him to assist
in building his wigwams orLspread
his skins for his bed, none to wait upon
him, when faint and weary with the
labor of the chase: sighing 10 the
night winds for his Ononidiga.R Is not
this enough? Would you hpye me
joyful vixen my hunter is fasnway?"i
But she could not repress her
passion even here, and before, Others
could speak, she resumed:
"What! | marry ;moilier,None on
whom | can never place my Affections.
and with whom can never he hap.
py? If this is your love ior me, Ge It
SO. But soon you shall have cause to
regret your course" Saying this,
she Withdrew, aud while they were
busy in making preparations Cor the
festival, Determined upon uniting her
with the brave that day.) she
wound her way to the top of the bluff:
and calling 10 her friends, addressed
them thus: ''Y"u thought to compel
me, but you shall see how certain can
defeat your plans" She, then com.
mcnccd singing her death song, sweet,
cr by far than the dying echo of the
evening vcspcr, as the still breeze waf
ted it softly toward the regions of
the blest. She then rushed with tho
swittncsS of a deer toward the river.
-llcr friends, to rescue her, rushed
all possible haste; calling on her
name with hearts ready to burst with
anguish; assuring her that her hunter
should be restored, if she would
dcsist. ''lt is in vain. Yon arc too
late" she replied, as she paused a
.n'''ie'' ~ oii IhS o'i'N vi thc prcciplce.
Then, with mighty bound, she
plunged into the river; and before her
friends could reach the spot, its chrys.
tai waters had closed over her forever.
Such WAS the story told me by an
aged Indian in 1886 And while tel
ling it the stiffness Of his age fursook
his limbs and the feeling of youth
again. renewed his age, while the
tears tricklcd down his tiirrowcd check.
And he was the beloved young
hunter who had once more and for
his last time, returned to behold the
spot where once had trod the last
steps of his Olonibidga.
a H. nSH