The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-09-23

never can 90 to the west; we must all die
Is tnere no chance for us to get back to our
| old home! The hope of once more seeing
that lovely hunting ground, would cheer our
wounded spirits more than all the vast hunt
ing grounds of the west. Can you help us ~
AVe contipued the conversation for some time,
while all MSpt. Reader, you may suppose
that you never could be induced to shed tears
for an obscure Indian famiIy Y, and perhaps you
might not; but thank God that ! have u
heart susceptible of feeling and one that has
never failed to sympathise with suffering hu-
manity, wherever found. sat in silence,
listening to bereaved father and mother
mourning for their lost children, with that
deep anguish of soul only known to those
who have had such affictions to encounter.
had no help in store for them; saw obsta-
cles on every side, if they attempted to cs-
cape But this was their only chance; so |
advised them to save, Of the provisions they
drew, all that they could, and when they had
sufiiciency to carry them to their old homes,
to take the last look at the camp-fires by
night, as they did their old home, and return
to it, and then to use for their support any
or all of the crop they left behind, as it was
then nv own. it had been sold by Commits
sioners appointed by the Government to take
charge of all the property left by those forced
to emigrate, and became the owner, under
one of these sales. And could that crop or
twenty more such, be wanting to give liberty,
ease and comfort to these unfortunate crea-
lures, all, all should have been freely be-
slowed. gave him this advice whether it
was right or wrong, and we parted | had
but little hope of ever seeing him again.
In few days returned to my home, then
in Haywood county. | often spoke Of the
old Wolf and his family, and some two or
three weeks had gone by and began to think
less often of the great distress of Standing
Wolf and his family, when one day my atten-
ton was attracted by company of Indians
moving on in the direction OF my house. |
looked intenty at them, thinking the while
that there seemed something about them that
was familiar At length | recognized old
Wah-w-cattocah in the lead, with seventeen
of his relations following him. went out
and met them, welcomed them to my house,
gave them the best had to eat. We then
consulted what they should do. | advised
them to 90 among his own people, as many
of them were then living n short distance off,
that the Government could not remove, AZ
they had become land owners and were sub
iect to the laws of the State. He took my
advice and went to his Father, who was then
living.
Wah-w-cattocah still lives although he is
well stricken in years, is in the enjoyment Of
good health. He is good citizen, his hope
is yet firm and steadf,,st; he is no more n
drunken savage, but christian. He and all
his family belong to the NJ. L. Church, South;
two of his sons continually occupy the sacred
desk for the benefit of their red brethren,
men of strong mind and truly eloquent; and
aided by Grace Divine, have done, and are
doing much good for the cause of religion
among the Cherokees in this State. And
now the father, mother, sons and daughters
are happy and coutented, and are causing
many to seek the religion which has given
them so much comfort in days passed by, and
which enables them to look to the future
with so much hope. They live in Haywood
county, an honor to their race, and setting
Cody example even for the white man. As
for myself, if did wrong, hope may yet
repent but never have yet felt any remorse
of conscience for it, Some may blame and
denounce me-be it so. q. w. liYsE.
Murphy, N c. Jan. II, 1853.