The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1854-11-30
CUMsEH,s HONOR.
AN INDIANS WORD AND GRATITUDE

A correspondent Of the Detroit Free
Press gives the following, among Other
deeply ntesesting anecdote Of the grea
Indian warrior and prophet, Tecumseh
While the enemy was in full possession
Of the country around Monroe and De.
troit, Tecumseh, with a large band oi
his warriors, visited the river Raisin -
The inhabitants along The river had been
stripped of subsistence. Old Mr.. Rivard,
Frencbman. who was lame and unable
to procure living for himself and family,
had contrived to keep out Of sight Of the
wandering bands of savages pair Of Ok
en-, with which his son was able to pro
cure scanty support for the family. 1t
so happened that, while at labor with the
oxen, lecumseh, who had come over from
Maiden, met him in the road, and walk
ing up to him, said
MY friend, l must have these oxen,
Ny young men are very hungry, and they
have nothing to eat. We mnst have
these oxen
Young Rivard demonstrated. He told
the chief thatifhe took the oxen, his faith.
er would starve 10 death.
"Well," said Tecumseh, eve are the
conquerers, and everything we want is
ours. must have the oxen; my people
must not starve but | will not be so
mean as to rob you Of them. l will pay
you one hundred dollars for them, and
that is far more than they are worth !;
but we must have them
TecumSeh got white man to write an
order on the British Indian agent, Col.
Elliott who promptly refused to pay it
saying, "We are entitled to our support
from the country we have conquered l
will not pay it,"
The young man, with sorrowful heart,
returned with the answer to Tecumseh,
who said, Tomorrow we will 60 and
see."
In the morning he took young Rivard
and went to see the Colonel. On meet.
ing him he said
"Do you refu to pay for the oxen |
bought o.
Yes" said the Colonel /; and he reit
Grated the reason for refusal.
81 bought them said the chief, for
my young men, who were very hungry
l promised to pay for them, and they
shall be paid for. l have always heard
that white nations went to war with each
other, and not with peaceful individuals;
that they did not rob and plunder poor
people will not"
"WelI," said the Colonel, II will not
pay for them"
" You can do as you please" said the
chief; "but before Tecumseh and his
warriors came to fight the battles of the
great king they had enough to eat, for
which they had only to thank the Master
of Life and their good rulers. Their
hunting-grounds supplied them with food
enough, and to them they can return
This threat produced sudden change
in the Colone's mind The detection of
the great chief, he well knew, would i'm
mediately withdraw all the nations of the
red men from the British service
and, without them, they were nearly pow
erIess on the frontier
"Well, said the Colonel, elf ! must
pay, will"
"Give me hard money said Tecum-
sch, "not rag money army bills
The Colonel then counted out hun
dred dollars in coin, and then gave them
to him The chief handed the money to
young Rivard, and then said to the Colo
mel. "give me one dollar more 1t was
given, and handing that also to Rvard,
he said, "Take that-it will pay you for
the time you have lost in getting your
money
---kk