Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-03-21
Noble Instance Of Indian Faith.

A correspondent Of the Detroit Free
Press gives some deeply interesting al.
echoics ofthc great Indian warrior and
prophet, Tccumseh: While the enemy
were in full possession oi the country
around Monroe and Detroit. TecUmsch
with large band Of his warriors, visited
the river Rnisin. The Inhabitants along
that river had been stripped Of nearly
every means Of subsistence. Old Mr..
Rivard, IA Frenchman) who was lame,
and unable by his labor 10 procure .
living for himself and family, had con.
trived to keep out Of Of the sight Of the
wandering bands OF savnges a pair Of
oxen, with which his son was able 10
procure scan.y support for the family.
1t so happened that while at labor
with the oxen, Tecumseh, who had
come over from Maiden. walking up TO
hin, said
"My friend, l must have those oxen.
My young men arc very hungry; they
have nothing to eat. We must have
those oxen"
Young Rivard demonstrated. He told
the chief that il he took the oxen his
Iatnef wOuld Starve 10 deatn.
"Well," said Tecumseh, We arc the
conquerors, and everything we want is
ours. must have the oxen; my people
must not starve; bu: | will not be so
mean as 10 rob you Of them; will give
you one hundred dollars for them, and
that is more than they arc worth; bu.
we must have them"
Tecumseh got white man 10 write an
order on the British agent, Col. Elliott,
who was on the river, some distance
below, for the money. The oxen were
killed, large fires built, and the forest
warriors we're soon feasting on their
flesh. Young R'vafd took the order to
Col Elliott, who promptly refused to pay
IT,"
The young man with a sorrowful heart
returned with the answer TO Tee cculnseh,
who said. "He won't pay it will he?-
Stay all night, and tomorrow we will
20 and see.
On the next morning he took young
Rivard and went down TO see the Colo.
mel. On meeting him he said. "Do you
refuse to pay for the oxen | bought"
Eyes," said the Colonel, and he re-.
iterated the reason ofhs refusal.
81 bought them," said the chief, "for
my young men were very hungry.
promised to pay for them ard they shall
be paid ior. have always heard that
the white nations went TO war with each
other, and not with peaceful individu.
ais; that they did not rob and plunder
poor people. will not"
"WeIl," said the Colonel, 81 will not
pay for .hsm."
"You can do as you please" said the
chief, but before Tecumseh and His war.
riors came 10 fight the battles Of the
great King, they had enough to cut. for
which they had only TO thank the Mas.
ter of life and their good rifles. Their
hunting grounds supplied them with
food enough, 10 them they can return"
This threat produced sudden change
in the Coloncl's mind. The detection
Of the grea, chief, he we'll knew, would
Immediately withdraw all the nations
of Red men from the British service,
and without them they were nearly
powerless on this frontier.
"Well," said the Colonel, If l mus,
pay, l will"
"Give me hard money" said Tecum.
sch, "not rag money-army bills"
The Colonel then counted out hun.
dred dollars in coin, and gave them TO
him, The chief handed the money to
young Rivsrd, and then said TO the
Colonel, "Give me one dollar more"
1t was given; and handing that also
10 young Rivard, he said, "Take that; it
will pay you for the time you have lost
in getting your money