Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-08-28

Like shadows of o morning cloud,
Inits reality
few short years-and then
The idols loxed the best
Will pass in all their pride away,
As sinks the sun to rest
A fewshort years-and then
Our young hearts may be reit
OF every hope, and find no gleam
t,0f childhood's sunshine left.
..;SSA few short years-aud then
Impatient of its bliss,
The weary soul shall seek on high
A better home than this!
WIFE USAGE AMONG TRAPPERS
AND INDIANS.
GFrom the Life and adventures of j. p.
Beekwourth, Scout and Pioneer, recently
published by the Harpers:
After residence among them of few
days, [ had slight difficulty in my family
affairs. a party of Indians came into camp
one day bringing with them three white
mems scaips. The sight of them made my
blood boil with rage; but there was no help
forit, so L determined to wait with patience
my day of revenge. In accordance with
their custom, scalp dance was held, at
which there was much additional rejoicing.
My wife came to me with the information
that her people were rejoicing, and that she
wished to join them in the dance.
Ireplied, 'tNo, these scalps belonged to
my people; my heart is crying for their
death; you must not rejoice when my heart
cries-you must not dance when l mourn"
She then went out, as supposed, satisf-
ed. My two white friends, having great
curiosity to witness the performance, were
looking out upon the scene [ reproved
them for wishing to witness the savage re.
joicings over the fall of white men who had
belonged to our own company.
One of them answered, "Well, your wife
is the best dancer of the whole party she
out-dances them ALL"
This was sting which pierced my very
heart: Taking my battle-ax, and forcing
myself into the ring, watched my opportuni-
ty, and struck my disobedient wife heavy
blow in the head with the side of my battle
ak, which dropped her as if ball had pier
ced her heart.
u / dragged her through the crowd and
left her, and went back to my tent.
This saet.Mas performed in such bold
manner, under the very noses of hundreds of
them, that they were thunderstruck, and for
a moment remained motionless. When |
entered the tent l said to my companions :
"There, now, you had better prepare to hold
on your own scalps, since you take so much
interest il celebration over those of your
murdered brethern." Their counteuances
turned ashy pale, expecting instant death
By this time the whole Indian camp was
in blaze, stkill him !! kill him burn him .
burn him p was shouted through the camp
in their own language, which I plainly un-
derstood. I was collected for I knew they
could kill me but once.
Soon I heard the voice of my father-in-
law crying, in a tone that sounded above all,
"Stop hold hold warriors, listen to your
chief"
All was hushed in an instant, and lie con.
tinued: "Warriors am the loser of a daugh-
ter, and her brothers have lost sister
you have lost nothing. She was the wife of
the trader; gave her to him. When your
wives disobey your commands, you kill
them that is your right. That thing dis
obeyed her husband he told her not to
dance she disobeyed him she had no ears !;
he killed her, and he did right" $ = *
As-as-to next came to my camp and said,
"My son, you have dol right; that woman
I gave you had no sense; her ears were
stopped up; she would not hearken to you,
and you had a right to kill her. But l have
another daughter, who is younger than she
was. She is more beautiful, she has good
sense and good ears. You may have her in
the place of the bad one-shc will hearken
to all you say to her."
"Well' thought I, 'this is getting mar
ried again before l have had time to mourn" :"
But replied, every well, my father, /
will accept of your kind ofcr,' well know
ing that to refuse him would be to offend, as
he would suppose that disdaincd his gene
rosity.
My second wife was brought to Inc.
found her, as her father had represented,
far more intelligent and far prettier than
her sister, and I was really proud of the
change, I now possessed one that many a
warrior had performed deeds of bloody valor
to obtain, for it high honor to get the
daughter of great chief to wife, and many
awarrior has sacrificed his life in seeking to
attain such prize.
During the night, while 1 and my wife
were quietly reposing, some person crawled
into our couch, sobbing most bitterly. An,
cry at the intrusion, I asked who was there
"Me," answered voice, which, although
well-nigh stiAed with sobs, I recognized as
that of my other wife, whom every one had
supposed dead. After lying outside the
lodge senseless for some, hours, she had re.
covered and groped her way to my bed.
$50 away" l said, 'you have no bust
ness here; have new wife now, one who
has sense"
ri will not go away" she replied, 'smy
ears are open now. was fool not to hear.
ken to my husbands words when his heart
was crying, but now I have good sense, and
will always hearken to your words"