The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-12-26
The Aborigines.

OuI OTeluTeu Ol IH0 quiz III Tie large
cities of the East, who sit cozily upon
their revolving editorial chairs, and write
their cogitations by gas-light, must not
think that we of the far West, in our
cabins, are entirely debarred from all which
makes life luxury. Here the true child
of nature can find much which affords a
far greater relief to the mind, gives a
nobler tone of action, brighter concep-
ton OF what we should be, than is found
under the tawdry tinselry of your cur
tanned halls to which the denizens of the
city resorts to look upon life's stage. The
broad expanse Of prairie, as you look out
upon the horizon, can never be transferred
to canvass and made to produce that in
fiuence that it does as in the shades of
evening, the sweeping fires recall every
incident of prairie life, as in days past
and gone you may have read of them
from Cooper or listened to the incredu-
lous story of some old hunter. There, as
driving before the wind the fiery element
rushes on, you stand absorbed in the beau
ty of the scene, almost unconscious of
your being within the pale of habitations,
when some rude hand coming in close and
unreserved juxtaposition with your shoul-
ders, recalling you back to life, as its pos
SCISSOR exclaims-" There go my hay
stacks! !" And then, we think of fire en-
gines to put them out T! How supremeIy
ridiculous ! Only as the lowering cloud,
directed by the unerring hand of the Al
mighty, pours down in copious shower, is
the raging element subdued.
4 The earliest inhabitants of the country,
Says our heading; and here we are, driven
on by that prairie fire, until that incorrigi-
BILE shower comes peiting down, causing
us to take refuge under our former cap
ton.
Howm says a couple of genuine Ma
tive Americans, as they come into our
shanty with awkward strides. When we
speak of Native Americans, we do not
mean such as play the part of "Short-
boys" or "Plug Uglies" in your large
cities, but the real genuine, direct from his
lodge. "How," say we. as we catch the
expression of the untutored child of the
forest. as he gazes half contemptuously,
Adii NohOSiiuSly, az VIC AloOiOu VI Tie
printer, as he picks up the type. But the
red man, untrammelled by the laws of
etiquette, breaks off in gutteral Miami,
and We can only guess what the fellows
are saying about US. But little while
the Indian gazes around. Soon his curl
osity is satisfied. It is but an innovation
of the white man, thinks he, and with a
stoieal indifference to what is going on
around him, he withdraws from the scene,
goes out into his lodge and with his tribe
counsels how he may escape from their
innovations.
Then comes the night. The sharp bark
of the wolf, and then his bowling cadence
greet the ear in no unpleasant strains. 1t
is but to tune the ear to harmonic with
the wild scenes around, and thus give ef-
feet to the vast panorama of nature. So,
while in the vicissitudes of life, we NAV
be called into the borders of savage retreat
and be deprived of the Injuries and CON-
forts of city life, yet we find our rude
home invested with charm which q
resort TO these sequestered shades car
alone impart-0 0satoatonsie Herald.