Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-04-21
sThet Indian > cnieF,
;, OR TaE, TEsrroRs.A noraER's oosrfDESer

rssi4s3gi14 sThei Indian sChlefysa sii
/ E, or EHE TEsFloRsA MOTHERS cos FiDENeE.
One Of the aifst settlers ID western New
sYorkgwas Judge WI & hoes;ablisRed him.
self sat.iYY llfsatowp, about four miles Utica
He brought his family with him among whom
was widowed daughter with an only child
a tine boy shout four years old You will
/ tecoliect' the country larodnd was an un broken
togess and thissFassths dopasin eftLeIsayage
/ tribes, i ~.
| Judge W-sa III The I necessity s s 81 Keeping
on good terms with the Indians, for, as he
was nearly alone, hss1asl completely at their
mercy Accordingly he took every 7opPortu.
nIty to assure them of his kind = feelings, and
4 TO ;sectre their good viii id tetufns Several
/ Of the ehists came TO see hiu, and all appears
ed pacific. But there was one thug thai, trou.
blei him an aged chief 6fsIhe Oneida tribe,
I and Of great influence. who fetiaed at a dis
attntee6f dozen MIKES had NOT Sst beeti to
ses him, ,norscotld he ascertain the views and
feelings of the sachem in respect TO sssettles
,ment in that region. At last he sent, him a
message, and the answer was that the chief
would visit him on the morrow. sea go ia
| = True to his appointment the sacheni came.
Judge W. received him with marks of re-
specl, and introduced his wife, his daughter
and .ittle boy. The interview that followed
was Interesting. Upon its result the Judge
was convinced his security might depend, and
he was therefore exceadihgl y anxious to make
tavorable,i impression upon the distinguished
chief lie expressed his desire to settle in the
country; to live on terms of an1ity and good
fellowship with the Indians, aud to be useful
to them by Introducing among them the arts
of civilization. .g1s,lsls 81;
The chief heard him out, and then said
Brother, you asktnnch and you promise
much. What pledge can you We of your
faith 81 The white mans word maybe good
to the Write man yetis is wind when spoken
to the Indian" r.r.r Il
I have put my life in y6ur hands," said
the judge /" is not that an evidence of nv
good intentions; have placed confidence ia
the Indian, and will believe that be will not
abuse or betray the trust that is thus reposed."
So much is weIl,.' replied the chief; 'the
Indian will repay confidence with confidence
if you will trust,7 he will thrust you. Let this
boy go with me to my wigwanl-I will bring
him back in three days with my answer" b
IT an arrow had pierced the bosom of the
mother, she could not have felt deeper pang
than went to her heart as the Indian made
this proposal. She .sPrang forward, and run.
ming to the boy, who stood AT the side of the
sachem, looked into his face With pleased
wonder and admiration, she encircled Him to
her bosom, was about to fly from the room.-
A gloomy and orninous frown came over the
sachems brow, but he did not speak. o.
But not SO with Judge W" lie knew
that the success Of their entetptise-of the
lives of his farniIy--depended on the decision
of a moment. cas-, %
Stay, stay" be said, " bring back the boy
| bessech you. He is not more dear to you
than to me. l would not risk hair Of his
hes a oh I,
safe in the sachem's wigwatn, as beneath our
own roof tar
The agonized mother hesitated for a mos
ment; she then slowly returned, placed the
the boy on the knee of the Chief, and, kneeI
ing at his feet, burst into food of tears
He arose and depatted. , -. ia
We shall not attempt to describe the agony
of the mother Tor the ensuing DAYS She was
agltated by contending hopes and fears. In
the night she aw6ke from sleep seeming to
hear the Screams of the child calling on its
no. her for help. But the time wore slowly
away, and the third day cane. How slowly
the hours pass the morning waned away
noon arrived; yet the sachem come not. The
mother was pale and silent. Judge W
paced the floor to and fro. going every few
minutes to the door, and looking through the
opening In the forest towards the sachem's
abode: 81. -. =
AT last, as the rays of the setting sun tsete
thrown upon the tree tops around, the eagle
feathers of the chief #efe Teen dancing above
the bushes in the dautauce. He advanced
rapidly and the little boy was at his side.-
He was gaiy attired as young chief his feet
being dressed in moccasinsi fine Beavor skin
was ON his shoulders, and eagle feathers was
stuck in his hair. He was in excellent spir-
its, and so proud was he of his bonors that he
seemed two inches taller than he was before
He was soon in his mothers arms, aud that
brief minute she seemed to pass from death 10
life 1t was a very happy mseting-too happy
for us to describe. =
The white man has conquered" said the
savage thereafter let us Ee friends. You
have trusted an Indian he will repay you
with confide ce and friendship -,
He was as good as bis words and Judge W
lived for many years in peace with the
Indian tribes, and succeeded in laying the
foundation of fourishing and prosperous
community. -, ~. -
-f5 a. (.