The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-08-06


to the white man, yet it is wind when spo-
ken to the Indian"
I" / have put my life in your hands," said
the Judge; is not that evidence of my good
intentions have placed confidence in the
Indian, and will not believe that he will
abuse or betray the trust that is thus repos-
ed"
$50 much is WE'LL" replied the chief !:
+" the Indian will repay confidence with con-
fidence you trust him he will trnst you.-
Let this boy go with me to my wigwam
II will bring him back in three days with
my answerl"
If 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 srrang forward,
and running 10 the boy, who stood at the
side of the scahem. looking into his face with
pleased wonder and admiration. she encirced
him in her arms, and pressing him to her
bosom, was about 10 fly from the room. A
gloomy and ominous frowu came over the
brow Of the sachem, but he did not speak.
But not SO with Judge W. He
knew the success of their enterprise-of the
lives Of his famly-depended on the deci-
sion OF moment.
"Stay, stay, my daughter he said-
Bring back the boy, beseech you. lie
is not more dear to you than to me. But,
my child, he must GO with the chief God
will watch over him. He will be as safe in
the sachem's wigwam as beneath our own
roof"
The agonized mother hestated for q mo.
ment she then slowly returned, placed the
boy on the knee of the chief, and kneeling
at his feet, burst into flood Of tears. The
gloom passed from the sachem's brow, but
he said not word. He arose and depart
ed.
We shall not attempt to describe the ago.
ny Of the mother for the ensuing days.
She was agitated by contending hopes and
fears. In the night she awoke from sleep,
seeming to hear screams of the child calling
on its mother for help. But the time wore
slowly away, and the third day came
How slowly did hehours pass The morn
ing waned away; noon arrived, yet the
sachem came not. There was gloom over
the whole household. The mother was
pale and silent. Judge W paced
the floor to and fro, going every few min
utes to the door, and looking through the
opening in the forest towards the sachem's
abode.
At last, as the rays Of the setting sun were
thrown upon the tree tops around, the eagle
feathers of the chief were seen dancing above
the bushes in the distance. lie advanced
rapidly, and the little boy was at his side
lie was gaily attired as young chief, his
feet being dressed in moccasins, a fine bea.
yer skin was on his shoulders, and eagle
feathers stuck in his hair. He was in ex.
cellent spirits, and so proud was he Of his
honors that he seemed Two inches taller
than before. He was soon in his mothers
arms, and in that brief minute she seemed
to pass from death to life. 1t was very
happy mee,ing-too happy for us to de.
scribe.
"The white man has conquered" said the
sachem " hereafter let us be friends. You
have trusted an Indian he will repay you
with confidence and friendship"
He was as good as his word, and Judge
W lived for many years in peace
with the Indian tribes, and succeeded in lay
ing the foundation of fourishipg communi
| ty.