Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-03-04
THE DACOTAM'S LOVE.


In strong contrast to the ferceness and
unsparing hostility to the whites, entertain
ed by the majority OF the Indian chiefs.
stands the kindness and unwavering deVo-
tedness of the Indian maiden. He Is gen
orally foe TO the pale-face, SHE warm
hearted friend. The history of the from
tier warfare has sufficiently attested this
fact, although the record has sometimes
been written in blood. The Indian dis
dains the thought that he can be turned
from his purpose, by the weaker viii OF a
woman, yet he often is. He is not insensi-
bic to the voice of affection, though in his
sternness, he wishes to be thought so.-
sympathy for p captive once born in the
heart of red maiden Of the forest, she
rests not until the captive be free.
The reader will recoilect, that the occu
patton by white settlers. of some parts of
Min esota. is quite recent. They may not
however, be conversant with which the pi-
oneers Of an extended civil:za ion, had to
contend. The most formidable of all their
foes, were the Dacotahs, or as they are
now generally termed, the Sioux Indians
Their c.iefs, Waba-shaw, Hah "a ma toe,
Loo to ma-ha, and others, for time enter
tanned feelings Of bitter hostility to the
pale faces. And il was not until the Uni
ted States troops were stationed at Fort
Ripley, on the Minnesota river, and else
where, that they were prevented from
bloodshed.
In the year 1914, Marcus Cooley, then
some twenty-five years of age. left his
home in Vermont, aud started for the far
west. He was young man of ardent
hopes. untiring energy, and prompt decis-
ion. By degrees, he worked his way
along the Western States, prospecting"
but it was not until he had reached the
borders of the Upper Mississippi, above
the Falls of st. Anthony, that he found
place to suit him. Arrived here, howev-
er. he determined to remain, and develop
the destiny fate had in store for him Sc
lecting claim he proceeded to the erec-
ton of his log hut, and the improvement
of his land. Some three weeks afer his
arrival, he was one day startled by the ap-
pearance Of a beautiful Indian girl at the
door of his house. With an air of kind |
ness he beckoued to her to enter, but the
moment she perceived his eyes bent upon
her. she started like the timid fawn. and
fled into the depths of the forest. The
next lay. and the next, she came again,
until his manner induced her TO cross the |
Threshold and stand gazing upon him.
while engaged in his homely household "a
bors. At last she accepted from HI
small mirror, In which she looked long nd |
admiringly upon the smiling face, that it
brilliantly reelected. Then he gave her
some trinkets, all of which she would re-
ceiye with gay laughter. Decking her.
SELF in the little trappings. she would hang
over the placid river, TO see her image in |
its waters.
So regular had her visits became, that
he had learned to expsct her. One day
she failed to make her appearance. The
West was all aglew with its radiant fires,
and the sun was just sinking to its rest.
when another figure threw its shadow far
into the interior of his humble home. He
looked up and discovered warrior, dress
ed and painted in the manner ofthe Daco
lah war chiefs.
'Enter' said Marcus, to the stranger
No !Tah.a- wa-sa. the Black wing of the
thunder cloud, enters not the wigwam of |
the pale face until they are friends. The
brave of many moons comes 10 look upon
the stranger that has won from him the
heart of Nah lie e-too-ah, the Melting Snow
drop of the Dacotahs. Umph'
L pray you come? Let me have your
hand in friedslip! knew not that the In
dian maiden was coming until | saw her
here. would be friends with you and all
your tribe
so said the frenchman, when from the
dark waters of yon stream, where Mani
tou's fire is dimly blazing, when from the
Red river of the North, they steal down
on US. to destroy with their fire, water. and
bad hearts. The pale face is no friend to
the red man.
Il am not of them,' replied Cooley 4
come among you open-handed and true.
l hold neither the rifle nor the fire brand
Peace is my wish, and no. mine will be the
first blow that shall disturb it,
The white man ever speaks fair, but
like the face OF deep stream, is his words.
Beneath them-hid from the eyes that read
lies are hidden and evil thoughts con-
cealed. | know your race-I speak your
know, too, how base you
arep
Your coming. then, is not peaceable!
What do you require? How have l offend
ed you?'
Nah. le- too-ah, the Melting Snow-drop.
should be mine! She has promised to
come to the wigwam of Tah-a-was-sa, TO
be his squaw, to be the mother of his pa
pooses. When last whispered into the
unwilling ear. the love songs of our tribe.
there we're no smiles upon her lips--there
were tears in her dark eyes. Once, like
the spray over the Minnehaha, she danced
in the light of her untroubled heart. Now
like the shadow in the deep forest, there is
L