The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-01-27
selett SalisetIlanp.
AN INDIAN TALE.
FOUNDED ON FAcT.
CHAPTER ]

CHAPTER I.
The red men Of America are rapidly
becoming extinct. The grand old forests
whose solemn stiilness once echoed their
tread now resound with the strokes of the
8oodmaDs s axe, or have given place to
cities and villages, whose spires and
domes, reared heavenward, mark the adj
vent of another race. The streams, whose
waters were cleft by their bircheu canoes
tho brooks, whose crysta; drops slaked
their thirst, are now pavigated by winged
and spirit driven boats, or flow through
cropped fields and cattle haunted pastures
Those children of the forest, whose places
we have usurped, are passing away ;ebut
they leave behind them many a history
and tradition of self sacrificing generosity
and thrilling romance, which may ftly
serve to ''point moral or adorn a tale. p
1t was near the close of the Revolu-
tionary War that party of Oneida In
dians were encamped on the banks6f the
beautiful Oriskany, within sight of the
range of hills, on one of which was the
famous ''Ceuueil Rock" that has within
few yea been removed from the spot
where for ages it had lain, and now rests
in the cemetery at Utica, New York
Their wigwams, which were about twenty
in number, were grouped together; and
at the entrance of each were stacked three
or four muskets, as if in readiness against
surprise.
It was just at even; and the setting
sun, streaming MP from behind the hills,
with thousand golden rays, threw to the
furtherest eastern cloud a warm Good
night" Seated together upon the ground,
apart from the rest, were the old men of
the tribe, gravcly smoking their pipes,
and conversing in low cultural tones
Although they preserved their stoical in
difference to the things around them,
which is a marked characteristic of the
red man, yet it was evident from the fierce
glancing of their eyes towards the western
horizon, and the studiousness with which
each avoided the others look, that some
deep emotion agitated their minds and
occupied their thoughts.
Some rods from, these old chiefs were
assembled the younger warriors, to the
number of about forty, gayly adorned
with paint and feathers, and their belts
hung about with scalps They were COL
leeted around their chosen leader, Tisha-
Mingo, whose noble form lowered above
the rest with an air of majesty that be
spoke his lofty soul and generous spirit.
Like the others, his head was shaved,
save the long scalp-lock and that was
gray. His eyes were deeply set in their
sockets, and glowed with extreme brillian-
| cy; and his features, which, unlike the
rest, were not painted, were remarkably
handsome. Around his neck, he wore a
gold chain, to which was attached a jet
cross; and over his left shoulder hung a
black ostrich feather. or plume. These
few peculiarities in the dress of Tisha-
Mingo, though triHing in themselves,
would not have been allowed to another
than the remarkable parsonage who were
them; but respect and admiration for
his singular bravery, and perhaps, too,
fear of his terrible power, prevented any
who might have borne him envious hatred
from interfering with bis leasure.
On the present occasion, however, as
!. Tisha Mingo harangued his brother war
riors, threatening scowls were upon their
faces and occasional grunts of dissatls-
4 faction, as he proceeded, told that his
words were received with displeasure.-
Proudly defiant of their murmurs, the
orator continued his fiery discourse, until
his Indian eloquence held every heart
! yibratipg on the chord of sympathy that
GREW from out their hearts unto his own.
Strained forward was each neck and
eager ears drank in the music OF his
tongue, until the rich tones OF his voice
] fell upon the still evening air, as if utter.