The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1859-11-17
Tracing Il Pedigree.

Some men are boastful of their ances-
try, while others are entirely devoid of all
pride of birth, and have no more respect
for the genealogical table of their fore
fathers than they have for Poor Richards
Almanac. The late John Randolph of
Roanoke used to assert his belief that he
was descended from the celebrated Indian
Princess, Pocahontas, but it is not known
that he established his claim to that dis
tinction.
Many years ago there lived in a near
State young gentleman who took it into
his head that, like John Randolph, he was
of Indian descent, though, unlike John,
he did not know exactly the tribe to which
he belonged. The idea was a perfect mo-
nomania with him, Notwithstanding the
efforts Of his friends to convince him of
the folly Of his pretensious, to say moth
ing Of the absurdity The favorite no
ton, however, could not be eradicated
from his mind, and he promised his
friends that he would one day convince
them that he was right IN his claims.
Having heard that deputation of In
dians were at Washington, on visit to
their great father, the President, he
promptly repaired to the city, and arran-
ging with the gentlemen who had them in
charge, his friends in the city were sur
prlsed to receive an invitation to accom-
pany him on visit to the Red Men,
before whom he proposed TO verify his
iavorite pretensions. The parties met as
requested, and found the Indians sitting
on the floor smoking their pipes, and man
ltestlng but little appreciation of the hon
or OF the visit.
Having arranged his friends at respect
ful distance from the aged chief, who
still regarded the visitors with stolid in
difference, the young man stepped boldly
from the centre, and presuming that it
would require some show of energy to
arouse the chiefs from their apparent ap-
athy, he placed his hand on his breast,
and said with great fearlessness
"Me-Indian-long time ago"
The chief, who was not skilled in talk
ing English, took his pipe from his mouth
but evlnced no emotion whatever. The
speaker then thinking that more violent
gesture and louder tore would be neces-
sary, struck his hand upon his breast with
much force, and said in a louder tone:
"Yes-me-Indian-Ion9 time ago"
" i'houo moving d HIuScle VI HIS lace,
the old chief slowly arose from his sitting
posture, and turned his eagle eye upon
the speaker. His friends say that the
chief evidently understood or at least ap-
peared to understand the meaning of the
speech addressed to him; and they gazed
lntently on the solemn proceeding. The
young man bore the searching glance Of
the Indian without emotion. All felt
that the time had come"
Moving sufficiently close to the speaker,
the chief raised his hand, aud carefully
taking lock of the young mans hair be-
tween his finger and thumb, gently rub
bed it between them for a moment. All
stood breathless. Quietly Withdrawing
his hand, the chief uttered the slight pc
culiar Indian grunt, and said 'Nig." This
altogether unexpected denouement ended
the interview, and the discomfitted descen-
dant of the Tommy hawks retired with his
friends, the latter roaring with laughter,
and the former filled with most sover-
eign contempt for his degenerated Indian
relations.