The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-30
PORTAGE SENTINEL
Tracing "a Pedigree.

Some men are boastful OF their ancestors,
while others are entirely devoid Of all pride
Of birth. and have no more respect for the
genealogical table Of their ancestors 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, Poca.
hontas, but IL was not known that he ever
established his claim to that distinction.
Many years ago, there lived in q neigh.
boring State, a young gentleman who took
It into his head that, like John Randolph,
be was of Indian descent, though, unlike
John, he did not know exactly the tribe to
which his fore. fathers belonged. The idea
wns a perfect monomania with him, not
withs,n nding the efforts made by his friends
TO convince him OF the folly of his preten.
sions, to say nothing of the sbsurdity Of
them, even il they could be estabished.-
The fSvorite notion, 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 claim.
Having heard that deputaton Of Indians
were at Washington, on visit to their
Great Father, the President, he promptly
repaired to that city, and arranged with the
gentleman having them in charge. His
friends in the city were surprised to receive
an invitation to accompany him on visit to
the Red Men, before whom he proposed to
verify his preteasions. The party met, as
requested, and found the Indians sitting on
the floor, smoking their pipes, and manifest
ing but little appreciation of the honor OF
the visit.
Having arranged his friends ct respect
ful distance from the aged chief, who still re.
gorded the visitors with stuld indifference
the young man stepped boldly from the cen
tire, und presuming that it would require
some show of energy TO arouse the chief.
from their apparent apathy he placed his
hand on his breast, und said, with gres,
feGrlessnesS:
"Me-Indian-!org time ago !"
The Chief, who was not skilled in En-.
glisb, took his pipe from his mouth, but
evinced no emotiCn whatever. The speaker
then thinking that more violent gesture
aDd louder tone Of voice would be neces.
snry, struck his hand upon his breast, and ex.
claimed, in louder tone:
"Yee-me-Indian- long time ago."
Without moving muscle Of his face, the
old chief slowly arose from his sitting pos.
ture, end turned his eogle eye on the speak.
or. His friends say that the chief evidently
understood, or at least appeared 10 under.
stand, the meaning of the speech addressed
to him, snd they gazsd intentIy on the SOL
emn proceedings. The young man bore
the searching glance of the Indian without
emotion. All felt that the awful moment
had come.
Moving sufficiently close 10 the speaker,
the chief raised his hand, and carefully Ia.
king lock OF the young mans hair between
his finger end thumb, gently rubbed it for
moment. All stood in silent expectation.
Quietly Withdrawing his band, the chief
uttered the slight peculiar Indian grunt, and
spid,-"NIGGER m
This altogether unexpected denoucment en-.
ded the interview, and the tiscomfted de.
scendant of the Tomahawks retired with
his friends, tie letter rooring with laughter,
and The former with the most sovereign con-
tempt for his degenerate relations.