Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-06-20
miscellaneous.
INDIAN GRATITUDE.
SKETCH OF WESTERN LIFE

About ten years since, as I sat in an anti
quated pioneer hut, situated Ia one of the
most remote settlements of Zebraska, parta-
king of scanty board of provisions, poor
famIshed Indian made his appearance at the
door aud begged for something to eat The
generosity OF my nature was moved by the
story of his privations and wrongs, to all of
which his WEAKNESS gave evidence. He sta
ted in tolerable good English, that he had
been for two days on a fruitless excursion for
game; that be had an aged mother at home
whose comfort aud existence depended on his
skill as hunter, and worst of all that be had
killed no game, and that he could not bear
the idea of letting his poor old mother perish
from hunger, although he did not know how
he could remedy the matter.
Never mind brother" | said in the kim
dest manner possible. though my board is
not very plentious, what l have you shall
willingly share, and after you have been sat-
isied We will then consider what is best to do
for the relief of the tamishing mother at home"
A flush of qualification overcast toe features
of the savage as he drew near the table and
sat down. He ate with an eagcrness which
proved to me that his was no sham complaint.
White man not all devil" said the In
dian, after a few moments silence, and he
looked at me with a tear in his eye, saw
that The expression came from his heart
What do you mean?" ! asked, '.by such
an unreasonable expression?" lie then in
formed me that he had stopped at the hu. of
a white man only few miles north of me,
and had begged for something to eat, and
was refused. and not only refused but vas in-
suited and abused by the unfeeling occupant.
lie described him SO well that | knew it was
my nearest neighbor, Flint. with whom | had
but little dealings on accout of his unsocia-
billity.
bad white man never come to good"
continued the Indian, 'and good white man
never come to bad"
Indeed said [, .'there are too many who
surrounded by the blessings aud luxuries of
life, forget to administer to the necessities of
those, who may have been less favored by
high heaven, aud consequently are in want.
But brother, we should remember, that though
blessed to-day, tomorrow We may be desti-
tute, and dependent upon the charity of 9TH
ers, and above all, We should never forget or
refuse to feed the hungry, clothe the naked,
and lift him up that is fallen"
White man talks right" said the Indian
while look of satisfaction beamed from his
eye; good actions never forget-never die
We do good, the Great Spirit sends US good,
we 90 DaQ. Oreat Oplrlt stuuS US Uau
Thus reasoned the poor wild savage, and l
thought that his rsasonings were sound, and
l wished that all white men thought just as
he did, and acted upon the same principles
il their dealings towards ono another. Act,
as if they thought that, hereafter, they
would be judged By their actions. How much
better our world would be.
The meal having been despatched turned
the subject of conversation toward the fam
ishing mother at home.
.Ah. yes.' he said, springing to his feet.
she must not die, must away; but if l
should kill no game be said, mourDfully. as
he FASTENED towards the door, then all is
over. and | could not live after that, for then
evil ghosts would haunt me, and l would die
and go 10 the world of evil spirits
We must prevent such tragedies, said,
yesterday had the good fortune to shoot
fine deer, and you Can have the half of 1t as
well as not, also portion of corn, aud we
will set out Immediately, will go with you
and help to carry the burden
then asked him where he lived when he
informed me that his wigwam was situated
on the banks of the Plata, some fifteen miles
distant. [ then tossed upon his back the
half of the deer before mentioned, and shout
dering sack of corn myself. We moved off.
Had been lucky enough to have possessed
a team of horses it would have saved me a
long and tiresome walk; but She reader must