The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-20
r 80
THE vlCTiM.

revolutions of history sometimes turn! How
trivial the incident that often changes the
iest,nies OF nations How slight the lever
that sometimes overturns empires and dynas-
ties that have been centuries in forming
In the year ITO, man and his wife, who
we're then both in the prime of life, emierated
to western Pennsylvania, which, at that time,
was the extreme frontier Of the colonies.
They were hardy, enterprising people, and
they instantly set TO work. clearing of .
patch Of ground, and erected ~ humble
cabin. Indians. Jealous and treacherous. as
they always are. were around them, and the
pioneers could not avoid an occasional thrill
Of alarm. as they reflected how utterly power
less they were in the arms Of these savages:
But there were other settlers around them.
and At that particular juncture, the aborigincs
were unusually quiet. Besides this, the man
and his wife, taking lessons from the course
of the Quakers in the eastern part Of the
State, determined to buy the land on which
they proposed to settle, and to treat all those
kindness and consideration.
On the first day that our friends halted
upon their chosen home, they were met by
three brawny Shawsnoes, one OF whom was
a chief, who claimed the ownership OF the
land. The settler paid blanket, knife,
and a number Of trinkets for about FIVE hun
dred acresr-a price which, in those times,
was surely generous one. Three days later
he had the pleasure of paying two other IN
dams for the same property, and about a
week later. five painted rascals called on
on him, and inquired whether it was conve.
nient for him TO ''settle that little account
of debt for a certain tract of land upon which
he had squatted. 1t is true. the purchase
price was comparatively small bu. il matters
progressed in this style, it would not be long
before the pioneer would be COMPLETELY
beggared. He paid the unreasonable demand,
but with au Inward resolve that in would be
the last.
Now, there was one infrmty that fell to
the lot OF the settler-an in6rmity which WAS
peculiarly unfortunate and dangerous to him
in the enterprise he had undertaken
he had violent temper. and when ex.
cited he was like man temporarily insane.
he gave way completely to it, never thinking
of consequences until it was too late When,
therefore about q week after the last visit, he
was waited upon by two savages, and ear
nestly requested to remunerate them for the
land. he informed them, a. we'll Is pantimime
would allow, that he should do no such
thing, and when they insisted upon it. he
increased somewhat by the fact that he
recognized these two aborigines - member,
Of the parties he had already paid. and one a
them actually had on blanket that he had
received from the white man.
The Indians left, for there was something
fearful in the rage OF the settler, and the two
together dnrst not confront il openly. The
man returned to his cabin somewhat alarmed
and discouraged. He had allowed himself to
treat the Indians rudely enough to excite
their exasperation. and no one could tell
what the consequences might be. IL is true,
their demand was excessively ANNOYING, bul
nothing was ever gained by flying into pas.
sion, and he never regretted the weakness III
his nature more than he did on this occasion
He proposed to his wife that they should re-
turn to where more civilized customs pre.
vailed. even though the prospect Of anassins
ia competency was far less. But she per
suaded him to remain where they were. hi,
portion Of the country was rapidly settling
aud the land they had already acquired wouIt
soon become Of considerable value. Besides
| as the Indians were sensible themselves o
the injustice Of their claims, she was sur,
nothing further would result from what hac
taken place. The man finally yielded hi
convictions, and went to his work,
| S~sesSA SUttC0 itOM uay 10 CAV, az
could not avoid recurring TO the unpleasant
incident which had taken place, aud be offer
! glanced furtivelv toward the dark voods
fearful that ~ avsnying horde would issu,
forth: Or the deadly crack Of . rife voult
speed the fatal messeness TO his heart AZ
weeks and months elapsed. and be aaw .nt
heard nothing more Of his en~mies.
One day. in the autumn Of ITO, the settle
was y work some distance from the house
and his wife was occupied 1t her hou,ehol,
duties. An infant boy lay asleep ON the he'd
in one corner Of the room. and the mothe
glanced q il With On afFectiona.e look, Is sh,
passed put ofthe door, occasionally bendin,
over il 10 impress kim apss its ruddy iine'
and 70 tap the litsls fellows chubby cheek.
Il VI late in the sItsrnoon, aad che ~
hseiaaihg e sspsse the hasbands rotsre
althoagh b might remain a~sy for fail i
AusE noss. Suddenly, Wills he stond vithil
r. No., - ~ fssd ~ ae6usaill, p
ieeeoeve4 na1AAov shsewu siehiu - inor
- tooI0s ~ y tgopu5; Dois1 9