Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-12-21
CQMMUN1CATIoN5
For the Gazette.
TEsE PAwNEEs OF NLDRAsKA.
LETTER FROM MRS. pLArr.

MpnFpc, NOD, NOV. -, lSUO.
Five weeks among my old friends
the Pawnecs, and now they are gone on
their long winter hunt.
Among the three Thousand of the
tribe, IL has been one continuous scene
of greeting. Old men and women, mid
die aged, youth, and children, as they
pecped in at the window, walked into
my room unceaemUniously, or sped me
as | passed the door of their trading
room putting their hands to their
mouths exclaimed: "Loei! Spus- pat
ish-tu-wa-ta." Greeting! rcd-headcd
woman is come back.) And then, after
hearty shaking OF hands, If / had
time, they must hear of my travels
and iabors.
Great interest was manifested by all
to whom gave an account of the Sol
diers' Orphans Home. That the chill
dren Of our dead soldiers were thus
cared for, elected great admiration and
applause. Surely, these Indians ARE
capable of appreciating noble deeds;
and If they were treated nobly by us,
they would be emulous of initiating
the example AS they are now emu
lous of initiating the vices which they
meet on every hand, in their associu-
tions with those whom they cannot
discern to be the mobiles of our land.
In saying this, am aware strike
but few chords of sympathy in the
hearts of my readers but after TWEEN
ty-three years acquaintance with this
tribe, have more fixed belief than at
first, that they are not past redemption.
Some argue that it is only 10y mixing
their blood with the white, that we eau
hope to civilize the Indian; and judg-
ing from the number of hall-brceds |
see carried around in the blankets of
these poor degraded women, our sol-
diers who have been stationed here
must have been Of that opinion. For,
hnd on inquiring their paternity of
the mothers, that almost without ex-
ccption they belong to soldiers. Now
II their fathers will shortly return, and
found ''hone' for these estrays; will
gather them in, and have them educat-
ed; their theory will stand Il better
chance of being well tested, than ut
present.
The child usually bears SO strong a
resemblance to the white parent, that
it would not be difficult task for faith
ers to lind their children, were they so
disposed. OF three met ut one time
IN our trading room, / do not believe [
could have mistaken the parentage OF
,ne, had the fathers all stood there, AS
,ne did just as inquired of the child's |.
mother his name. She boldly announc- |
'd 1t, and turning, asked, "What are
'ou going to do with your child ?" The
answer was-"Buy him some clothes;"
which is better than many do.
One little girl with soft hazie eyes,
lrooplng lashes, silken ringlets, and
'elicately cut features, was seated al
most naked on the counter, and looked
= though she felt the need of tender
+ care than she will ever get where
he is. Out upon men from u christian
alton, who thus leave their offspring
D lie carried about naked ON the backs
| heather mothers. III is an cyerlast-
lg disgrace to our emigrants and sol
iery, that this people are 50 changed.
'wenty years ago these women were
iouea' ana retiring, compared with
~~i'-~ -~r-.----.....-l.~-i-I---.--i- i-.------.---..
nd it Is attributable to our rowing
'hites, that they are so changed.
But to change this painful theme
theme, however, which certainly
hould not be Ignored by us till reme,
y is found:-The Pawnces have q fine
ountry, their Reservation being a
ract lying on the Loup's Fork, thirty
lilies by fifteen. The Eastern line is
wenty miles from the junction of that
iver with the Platte. The country is
iell wooded, and has three large
Irealns, besides the Loup Fork name
r, Woolen River, Looking Glass
reek,. and Beaver Creek. On tue
anls of the latter stream is their vii
,ge; ana about half mile distant, on
nc opposite side, are the Agency build
lgs, aud "a large brick school house.
here, between sixty and seventy Paw
ee children are now gathered, to be
ducated, the articles of their treaty
18th our Government giving them
chool fund Of ten thousand dollars per
mum. These are all situated i'm all
bounded on the North
nd West by wavy outline of bluffs,
aving for a foreground, on the South
nd East line, the waters of the Beaver
nd Loups.
At this season we usually have charm
lg weather, and it has been specially
D this autumn. 1t is true, hear the
patter of the rain on the roof now ~
write, but it is almost the first time
ince my coming. The spst!css azure
rs hung over US, likea canopy of love,
nd dropped til it tseemed to rest on the
lid rolling bluffs, which bound this
eautiful anphitheatre in which we
well. The glorious sunshine has
cen to us like Gods great smile OF
eace. And the gentle breeze has flut-
cred, like Heavens own breath just cs-
aping from out the pearly gates.
Oh! how 60 forth exolting, on
hcsc days Of beauty and mighty still