New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-09
FLOR the Sunday Republican
now EDWARD @ONTRAH CAME
TO BE a HAOHELOR.

TO BE a HAOBELOR.
Thirty odd years ago among my earliest
recollectons was the passing of large
tribe of Indians across the Mississippi. II
was the most pitiable sight ] have ever
looked upon.
There were the tall straight warriors, with
dark. sullen faces, striding in silence slowly
beside the aged and decrepit. There we're
girlhood and womanhood in their youth
and vigor; but no light was in their eyes,
nor elasticity in their steps. There were
infancy and childhood; but there was no
wild glee, frolie, or laughter. Even the
stoieism of the Indian had given way to q
bowed, weary sadness. Many grew faint
and sickened by the roadside and were left
behind. Many died beneath the trees, in
barns, and roadside huts. In an old black
smith shop, one mile from Mrs. Bedford's,
six dropped down weary, wan, and sick.
Mrs. Bedford's kind heart had almost bled
with anguish as they passed her door day
by day. and she looked upon their silent mis-
cry. To several old and halfclad she gave
blankets; each day a large churn Of milk
and trays of bread stood at her gate until
nightfsll. And when they had all gone by,
and left the sick in the old shop to die, she
turned her attention to them with all the
tenderness of her Christian heart. She
sent mattresses and bedding to the shop,
took a servant and her family physician,
and tended them daily. Two died, four got
well, and were permitted to return to their
homes in the nation.
One was young woman not much more
than halfbreed-graceful as gazelle and
bright in mind with husband of great Vigor
and strength of intellect. Their infant,
Monitta, was child of rare promise, with
Just enough of the Saxon in her veins 20
smoothe the dark brown Of the Indian into a
rich olive. To them all Mrs. Bedford talked
much of the Great Spirit who was alike the
father of the red man and the white man.
She read simple passages of scripture to
them, and when they turned their steps
hOmeward Mollie told her that she loved
the Great Spirit, and would pray to go to
him when she died.
The Indians and the white woman parted.
No food of tears told the Indians grief but
they rolled freely down Mrs. Bedford's
cheeks as they pointed heayenward, and
simply said:
''BobisheiIa, bobisheila ~
Years passed on, but Mrs. Bedford never
forgot her friends of the old shop, and often
wondered if they ever thought of her. -
Six years afterward she was called to re.
turn TO the home Of her childhood in Ala.
bama to visit the death-bed of her mother,
Her health being delicate her husband de-
cided to make the trip by land, leaving all
the children save the babe at school. Her
physician thought such trip would be
beneficial to her health. While trav-
cling through the nation they were
benighted in a dismal, dreadful swamp
six miles in length. The night was
cold and rainy slowly they had
picked their way over sloughs and bitches,
across corduroy railroads and stumps, until
eleven at night, when in the very centre Of
the swamp the carriage wheel struck large
stump, made heavy bound, iunge, and
and sank into the stiff mud up to the hub.
The babe was cold and sick, and was scream.
ing with the fullest powers of its lungs; the
nurse was tired and cross, and between the
two and her own sufferings Mrs. Bedford
was completely worn out. Mr.. Bedford
scarcely knew what he should do out in the
rain and cold with a sick wife and child.
And to add TO the horrors of the night the
dense woods resounded with the cry of the
wolf. Mrs. Bedford's excited nerves mag
ined them nearer each moment. He could
not see his hand before him-hls horses
were jaded and worn, and from the howl of
the wolves and the cold rain were trembling
like scared hares, and co ID not move
wheel. Mr.. Bedford could only advance a
step as the vivid lightning lit up the heavens
for an instant, but in this way he had Just
placed mis- hands to the wheel as his wife
spoke:
Husband, look yonder; there certainly
is light coming this way. Who can it be
such q night as this,
'It is indeed strange to see a human
being out upon such night, and, as live,
it is a woman. God knows am thankful.
That great torchlight viii help us out of
this"
"How far back is it to your cabin, my
good woman?"
Haltmile, or most son
"What brought you out such night as
thisir
She counted six on her fingers.
$50 many years, I sick far away; white
sister make me we'll, tell me of the great
Spirit; now, when hear white people in
trouble in this swamp I always come.
hear baby cryi heart So sorry, I come"
''How long have You came to this dark
swamp to help white peOpleg"
Again she counted six years on her
fingers.
"Wife, this is certainly Mollie, whom you
uuTsed IN the old shop.n
HIS. Bedford had listened, and the tears
were already streaming down her face.
Molllc spFAng to the door and pulled It
open.
a Bobishella, bobisheila,7 and q great
glad light shone out from her eyes. while
Mrs. Bedford sobbed with surprise aud Joy
like very child.
The carriage was soon raised, and By