New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-07
For the Sunday Republican.l
now EDWARD MONTRAY GAME
TO BE A BACHELOR.

For the Sunday Republican,
how EDWARD MONTRAY GAME
TO BE A BACHELOR.
Thirty odd years ago among my earliest
fecollections was the passing of large
ribe of Indians across the Mississippi. It
Vas the most pitisble sight have ever
booked upon.
There were the tall, straight warriors, with
bark, sullen faces, striding in silence slowly
beside the aged and decrepit. There were
kirlhood and womanhood in their youth
Ind vigor; but no light was in their eyes,
Dor elasticity in their steps. There were
Infancy and childhood; but there was no
Fild glee, frolic, or laughter. Even the
toicism of the Indian had given way to
bowed, weary sadness. Many grew faint
md sickened by tho roadside, and were left
Behind. Many died beneath the trees. in
BARNS and roadside huts. In an old black
ninth shop, one mile from Mrs. Bedford's,
aix dropped down weary, wan, and sick.
Mrs. Bedfords kind heart had almost bled
Fith anguish as they passed her door day
/ By day, and she looked upon their silent mis-
sry. To several old and halEclad she gave
y Blankets each day large churn of milk
! bud trays of bread stood at her gate until
D hightfall. And when they had all gone by,
\ Ind left the sick in the old shop to die, she
Il burned her attention to them with all the
] tenderness of her Christian heart. She
I Bent mattresses and bedding to the shop,
! ook q servant and her family physician,
Ind tended them daily. Two died, four got
v well, and were permitted to return to their
Cd bones in the nation.
One was young woman not much more
Than half breed-graoeful as gazelle and
bright in mind with husband of great vigor
and strength Of intellect. Their infant,
BIonitta, was q child of rare promise, with
~ lust enough of the Saxon in her veins to
y amoothe the dark brown Of the Indian into
rich Olives To them all Mrs. Bedford talked
nuch of the Great Spirit who was alike the
N ather Of the red man and the white man.
Il he read simple passages Of scripture to
III hem, and when they turned their steps
q omewsrd Mollie told her that she loved
&he Great Spirit, and would pray to go to
m him when she died.
Il The Indians and the white woman parted.
\, No food of tears sold the Indians' grief but
e hey rolled freely down Mrs. Bedford's
a eheeks as they pointed heavenward, and
,,a imply said:
'ea 'Robisheila, bobisheilal ~
Years passed on, but Mrs. Bedford never
d orget her friends of the old shop, and often
u ~ wondered If they ever thought Of her.
Six years afterward she was called to re-
I'd urn to the home of her childhood in Ala.
~ ~ bama to visit the death.bed of her mother.
y Her health being delicate her husband de-
i, eided tomake the trip by land, leaving all
" She children save the babe at school. Her
q physician thought such trip would be
~ beneficial to her health. While trav-
{ bling through the nation they were
OF benighted in dismal, dreadful swamp
~ tx miles in length. 1.-THE night was
b eold and rainy slowly they had
Al picked their way over sloughs and bitches,
Z cross corduroy railroads and stumps, until
y leven at night, when in the very centre of
Die swamp the carriage wheel struck large
5 lTI tump, made heavy bound, lunge, and
md sank into the stiff mud up to the hub
me Pie babe was cold and sick, and was scream
] be- with the fullest powers Of its lungs; the
Us urse was tired and cross, and between the
Al wo and her own sufferings Mrs. Bedford
) 1as completely worn out Mr.. Bedford
ii carcely knew what he should do, out In the
ain and cold with a sick wife and child.
Il and to add to the horrors Of the night the
s ense woods resounded with the cry Of the
p rolf. Mrs. Bedford's excited nerves lmag
I'd ned them nearer each moment. He could
= n Of see his hand before him-his horses
~ ere faded and worn. and from the howl Of
IS s NJ wolves and the cola rain were TREMBLING
n. $500 ,..aN - -.
!. Wheel. MI. Bedford could onlv advance 4
tep q ~ v,cid liebtninv n nntbs bsavens
o. br an instant. but ia this way he had inst
ssin laced M hands 10 the wheel \ M IN.
~ poke;