Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-08

tnCIe was pOslttfCl1 cOniOehinS
about the Huron chief and his sons they
were of course the gentlemen OF their
tribe, and the grave courtesy with which
they entered our house, and took the
chairs set for them in our best room, would
not have disgraced the gentlemen of any
country. The chief spoke for all. and to
our great surprise he did SO in far better
English than his daughter had yet learned /;
probably his frequent intercourse with
American officers and agents during the
war, and his extensive acquaintance with
English traders, might account for this.
At any rate, he expressed his good wishes
for my father and his family, his thanks
for the kindness his daughter had met with.
and his hope that the peace and friendship
which then existed between the Huron
tribe and the people of the St. Clair settle
ment, would be as lasting as the flow of
the river and the coming and fall of
leaves. My father responded in as suita-
bic terms as he could remember, and evil
IDENTIFY to the chiefs satisfaction they
conversed for some time concerning the
ancient boundaries of the Huron lands, the
probabilities of trade visiting the settle
ment, and the service it would be to the
Indians as well as to the white men. for
the hunters could then bring their furs to
St. Clair, rather than to the American
markets, which of late were not exactly to
their minds.
The chief was a man of great natural
intelligence, and the experience of his long
and rowing life had made his knowledge of
men and things considerable. My father
observed this, and having much of the
missionary spirit, as became a preacher of
the gospel, he took the opportunity to
point out that there was something better
than trade to be found in the St. Clair
settlement; poor and remote though it
was, the light of Christianity was there,
and what an everlasting gain it would be
to the Hurons if that light shone upon
them also. Your daughter" he said
glancing at Lanoma where she sat among
US young people in the background,
q knows something of the book and Him
who came to save the red as well as the
white man."
"Lanoma," said the Indian, without
at her. :" is the daughter of a
great chief, and will be some great chiefs
squaw but she is only a woman, and
Huron warriors are not accustomed to
notice the notions Of women and children.
| have heard of this book before, and |
know what the teachers of it would make
my people-tillers Of the ground and
grinders of corn they say you must not be
ready to 20 out on the war-path you must
not take scalps-it is a sin. Do they sup
49, ~ H. --o-1u- 80 49,, 60 ha
come women at their bidding ? Do they
think that a mighty chief, the sound of
whose name makes the western tribes
tremble, will lay by the Ratchet and take
up the hoe? Wise man of the white faces.
| am the good friend of you and your
people, but the Great Bear of the Hurons
will live as his fathers lived, and die as
his fathers died. without change and with
out fear, singing his death song, though it
should be In the midst of his enemies"
As the chief uttered those last words in
a high fierce tone, he rose. and so did his
sons, as if to cut short the interview. My
fearing to endanger the friendly re-
Iations between them and himself, made no
The chief shook hands with all
the elders of our house, including even my
and grandmother believe it was
an honor which the white women were ex-
Dected never 10 forget-and tool his
daughter by the hand once more the girl
had heard all that passed, but, Indian like
she gave no sign Of its effect on her mind
aud the whole party left our house aud
clearing exactly as they came.
We all stood at the door to see them 90,
- 49, r.rb.~ 81 vrtsb N urrh - h,A
hoped better from the intelligence and I'M
lerstanding of that old chief but his bar
oarous pride stands in the way of the Cos
pei, as the pride OF man, whether savage
Dr. civilized, is apt to DO. 1t is a pity
hat so fine a specimen of the red race
should live and die in the thick darkness
and evil practices of heathenism, on the
very borders Of Christian settlements.
Had he not been in so fierce a humor, l
should have tried to reason with him but
may be that Providence will grant a
opportunity. As he has come to
visit us this time, he may come again, and
better acquainted with us and our
My fathers expectations in this respect
we're not to be fulfilled. Whether the
Great Bear of the Hurons was displeased
1t the mere supposition that he might be
Induced to accept the white mans faith, or
ealous of its gaining ground among his
.ribe, we could not discover but our
and clearing were never again visited
1y him or any of his people, except Lano-
ma. Her affection for us appeared to have
Undergone no change, yet she did not come
% often nor stay so long as formerly and
she did not say so, we suspected
hat her comings were rather discouraged
n the tent at home. While things were
n this state, our Canadian summer came
% its end with the usual storms of wind
md rain, which bring down the first Of
he leaves and then came that season of
nellowed light and fading woods, of breeze
ess days and soft star-lit nights, known as
he Indian summer. the time when the elk
md bison are found in the greatest plenty
md best condition on the western prairies,
md the red hunters 60 out to collect pro-
yisions for the winter. All at once the
Huron camp began to move, the fires were
allowed to 90 out, the tents were taken
lown but we got the first intelligence of
heir going from the chiefs daughter. She
,ame one morning earlier than usual with
perfect package of presents for every one
n our house for the men snuff-boxes
md pipes. curiously made and ornamented
,y Indian art for the women work-baskets
equally embellished, and neither of them
o be despised in the matter of beauty or
lsefulness and for the boys and girls
,oys, both pretty and skilfully made. All
hese she presented, as she said, to keep
indian girl in our minds ;" and then told
Is that her tribe were going far away to
he hunting-grounds of the sunset, and she
vas sorry to go, and see US no more, nor
lear the book speak but may be we
would not forget Lanoma. and pray the