The Portland daily press., 1869-09-20
THE NOBLE RED NAN.

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The noble red man has always been dar-
ling of mine. L love to read about him in
tales and legends and romances. | love to
read of his inspired sagacity; and his love of
the wild free life of mountain aud forest and
his grand truthfulness, his hatred of treach-
cry, and his general nobility of character; and
his stately metaphorical manner of speech !;
and his chivalrous love for his dusky maiden /;
and the picturesque pomp of his dress and ac-
coutrement. Especially the picturesque pomp
of his dress and accoutrement. When found
the shops at Niagara Falls full of dainty In
dian beadwork, and stunning moccasins, and
equally stunning toy figures representing hu-
man beings who carried their weapons in
holes bored through their arms and bodies,
and had feet shaped like a pie, 1 was filled
with emotion. / knew that now, at last, 1
was going to come face to face with the noble
red man. A lady clerk in shop told me, in
deed, that all her grand array of curiosities
were made by the Indians, and that there
were plenty about the Falls, and that they
were friendly and it would not be dangerous
to speak to them. And sure enough. as 1 ap-
preached the bridge leading over to Luna Is
land, came upon a noble old Son of the
Forest sitting under tree, diligently at work
on bead reticule. He wore a slOuch hat
and brogans, and had short black pipe in
his mouth. Thus does the baneful contact
with our efeminate civilization dilute the pic
turesque pomp which is so natural to the In
dian when far remoued from US in his native
haunts. addressed the relic as follows:
SIS the Wawhoo- Wang-Wang of the
Wack-a-Whack happy? Does the great
Speckled Thunder sigh for the war-path, or is
his heart contented with dreaming of his
dusky maiden, the Pride of the Forest? Does
the mighty sachem yearn to drink the blood
of his enemies, or is he satisfied to make bead
reticules for the papooSes of the pale face
Speak, sublime relic of by-gone grandeur
venerable ruin, speakw H
The relic said:
"An is it mesilf, Dinnis Hooligan, that ye'd
be takin for bloody Ingin. We drawlin, Ian
ern-jawed, spider-legged divil! By the piper
that played before Moses, I'll ate yep
went away from there.
Bye and bye, in the neighborhood OF the
Terrapin Tower, came upon gentle daugh-
ter of the aborgines, in fringed and beaded
buckskin moccasins and leggins, seated on a
bench with her pretty wares about her. She
had Just carved out a wooden chief that had
strong family resemblance to a clothes pin,
and was now boring hole through his abdo-
men to put his bow through. l hesitated a
moment and then addressed her: 'i
SIS the heart of the forest maiden heavy?
Is the laughing Tadpole lonely? Does she
mourn over the eXtinguished council-fires OF
her race and the vanished glory of her ances-
tors? Or does her sad spirit wander afar to-
ward the limiting grounds whittier her brave
Gobbler rofthe-Lightnings of is gone? Why is
nv daughter silent? Has she aught against
the pale-face strangerT
The maiden said:
"Faix, an is it Biddy Malone We dare to be
calm names! Lave this or I'll shy your lean
carcass over the catharact. ye sniveling blag-
yaldf
Iadjourned from there, also. "Confound
these Indians" l SAID, they told me they
were tame-but, ii appearances should go for
anything, should say they were all on the
war-path."
made one more attempt to fraternlze VIII y
them, and only one. came upon a camp tpoo VI
| them gathered in the shade OF great tlee'
making wampum and moccaslns, ana auuress-
ed them in the language OF fr1endsniP'
THE CHILD OF THE FOREST.
| .No,la Red Men, Braves, Grand Sachems,
NJ Gb;ofs Souaws and High YOU Muck-a a.
NJ tbe male face from the land of the set.
t;,'s, ~" snn oreets you'll You, Beneficent Pole
catEyou. Devomer of Mountans-you,
Roaring -Thuudergust-you Bulyboye-wth a
olasa-eye-the pale face from beyond the
great waters greets you all! War and pestil-
ence have thinned your ranks and destroyed
your once proud nation. Poker, and seven
up, and vain modern expense for soap, un-
known to your glorious ancestors, have de-
pleted your purses. Appropriating in your
simplicity the property of others has gotten
you into trouble. Misrepresenting facts, in
your sinless innocence, ,has damaged your repu
tation with the soulless usurper. Trading
| for forty-rod whiskey to enable you to ge
drunk and happy and tomahawk your fami
lies has played the everlasting mischief will
the picturesque pomp Of your dress, and her
you are, in the broad light Of the nineteenth