The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-12-27

! tops. Bright ribbons and red grass,
looking like streamers on ship, fut-
tered from the lodge-poles, and gaudi-
ly-dressed squaws and warrors walked
about, or sat on the green sod under
the trees. There were maidens, as
beautiful as Hiawatha, or as graceful
as Minnehaha, wandering hand in hand,
along the stream, or listening under
the shade of some wide-spreadng tree
to words of love, as soft and tender as
ever were poured into woman's ear. d.
Near the village were hundreds Of
horses and ponies, with bright feathers
Haunting in their names and tails as
they cropped the rich grass Of the val
ley.
A group of noisy children were play
ing at game much resembling ten
pins; some boys were shooting at mark
with arrows, and up the stream sever
al youths were returning home with
rod and line, and fine strings of speck-
led trout
Scores Of men and women were SWIM
ming about in the river, now diving,
and then dousing each other, amid
screams of laughter from the bystand-
ers on the shore. Here and there
young girl darted about like fish, her
black hair streaming behind her in the
water.
While we looked, the little children
suddenly ceased from playing end ran
into the lodges; mounted men sur
rounded the herd, and the swimmers
and promenaders hastened toward the
village. We had been perceived by
the villagers, and the unexpected arri-
val of strange hcrsemen at an Indian
encampment always creates great ex-
citcment. They may be friends, but
they are more often enemies, so the
villagers are always prepared for sur
prise.
Some men were seen running to and
fro with guns and bows, and in a few
minutes, some mounted warrors left
the encampment and rode toward us,
going first to the top of the highest
mound to see if they could dircover
other horsemen in the rear, or to the
right or left of us.
No sooner did they ascertain there
were but three in the party, than they
rode boldly up and asked us our busi,
where we were from, upon which they
cordially invited us to the village.
AS we approached, men women and
children poured out Of the encamp-
ment to look at the strangers, and hav-
ing satisfied their curiosity, the sports
and amusements Of the evening were
renewed.
I asked permission to camp of no
one, for / needed none, as this was
Gods land, and not owned by reven-
Gus and dishonest speculatoIs. so l
marched right down to the center OF
the village, and finding vacant space,
pitched my lodge. 1t was not neces-
sary to purchase town-lot here, for
no one, save Him who owns al, held
real estate.
A few Santee women gathered about
my squaws and chatted with them,
ANXIOUS to learn the news from down
the river. Seeing that they were in
terfering with the unpacking of the
ponies and the erecting of the lodge, l
unceremoniously ordered them to be
gone, and they went quietly away. The
lodge was soon up the ponies unpack'
ed and put out to Craze. Having seen
things put in order for the night,
sauntered out through the village t.
learn the news.
l was agreeably surprised, when ]
learned there was a white man in the
village, who had been sent out to tho
Indians as a missionary. All the saw
ages spoke of him as kind hearted
good man, who was great friend o
the Great Spirit and of the Big Faith
: er at Washington.
; | made haste to pay my respects t.
my white brother, and found him in
deed good Christian gentleman. IL
had white wife and child, and he aDc
: they we're living comfortably ..n'
e pleasantly with these wild children o
: the desert. l talked more than al
S hour with the good man; it was so de
!. lightful to see and speak with one G
d my own blood and color. When
g left him, l promised would retur
:, the next day and dine with him, whic
). did. 1t may sound strange to hea
O one talk of dining out" in an India
e camp, but l can assure my civilize
o readers the meal was none the les
y wholesome or abundant on account {
ie the place in which it vas served.
n When / returned to my lodge,
found it surrounded by "A crowd {
st dirty squaws and children, who wei
e, intent upon examining everything v
t. had. l ordered them off, and coul
i not help laughing when l compare
te the curiosity of these rude Indian w
in men with that | had seen exhibited ,
lie church, in the States, by white womeI
IN There they 60 to ehuch, not to hei
It. the Gospel, but to see what their neig
rs bors bave to wear, and these India
ey women had come to my lodge with Il
Mt same laudable object. am not ce
To- tain that human nature is h
ct. same everywhere, but l am quite &C
ng tain woman nature is the same all Il
ke world over.
err, From Belden: The White Chi
cd published by A. II. Hubbard, Phil
on delphia, Pa, and sold only by su