The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-23

their shaded verandahs OF thickly interviewer
boughsl
All day long we had toiled over the scorching
plain, through clouds of grasshoppers that
often struck us in the face with sufficient force
to make the skin smart for several minutes.
Once we had seen a mirage of beautiful lake,
fringed with trees and surrounded bv green pas
lures, which invited us to pursue It's 6eeting
shadows, but we well knew all about these de-
ceptions by sad experience, and pushed steadily
on over the burning sands.
These mirages often deceive.the weary travel
Ter of the desert Suddenly the horseman sees
river or lake, apparently, just ahead of him,
and be rides on and on, hoping to come up to
1t. For hours ID lies before his eyes, aud then
in moment disappears, leaving him miles and
miles out of his way, and in the mldst of desert
sands.
Men have ridden all day striving to reach the
beautiful river just before them, and then at
night turn back to plod their weary way to
where they had started from in the morning.
These mirages often lead to death both man and
horse.
The mirage we had seen was most delightful,
representing clear lake, with trees, meadows,
and villages nesting on its Shores but Ii scarcely
equalled the reality of the scene when, late in
the afternoon, we ascended rise in the prairie,
and saw below us wide stream lined with green
trees, and on its banks large Indian eneamp-
ment.
The ponies pricked up their ears and neighed
with pleasure as they smelt the water, and our
own delight was unbounded. We halted for a
moment to admire the beautiful prospect
Through the majestic trees, slanting rays of the
sun shvered on the grass. Far away, winding
like huge silver-serpent ran the river while
near by in shady grove, stood the village-the
children at play on the green lawns, not made by
! hands. The white sides of the teepees shone In
the setting sunlight and the smoke curled
laZily upward from their dingy tops. Bright
| ribbons and red grass, looking like streamers
on o ship, huttered from the lodge-poles, and
| gaudy dressed squaws and warriors walked
| about, or sat on the green sod under the trees
There were maidens, as beautiful as HiaSatha,
nra ora col nj mn oh ha nAarin hop
| in hand, along the stream or listening under
| the shade of some wide-spreadlng tree to words
| of love, as soft and tender as ever were poured
| into wOmans ear.
| Near the village were hundreds of horses asd
ponies with bright feathers Haunting in their
names and tails as they cropped the rich grass
of the valley.
A group of noisy children were playing at a
| game much resembling ten-pins; some boys
were shooting at q mark with arrows, and up the
stream several youths were returning home
with rod and line, and fine strings of speckled
! trout.
Scores of men and women were swimming
about in the river, now diving, and then dousing
each other amid screams of laughter from the
bystanders 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 play and ran il to the lodges;
mounted men surrounded the herd, and the
swimmers and promenaders fastened toward
the village. We had been perceived by the viii
| layers and the unexpected arrival of strange
! horsemen at an Indian encampment always
creates great excitement. They may be friends
but they are more often enemies, SO the viii
layers are always prepared for a surprise.
Some men were seen running to and fro with
| guns and bows, and in q few minutes some
mounted warriors left the encampment and
rode towards us, going first to the top of the
| highest mound to zee if they conld discover
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, then they rode boldly up and
asked us our business l told them who we
were, and wher c we were from, upon which
they cordially invited us to the village.
AS we approached, men women, and children
poured out of the encampment to look at the
strangers, and having satisfied their curiosity,
| the sports and amusementS OF the evening were
| renewed
asked permission to camp of no one, for
needed none, as this was Gods land, and not
owned by ravenous and dishonest spectators.
So l marched right down to the centre of the
village, and finding vacant space, pitched my
| lodge. Ii was not necessary to purchase town
lot here for no one, save Him who owns all,
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 interfering with the unpacking
of the ponies and the erecting of the lodge,
unceremoniously ordered them to be gone, and
they went quietly away. The lodge was soon
| up; the ponies unpacked and put out to Craze.
Having seen things put in order for the night, 1
sauntered out through the village to learn the
news.
was agreeably surprised, when l learned
there was white man in the village, who had
been sent out to the Indians as missionary.
All the savages spoke of him as kind hearted,
good man, who was a great friend of the Great
Spirit and of the Big Father at Washington.
i made haste to pay my respects to my white
brother, and found him indeed good Christian
gentleman. He had a white wife and child and
he and they were living comfortably and plea
sanity with these wild children of the desert. l
talked more than an hour with the good man. it
was so delightful to see and speak with one of
my own blood and color When l left him, l
promised would return the next day and dine
with him, which did. 1t may sound strange
to hear one talk of ''dining out" in an Indian
camp, but can assure my civilized readers the
meal was none the less wholesome or abundant
on account of the place in which it was served.
When / returned to my lodge, found it sur
rounded by a crowd of dirty squaws and chill
thing we had. / ordered them off, and could
not help laughing when / compared the euri-
osity of these rude Ihdian women with that l
had seen exhibited at. church, in the States, by
white women. There they go to church, not to
hear the gospel, but to see what their neighbors
have to wear, and these Indian women had
come to my lodge with the same laudable OBJ
jeet. l am not certain that human nature is
the same everywhere, but | am quite certain
woman nature is the same all the world over.
j. p. Skelly & 90. send us "The Builders, y
by Miss l.. Bates, religious story for young
people, suitable for a holiday gift or to be
added to Sunday school libraries.
From Il. B. Peterson & Brothers we have
received "a Rent in a Cloud" by Charles
] r nv &. =. 81 =.