The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-07-08
The seneca ohIsr.

Judge W., ono of the earliest
settlers i'm the Western part Of New |
York. dwelt at Whitcst0wn, about |
fonr miles from Utica. Tic whole |
country around him was an unbroken
forest, held by the savage tribes, who
had jeen for ages the sole owners of
the soil. Judge W, feeling how
much he was ct their mercy in his
lonely place, was anxious TO keep on
good terms with them, and secure
their good will in return.
Many of TIE chiefs, hearing of his
friendly ways, had been to visit him,
carrying presents because of the gifts
he had sent them; but he was trou-
blcd that one old chief, of the Seneca
tribe, having great influence among
his people, had never visited hin, or
sent him any signs Of welcome since
his settlement in that region.
After some time the Judge resolved
to seek the sachem in his ownwig-
wan, and by this mark of attention
secure a friendship on which, per-
haps his safety might depend. His
family was small--a widowed daugh-
ter and her only child,.a fine boy Of
four years of age; so, taking them
with him, he set out to pay visit to
the old chief. He found him seated
at the door of his tent, enjoying the
balmy air of fine summer morning,
and was received by him with grave
courtesy and kindness. l.. p
Judge W presented his daugh,
ter and her little son to the aged
chief, and said they had come to live
| in his country; they were anxious to
dwell on terms of good fellowship
with the Indians, and be useful to
them by bringing among them the
arts of civilization. The chief listen
ed to his words and then said:
Brother, you ask much aud prom
Use much; what pledge can you give
of your faith 2"
1.-THE honor of a man who never
knew deceit" was the reply. go
"The mans words may be good to
the white man, yet it is but wind
when spoken to the Indian" said the
sachcm. - =. *
al have put my life i'm your hands
by coming hither," said the Judge;
s,is this not proof of my good inten.
tons? l have trusted the Indian, and
will moi believe that hc viii abuse or
betray my trust!" .,
$50 much so we'll" replied the
chief; "the Indian repays trust with
trust if YOU will trust him he will
trust YOU. But l must have a pledge.
Leave this boy with me in my wig
wan. and l will bring him, back to
you in three days with my answer"
If an arrow had pierced the bosom
of the mother, she could not have felt
a sharper pang than that the Indians
proposal caused her. She flew to-
wards the boy, who stood beside the
sachem, looking into his face with
pleased and innocent wonder, and
snatching him i'm her arms, would have
rushed away with him. A gloomy
frown oversprcad the sachem's brow,
and he remained silent. Judge W.
knew that perhaps the very lives OF
himself and family depended upon the
action of the moment, and following
his daughter as she was retreating
with her child into the forest, he said
hastily: .-...-.-......
"Stay, stay, my daughter; bring
back the boy, bescech you. would
not risk hair of his head, for he is.
not more dear to you than to me-
but, my child, he must remain with
the chief! God will watch him, and
he will be as safe in the sachem's wig
wan as i'm YOUR arms beneath your
own roof" 4. t
She yielded. and her darling boy
was left; but who can describe the
agony of the mother during the ensu-
ing days! Every night she awoke
from her sleep, seeming to hear the
screams of her child calling upon its
mother for help. How slowly and
drearily passed the hours But at
last the third day came. The morn
ing waned away, and the afternoon
was far advanced, yet the sachem
not. There was gloom over the whole
house, and the mother, pale and ST.
lent, walked her room in despair
Judge W, filled with anxious
doubts and fears, looked through the
opening in the forest toward the sa-
chem's abode. .-. aa 3D.
At last, just as the rays of the set
ting sun was thrown upon the tops OF
the tall trees around, the eagle feath-
ers of the chief were seen in the dis.
lance. He came rapidly, and the lit
tie boy at his side. He was gaily at
tired as a young chief, his feet dressed
i'm moccasins o fine beaver-skin
thrown over his shoulder, and eagles
feathers stuck in his hair. He was in
joyous spirits, and SO proud of his
honors he seemed too inches taller
than before. He was soon clasped in
his mothers arms, and in that brief
moment of joy she seemed to pass
from death to life.
"The white man has conquered y
said the sachem; thereafter let us be
friends. You have trusted the In
dian; he will repay you with conf
dence and kindness.
He was true to his word, and Judge
W lived many years, leaving
there the foundation of that flourish
ing community which has now spread
| over wide extent of country.