The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-05-25
The Seneca Chief--An Instance OF
Indian Fidelity. -

1
Indian Fidelity.
Judge W., one of the earliest
settlers in the western part of New
York, dwelt at Whitestown, about 4
miles from Utica. The whole coun-
try around him was an unbroken for.
est, held by savage tribes, who bad
been for ages the soB oshersOfthe
soil Judge W=-,sfeeling hon
much he was Of their kH1efeg in his
lonely place, was anxious to keep on
good terms with them and secure their
good will in return,
Many of the chiefs, hearing of his
friendly ways, had been to visit him
carrying presents because of the gifts
Fhe had sent them; but he was
much troubled that n old chief of
the Seneca tribe, having great influence
among his people, had never either
visited him or sem him any sign of
welcome since his settlement in that
region.
After some time the judge resolved
to seek the sachem in his own wigwam,
and by this mark of attention to &C.
cure a friendship on which, pcrhapsy
his lsafetymght depend His family
was smalf-a widowed daughter and
her only chill, a fine boy offour years
of age; so, taking 1hcInf with him, he
set outto.payr n visit to the old chief.
He found HIM seated at the door of
his tent, c~njoying-th balmy air of a
fine summer morning, and was, ~receiv-
ed by him with grave courtesy and
kindness
Judge W presented his daught-
er 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 civil
ization. The chief listened TO the
words, and then said:
"Brother, you ask much and promise
much, what pledge can you give of
your faith I"
''The honor of a man who'never
knew deceit" was the reply.
THE white mans words may be
good to the white man, yet it is but
wind when spoken to the Indian
said the sachem.
81 have put my life into your hands
by coming hither,n sad The Judge
is this not a proof of my good in
l have trusted the Indian.
and 1 will not believe that he will
abuse Or hetray my trust"
$50 much is WE'LL" replied the
s.the Indian repays trust with
trust if you will trust him, he will
you.-But / must have a pledge.
this hoy with me in my wig
wam, and I will bring him back to
ron in three days with my answer"
If an arrow had pierced the bosom
the mother, she could mot have felt
, sharper pang than that Which the
Indians proposal caise'l her. She
lew toward her boy, who stood BIZ
side the sachem, looking into his face
With pleased and innocent wonder,
md, s%natching him in her arms, would
nave rushed away with him. "A
frown oyerspread the sachem's
brow, and he renamed silent Judge
" knew that, perhaps, the very
ives of himself. and familyn depended
ipon the action of the moment, and
ollowing his daughter as she was re-
with her child into the. forest,
lie said hastily: ~Hf 9
"Stay, stay, my daughter; bring
Jack the boy, L beseech You. 1 would
risk a hair, for he is not more dear
o you than to me-but, my child, he
must remain with the chiefi God
rill watch over him, and he will be
s safe in the sachems yigwam as in
our arms beneath our W roof"
She yielded, and her darling boy
as left but. who can describe the
gony Of the mother during the ensu-
lg days: Every night she awoke
ON her sleep, seeming to hear the {
of her child calling upon its
for help. How slowly and
passed the hoursI But at
st the third day came. Morning I
aned far advanced away, and the s
fternoon was far advanced, yet the t
lchem came not. There was gloom t
the whole. and the mother, pale
nd silent, walked her room in despair.
Judge W., filled with anxious 6
Oubts and fears, looked through the
in the forest toward the sa- c
lem's abode. ,,i.s : sr,,- 4
At last, just as the rays of the set l
ng sun were thrown upon the tops of
lie tall trees around, the eagle feath- t
IS of the chief were seen dancing I
,ove the bushes in the distance. He t
lme rapidly, and the little boy was v
his side. He was gaily att:red as P
young chief, his feet dressed in moe d
sins, a fine beaver skin thrown over o
shoulders, and eagles feathers 4
.ck in his hair. He was in Joyous
'irits and so proud of his. honors I
he seemed two inches taller than
He was soon ciasped in his D
others arms, and in that brief mo- :;
ent of JOY she seemed to pass from G
,ath to life. ..-ny ~
""The white man has conquered ="
i'd the sachem thereafter let us bel
ENDS. You have trusted the Indian;
will repay you with confidence and .
ndness.T .tlH ~ UYgI:.
was true to his word, and Judge 81 ,
- lived many years, laying there u
2 foundation of that fourishing com: a.
unity which has now spread oye4h N
de extentof country. - "
II -fiHL ~
For a descriptive list of V~iroinia "