Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-07-13
x Cherokee, Legend.


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A Cherokee Legend. J.. b.
! Every mountain, valley and cascade of
Northern Georgia has an Indian tradi-
tion connected with its history. The
ICherokees useaz to relate one which they
said oucurreela at Toecoa sails, many
years before the white men came to. their
Ecountry.' They we're waging a fierce
warswith a powerful TRIBE who lived on
the lowlands southwark During a lIar 4
fought battle eit So happened that the
Cherol1ees made captivea dozen OF their
ioes, whom they brought. home to their
country securely bound. Their inIen-
tion was to sacrifice the prisoners; but
as they wished the ceremony to be inn
posing ON. account of the tame OF the
captives, it was resolved to postpone the
sacrifice till the time of the full moon.
In the meantime, the Cherokee braves
went forth again to battle, while tht:
prisoners, now bound more strongly than
ever, were leftin a wigwam near Toe
Goa, in charge Of an old woman noted
for her savage patriotism. =---szz.szzs Fen
Some days passed, and as the unfOrtu-
nate enemies lay in the lodge of the old
woman, she dealt out to them a scanty
supply of food and water. They be-
sought her TO release them, and offered
her the most valuable bribes; but She
held her tongue, and remained faithful
to her trust. 1t was~now a a7nAorning of a
pleasant day, when an Indi n boy called
at the door of the old woman's lodge,
and told her that he saw a party of their
enemies on the other side of the noun
tain few hours previous, andsit was
probable they were coming tothe rescue
of their fellows.s She Heard the intelli-
genre in silence. Re-entering the lodge,
fO1. n
,anGh the prisoners were delighted to see a
smile playing upon. the countenance of
their Keeper. She told them she had re-
Tented, and promiseds that sh e would let
them escape but it, must be on certain
conditions. They were first to give into
her hands whaB few personal effects they
had lett, must depart AID of night,
and that they might not find their way
back, must5consent Co 60 blinded Tor two
miles through a thick wood iuteean open
country, where she would release them.
The prisoners gladly consented, and as
the hour of midnigflu approached it was
accompanied by q heavy thunder STORM.
The night and the Contemplated deed
were admirably suited. Sne tied leather
bands over the eyes-of her captives, and.
having severed the thongs which tasten-
ed their feet, led them forth with hands
still tied behind their ba cls. sKFhey were
fastened to each other BY tough Withes,
and were in this way led toward their
promised freedom. Intricate, winding,
tedious was thesway but not a murmur
was heard or a word spoken.Ef q4Gsss p.
Now the strange procession reached a
leyelsspeto of ground, and tire prisoners
began to, step gmorea freely. kNow they
have reached the precipice of Toccoa-
and, as the =Woprafav Msel kiss stoathe very
edge, she makes a sudden turn, and the
blind captures are launched into the
abyss below. A howl OF savage triumph
echoes through the air from the old wo-
nam fiend, and with the groans of the
dying in her ears and the lightning in
her, ,pathsyshe retraces her steps to the
lodge to Seek repose, and ON the morrow
to proclaim her cruel deed.