The Placer herald., 1871-10-14
A TERRIBLE TEST OF FRIENDSHIP.

L OTk was JuuSe w -, VINO cStaUllSneC
himself at Whitestone, about four miles from
Utica. He brought his family with him
among whom was widowed daughter with
only one chld-a fine boy four years old
The country around was an unbroken forest
and this was the domain of the savage tribes
Judge W saw the necessity of keep
ing on good terms with the Indians, for, az
he was nearly alone, he was completely a
their mercy. Accordingly he took every
opportunity to assure them of lis kindly
feeling, and to secure their good will in re-
turn. Several of the chiefs came to see him
and all appeared pacific But there wa,
one thing that troubled him: an aged chic
of the Oneida tribe, and one of great inhu
ence, who resided at distance of dozer
miles, had not been to see him, nor could he
ascertain the views and feelings of the sachen
in respect to his settlement in that region
AT last he sent in message, and the answer
was that the chief would visit him on the
morrow.
True to his appointment the sachcm c,me
Judge W received him with marks OF
respect, and introduced his wife, his daughter
and little boy. The interview that followed
was interesting. Upon its result the Judge
was convinced that his security might de-
pend, and he was therefore exceedingly anx-
ious to make favorable impression upon
the distinguished chief. He expressed his
desire to settle in the country; to live on
terms of amity and good fellowship with the
Indians, and to be useful to them by intro
ducing among them the arts of civilization.
The chief heard him out, and then said :
Brother, you ask much, and you promise
much. What pledge can you give of your
faith? The white mans word may be good
for the white man, yet it is but wind when
spoken to the Indian
81 have put my life in your hands," said
the Judge; sis not that an evidence of my
good intentions? have placed confidence
in the Indian, and will not believe that he
will abuse or bctray the trust that is thus
reposed."
$50 much SO well," replied the chief;
"the Indian will repay confidence with conf
dence; if you will trust him he will trust
you. Let this boy go with me to my wig
wan. will bring him back in three days
with my answer"
If an arrow had pierced the bosom of the
mother she could not have felt deeper
pang than went to her heart as the Indian
made this proposal She srrang forward,
and, running to the boy, who stood at the
side of the sachem, looking into his face with
pleased wonder and admiration, she encir-
cled him in her arms, and, pressing him to
her bosom, was about to fly from the room.
A gloomy and omnous frown came over the
sachem's brow, but he did not speak.
But not so with the Judge. lie knew
that the success of their enterprise, the lives
of his family depended On the decision of
moment.
"Stay, stay, my daughter" Bring back
the boy, | beseech you. He is not more to
you than to me. | would not risk hair of
his head. But, my child, he must 60 with
the chief. God will watch over him. He
will be as safe in the sachems wigwam as
beneath our own roof"
The agonized mother hesitated moment,
and then slowly returned, placed the boy on
the knee Of the chief, and kneeling at his
feet, burst into flow Of tears. The gloom
passed from the sachem's brow. He rose
and departed.
l shall not attempt to describe the agony
of the mother for the ensuing days. She
was agitated by contending hopes and fears.
In the night she woke from sleep, seeming
to hear the screams of her child, calling on
its mother for help. But the time wore
away slowly, and the third day came. How
slowly did the hours pass. The morning
waned away, noon arrived; yet the sachem
came not. There was a gloom over the
whole household. The mother was pale and
silent. Judge W walked the floor TO
and fro, going every few minutes to the door,
and looking through the opening in the forest
toward the sachem's abode.
At last, as the rays of the setting sun
were thrown upon the trees around, the
eagle feathers of the chief were seen dancing
above the bushes in the distance. lie ad-
vanced rapidly, and the little boy was at his
side. He was gaily attred as a young
chief-his feet being dressed in moccasins,
fine beaver skin was on his shoulders, and
eagle feathers were stuck in his hair. He
was in excellent spirits, and so proud was he
of his honors that he seemed about two inches
taller than he was before. He was soon in
his mothers arms, and in that brief minute
she seemed to pass from death to life. 1t
was happy meeting-too happy for me to
describe. "The white man has conquered" )"
said the sachem; thereafter let us be friends.
You have trusted an Indian; he will repay
you with confidence and friendship"
He was as good as his word; and Judge
W lived for many yeas at peuce with
the Indian tribes, and succeeded in laying
the foundation of nourishing end prosper
GUS community.
The want of ability to sleep we'll is an iu-