The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-19
Legend Of william Penn.

LEGEND Of william PENN
AS celebrations of various historical
events are becoming fashionable, Max
Adeler writes as follows: Some of us
down on the Delaware are preparing TO
celebrate in November, the anniversary
of the arrival of William Penn and the
signing of his treaty with the indians.
The treaty deserves to be celebrated,
for under it William gouged over three
million acres Of land out of the savages
IN exchange for couple hundred dol
lars worth Of hatchets. plug tobacco
and tenpenny nails. That was the be-
ginning of our present Indian policy.
We carry on the same noble system
yet. | have been Furnishing up my
antiquarian studies for the anniversary,
and. among other things, have resur-
rected legend Of William Penn, which
may be valuable. Never mind where l
dug it up. Here it is:
Soon after landing Penn is said to
have inspired tender passion in the
breast of beautiful Indian maiden,
and for some time it was considered
probable that the two might be Joined
together in matrimony; but this was not
to be, and the reason why it was not to
be is explained in the following CONVEX
sation, which occurred between the
lovers one evening while they were sit
ting upon the bank of the river. The
maiden said to him:
dearest, long to have you become
as one of our people, and 1 want you
now to let me adorn you with earrings
and to fasten this ring to your nose, so
that you may appear as noble as the
other braves
Excuse me, darlin','' he said; shut
l daren't wear jewelry. The yearly
meetin' won't allow it.
''But you will come to our council
fire tonight dear. will you not, and
join with the chief and warriors in
dancing about our captives, who will be
tied to the stakeq l know you will
come.'
swell, if it makes no difference to
you, believe l won't. don't dance !;
it's agin our discipline.
''Ah, then, / will tell you what you
shall do. You shall sit by the great
tree and beat the war drum and make
the fierce music of battle. You can
surely do that -
'sUpon the whole, I really dent
think | can. You see I'm down on the
fierce music of battle. I'm opposed to
music of any kind, and particularly to
that which is hammered out of a war
drum. No; I'll have to beg off,
''But at least you will 90 with me to
the lodge Of the m edicine man and see
him perform his wonderful feats Of
magic :"
Elm afraid I'll have, to contradict
you agin, my love. Our folks have tes-
titled agin goin' to places Of amusement.
I'd be disciplined, sure as fate, if l was
to do it. Can't do it, sweet, anyhow
you fix it,
'Too bad too bad! But you will
not object, know, to letting me toy
with your tresses and fix them into
such crest as our braves wear proudly
upon their heads. This you cannot
refuse me-
snow see here, my dear, do be rea-
sonable. You know that l can't let
you do that. You certainly must
know that l amt allowed to take off
my hat. Why it's absurd
Il do not understand the ways of
your people. But am willing to SUBJ
NIT to you if l know that you love me.
You do love me, William, do you not!
Swear that you love me. Swear by
yon moon-no, the moon is not out
swear by yon stars that you will meyer
cease to love me,
I'm afraid I'll have to get our book
of discipline and read it to you. When
you've perused it couple of times
maybe you'll understand that l never
swear; | affirm"
Then she arose. looked at him a mo.
ment with inefable scorn and fed into
the trackless forest. So that match
was of, and William Penu was left dis
consulate. This is as much of the le-
gend as | have scared up this far. If
it seems to interest antiquariaps may
be can excavate the rest oft.