American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-09-19
Legend of william Penn.

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 famous
treaty with the Indians. l have been
furnishing up my antiquarian studies for
the anniversary, and among other things
l have resurrected a legend of William
which may be valuable. Never mind
where dug it up. Here it is:
Soon after landing, Penn is said to
have inspired a tender passion in the
breast of beautiful Indian maiden, and
for some time it was considered proba-
BILE that the two might possibly be joined
together in M trimony; 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 low
ers one evening while they were sitting
together upon the bank of the river The
maiden said to him:
dearest, long to have you become
as one of my people, and l 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, "but 1
daresn't wear jewelry. The yearly meet
in won't allow it."
But you will come to our council fire
to-uiSut, ucdT, Will you uot.-siHu JOIN
with the chief and the warriors in
dancing about our captives, who will be
tied TO the stake? 1 know you Will
come"
"Well, if it makes no Inference to you,
l believe / won't. l don't dance. It's
agin' our discipline"
'Ah, then, l 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 thats"
l can. You see Pm down on the fierce
music of battle. I'm opposed to music
of any kind, and particularly to that
No, I'll have to beg off,
But al least you will go with me to
the lodge of the medicine man, and see
him perform his wonderful feats of
magic2"
I'm afraid I'll have to contradict you
agin', my love. Our folks have testified
agin' goin' to places of amusement I'd
be disciplined, sure as fate, if 1 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
Il crest as our braves wear proudly upon
their heads This you cannot refuse
me-"
Now, see here, my dear, do be rea-
sonable You know can't let you do
that. You certainly must know that
amt allowed to take off my hat. Why,
it's absurd"
Il do not understand the ways of your
people. But / am willing to submit to
you, if / 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 never 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 a couple of times may
be you'll understand that / never swear !;
| affirm"
Then she rose, looked at him moment
with inehable scorn, and fled into the
trackless forest; SO that match was off
and William Penn was left disconsolate.
This is as much of the legend as | have
scared up thus far. If it seems to in
terest antiquarians maybe 1 can cxca-
vate the rest of it.-UoG -1deLer, in Dun
Gury Ne,os.