Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-10-28
LEGEND OF WILLIAM PENN.
As Told by Max Adeler..

OO1llS VI US uOVh OA ul1C DCIOWoAO tIA Z
preparing to celebrate in November the
anniversary of William Penn and the
signing of the treaty with the Indians.
That treaty deserves to be celebrated,
for under it William gouged over three
million acres of land out of the savages
in exchange for a couple of hundred
dollars 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.
I have been furnishing up my anti
quarian studies for the anniversary, and
among other things, [ have resurrected
a legend OF William Penn, 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 a beautiful Indian maiden,
and for some time it was considered
probable that they might be joined to-
gether 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 want you
now to let me adorn you with ear rings,
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
I darent Wear iewelry. 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 stake p I know you viii
some
"Well, if it makeaseo difference to
to you, I believe Tskon't. I don t
dance; it's again 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 i. httle. Yon CAP
"Upon the whole, [ really don't
think [ can. You see, I'm down on the
fierce battle. I'm opposed to music of
any kind, and particularly to that which
is hammered out of war drum. No,
LII have to beg Oft.
''But, at least, you will go with me
to the lodge of the medicine man and
see him perform his wonderful feats of
nagic?"
ssTm afraid I'll have to contradict
you again, my love. Our folks have
testified against going to places of
amusement. I'd be disciplined, sure as
fate, if I was to do it. Can't do it,
sweet, anyhow you fix it. ]"
Too bad too bad But you will not
object, I know, to letting me toy with
your tresses and fix them into such a
crest as our braves wear proudly upon
their heads. This you cannot refuse
me-"
Nov, see here, my dear, do be rea-
sonable. You know that I can't let you
I amt allowed to take ofmy hat. Why,
it's absurd
81 do not understand the ways OF
your people. But I am willing to sub
NIT to you if I 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 | ook
of discipline and read it to you. When
you've perused it couple of times
maybe you'll understand that [ never
swear; / affirm y
Then she arose, looked at him a mo-
ment with inefable scorn and fed into
the trackless forest. So that match was
off, and William Penn was left discon-
solate. This is as much of the legend
as [ have scared up thus far. If it
seems to interest antiquarians, maybe
can excavate the rest of it.