Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-08-11
AN OLB.TIME STORY.

/ miles from Utica. de brought his lam
lily with him, among whom was a wild
owed daughter with an only child, fine
boy about four years old. You will re.
collect the country around was an un-
broken forest and this was the domain
of the savage tribes.
Judge W saw the necessity of
keeping on good terms with the Indians,
for as he was nearly alone, he was com
pletely at their mercy. Accordingly he
took every opportunity to assure them
of his kindly feelings, and to secure their
good will in return. Several of the chiefs
came to see him, and all appeared
pacific. But there was one thing that
troubled him; an aged chief Of the
Oneida tribe, and one of great influence,
who resided at a distance of dozen
miles, had not yet been to see him, nor
could he ascertain the views and feel
ings of the sachem in respect to his set
tlement in that region. At last he sent
him message, and the answer was that
the chief would visit him on the morrow.
True to his appointment, the Sachem
came; 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
his security might depend, and he was
therefore exceedingly anxious to make a
favorable impression upon the distin-
guished 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 in
PRODUCING among them all the arts of civ
ilization
The chief heard him out, and then
said: Brother, you ask much, and you
promise much. What pledge can you
give of your faith2 The white man
word may be good to the white man, and
yet it is wind when it is spoken to the
Indian"
" l have put my life into your hands"
said the Judge, and is not that an evi.
dence of my good intention2 l have
placed confidence in the Indian and will
not believe that he will abuse or betray
the trust that is thus reposed."
So much is well" replied the chief.
The Indian will repay confidence with
confidence; if you will trust him, he will
trust you.
Let this boy 60 with me to my wig
wam--I will bring him back in three
days with my answer"
If an arrow had pierced the heart of
the mother she could not have felt a
deeper pang than went to her heart as
the Indian made this proposal. She
sprang forward, and running to the boy
who stood at the side of the Sachem,
looking into his face with pleased won
der and admiration, she encircled him
in her arms, and pressing him to her
bosom was about to fly from the room.
A gloomy and ominous frown gathered
on the Sachems brow, but he did not
speak.
But not so with Judge W.. He
knew that the success of their enter
prise, the lives OF his family, depended
on decision of a moment.
Stay, stay, my daughter" he said,
Bring back the boy, | beseech you.
He is not more to you than to me. l
would not risk hair of his head; but,
ray child, he must 60 with the Chief.
God will watch over him. He will be as
safe in the Sachem's wigwam as beneath
our own roof."
The agonized mother hesitated for
moment; she then slowly returned, plac-
ing the boy on the knee of the chief, and
kneeling at his feet burst into tears. The
gloom passed from the Sachem's brow,
but he said not a word He arose 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 awoke
from sleep, seeming to hear the screams
Of the child calling on its mother for
help. But the time wore slowly away
and the third day came How slowly
did the hours pass The morning waned
away; noon arrived; yet the Saehem did
not, There was gloom over the house
hold. 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' abode.
At last, as the rays of the setting sun
we're thrown uponthe tops Of the trees
around, the eagle feathers of the chief
were seen dancing above the bushes in
the distance. BE advanced rapidly
and the little boy was by his side. He
was gaily attired as a young chief, his
feet being dressed in moceasins, a fine
beaver skin was on his head, while gay
feathers were stuck in his hair. He was
in excellent spirits, and so proud was he
OF his honors that he seemed 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; here
after let us be friends. You have trusted
an Indian; he will repay you with conf
dence and friendship. He was as good
as his word and Judge W lived for
many years in peace with the Indian
tribes, and succeeded in laying the loun-
dation of Aourishing and prosperous
community.