Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-02-09
Not Bad for Injun.

Ola Joe Iooll, Il ltlilolt> moose hunter
whom Hardy has celebrated in his Fields
and Forests of Acar,lia. was well known
| to me when WAS 4 boy. and that acq,lain-
tancc revealed To me other sides of Joes
character than Capt. Hardy found space
10 portray in his Interesting and instruc-
tive pages He appears there only rs the
bold AMI skillful hunter, which he certain
" was; but there are few touches to show
the pcculi.,riteS which made him Il char
ac,er almost unique. Joe WAS especially
possessed of Il certain ironical humor.
which albeit not without parallel. i> rare
among Indians. An instance is afforded
IN a celebrated ,lictum of his. which indeed
amounts. taken in all It's bearings. to a
positive stroke of philosophy. lie was
getting away from a fur trader after the
disposition of sundry packs of beaver.
mink, and otter. AMI inhibition of >,ndry
mblrrs of John Companv'> iirc-water.
and reeled against an,l nearly capiz>cd Il
white frcqurnter of the locality lIillo,
Zoe. shouted the half angry settler. "ue>>
r"u got too mnch rum to-, day. Joe >waved
10 "A brief It mi still, ~ he SURVEYED The
prakcr in contempt for III want of eNpe-
-irncc implied in his remark, and then in
lis deep. chest tones AUTOMATICALLY Ie-
,ponded, HUGH, 10" much rum jus 'nough.
md wrnded OBVIOUSLY on. like u man W no
had no time To waste with Suh an cvi,cnt
shal!ow-pate.
\ shrrwl observer, Joe early learned to
appreciate the white estimate OF Indian
character: and it Was upon This that the
play of his irony wl> ALWAYS directed.
And there is one instance rNtant of his
having turned it io practical account
which is worth recording He had been
on an unsuccessful moos, hunt for DAYS.
and at last found Inn ~hlf mar nirhtfall,
ut the foot of the Cohea',id mountain; out
Of food far from the timber. and no hu-
man llabitatlon ne;lr, Indian or otherwise.
save that of a no'orlou>lv lnho>pitable
hunks. whom | shall call Flint, because
like to call ni-gard sous harl names.
ANYHOW. But notwithstanding his repu-
t,tion. Joe decided trying the churl- 50
he walked down and entered. inst as Mrs
Flint WAS lighting the candle and setting
the table Coz supper,
Mr. Flint. slid Joe. me wtntlln stop all
night No bush, no wi@wain. blmeby
snow. hugh.
Gut ennv mummy? demanded Flint.
No got.
Can't stop. then.
You nc tnlkum too quich-me @ot um
deer this afternoon; pay ulm you deer
meat.
Thi. put Il different face on Affairs. and
Flint entered INTO Il negotiation hv virtue
Of which Joe became entitled 10 supper
and lodgings. and Flint 10 the d,cr'> hide
and half the meat. for such was his un-
considerable greed. The deer. Joe cx-
planned he had been unable 10 bring in.
owinr to l,teiie>S and fttigue-bcrTy Eat
deer: .Joc'S back mos broke walk 60 far
bat he had hung it up Oh Il certain bl|
ma,l. tree. near which WIS Il certain biz
rock, and Flint could take ho!sa AM >,ed
in the morning and bring um in no time.
when the agreed upon division should he
made
Flint was perfectly familiar with the To-
caltv described bv Joe. and after break
fast he started with his two sons in search
of the deer Joe saw them out of sight
over the hill. then picked his rifle and
started also TO resume the chase OF the
hitherto unsucce>,fullv followed moose;
for The deer only an evolution
from the depths Of Joc'- inner conscious
ness.
Months passed ere the twain met again,
this time in u different locality.
Look-a- here. Joe. said Flint, | couldn't
never find that deer o yoarn. | rayther
Srect there w;,rn't any. anyhow. n want
YOU fr t pay me fer them meals n
lodgin'.
Pay un sometime CT ncbbcr. said Joe.
You link-vou make uln mighty biz bar
rain dat time. 'caust. Joe half starb and
half froze. You tin,l um tree he contin-
utd.
Yes. YES. ~a~ the eager reply.
lou find um biz s;one?
Yes. found it too.
No find um deer?
Couldn't >ee hid nrf hair on t. n >archcd
Al rcht Il mos. all day.
Well. ia two trut: only one lie Dat
not bad fur IImjun. summed up Joe a> he
turned and walked away.
N,N KILN 1.N 4 Nnt-SI. An OK