The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-29
BUDGET OF FUN.



An Indians Head Work.
Joseph Dudley was appointed Governor OF
New England 1886. Dudley was Governor
only few months. While occupying that pc
sitiOn he was one day experimenting the cree
ton of building upon plantation which he
owned in Roybury, when his attention was at
tracted by heavy.framed middle-aged Indian,
who stood idly looking on, while the work
men were heaping up trusses for the roof
Though the weather-late in autumn-was
intentionally cold, this Indian was very near.
" naked his muscular limbs shlvcring, and
his teeth cllattcrng as the chill blast struck
him.
Look you, my red son." said the Governor
addressing the Indian, why do you not work
rs these men do, and earn some clothes 10 cover
your body? Why do you stand here ide?"
Ughm grunted the dusky aboriginal, "why
you no work? What for you stand here idle ~
)" replied Dudley, tapping his finger upon
his forehead" work with my head. There
must be head as well as hands, do the
head work"
After rejecting for while, the Indian asked
what work the Governor had for him to do.
. want a calf killed. If you will do it
will give you Il shilling"
The fellow having had the calf pointed out
70 him, killed il, and then applied for his shll
ling.
but why do you not skin IT." asked the
employer.
Ugh! Calf dead, Governor. Me kill i'm
Give me another shilling and ] will skin and
dress um."
This was done, and when the Indian had re-
ceived his two shillings he went away to Il
tavern where he was not long in spending one
of them for rum, after which he returned to
the Governor declaring that one of the shil-
Iings he had received was bad, and that the
keeper OF the tavern would not take it. Dud-
lev suspected the cheat and gave him another
shilling A few hours later the rascal had the
hraZen impudence to come back and declared
HAT the second shilling had also been worth
less. The Governor knowing very well that
the fellow was lying, held his thoughts to him
self, and gave him yet another shilling, being
resolved, however, that just punishment should
he meted out After thinking for some time he
hit upon plan. He sat down and wrote a
letter to the keeper of the prison in Boston.
In this letter he sat down the Indians rOguery,
and directed that the bearer should be soundly
logged and shut up for IA week in IA dungeon.
A day or two thereafter he met the dishon-
est Indian near the place where the builders
were at work.
All" said Governor Dudley, in a very pleas,
ant mood, "you are just the man | want. |
have letter containing important business
which / wish to have carried to the keeper of
the jail in Boston. you will carry tito him
! will give you half Il crown"
The Indian said he would DO the work
punctually and lie took the letter and half
crown and set forth. At a short distance he
met another Indian who was trusted and IA
vorte servant of the Governor.
AHA, William" cried the vagabond cvi-
IDENTIFY not liking the destination Of his mis-
sion, 81 have been looking for you. The
Governor told me should find you, and give
you this letter, and tell you to carry it to Bos
ton as quick as you can. 1t is big matter
written in it,"
The faithful servant took the letter which
he saw to be in his masters hand, and hurried
away.
At length the Governor missed his servant
William, and while search was being made a
messenger arriving from Boston, came from
the missing servant, who was there held in
durance.
The Governors feelings can be imagined
when he found his faithful servant with sore
back, 'locked up in prison. for the unsuspect-
ing fellow had delivered the letter, and had
rot the togging intended for another. The
rascally Indian was not seen again about the
Governors premises, but some weeks later, at
meeting with the leading men of his tribe
he Glanced to be present where Dudley saw
and recognized him
All, you red rascal" cried the Governor,
" how dared you play me such IA trick? You
have cheated me Of my money, and you put
off work that | paid you for doing upon an.
other. What do you mean by ?"
The Indian looked his accuser full and I'M
blushingly in the face and tapping his finger
upon his forehead, said with significant nod !.
Ohio, head work, Governor! Me 90 head
WOrk.'