Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-07
miscellaneous.
POOLING faE REDSKINS.

1t was hundred years ago. in the old
pioneer days. Away up at the northern
end Of the great lakes bold hunter and
great trapper made his camp. He hunted
| for sport in the Summer. and trapped tor
fur in the Fall and Winter. lie knew
every river and creek, every hill and val
ley in the great woods. better than you
know the streets of the town; and he had
studied the cunning ways and bright tricks
of the beaver, otter. mink and martin uu-
Ill he knew Just where and how to set his
traps for them. lie bought great many
skins Of the friendly Indians who lived
near; and early every year he would take
u big load of them to the nearest trading
post to sell, bringing back powder and
lead. with tea. sugar and other good things
for his table. The hunters lite isn't half
so fine rs the story books make it; but
old Thomas Judson-for that was his
name-enioyed it better than any other.
In the Winter he had to wear snow-shces
in going through the woods TO visit his
traps; and one year he brought back
pair of skates, that he thought would be
handy when the ice was clear. And very
handy lie found them at such times, for he
could skate dozen miles as easy as he
could walk two, and the pack on his back
never seemed so light as when he had
steel shoes on and could skim along the
CLASSY surface of the lake or river.
One very cold, clear day, when the ice
was good, he went to visit some mink
traps, almost twenty miles north of his
cabin. lie skated to near the spot, along
the shore of the lake, and then took Of
his skates and put on his snow-shoes to
travel over the deep snow a mile or two
into the woods.
He knew that an Indian tribe1from Can
ada had come down to make war on tiose
who lived near him. but he never thought
they would trouble him. All ut once his
good dog Bruno. that had been running
ahead on deer track, stopped, shifted the
air, bristled up angrily and began to
growl; and before Thomas could carry
his rifle to his shoulder he was surround
ed by dozen bowling Indians. who
sprang from their hiding place in the
thicket. brandishing their toilahawks and
yelling like mad. n
The old man was brave. but he wasn't
fool: and instead of showing fight
against such odds he laid down his rifle
and folded his arms. He could talk but
little Indian and they could speak even
less English but by signs and motions he
made out to let them know that he wasn't
on the war-path, but after furs. The In
dians threatened no harm when they
found him peaceful, but were much inter-
ested i'm his arms and dress. for they
hadn't at that time seen many white men.
The snow-shoes they understood all about,
for you know the Indians invented them,
but the skates puzzled them. s'i~e
A funny thought seemed 10 occur to the
hudier, as he saw their curiosity, for his
gray eye twinkled merrily.,
"Ice moccasin, he said, putting skate
to his foot. and then he made with his
hands the gliding motion that the feet
take in skating sas.ss
ugh ~ grunted the Indian chief point
ing to the narrow blade of the skate and
shaking his head. As plainly as he could
do it he made the hunter understand that
he wasn't so green as to believe that any
body could stand up on those things. As
they were near the ice Thomas proposed
to fasten them on a young brave for trial.
The Indians welcomed the plan with
glee, for though savages, they were great
lovers of sport. Selecting the bravest
and swiftest young fellow, the chief bade
him stick out his feet, which he did ratil-
er suspiciously. The skates were soon
strapped on. and the young buck helped
to his feet. The ice was like glass. and
as he started to move, you know what
happened. His feet flew out from under
him, and down he came with crack.
Such shouts Of laughter as the rest sent
up. The young fellow was gritty, anil
scrambled up to try it again, but with the
same result.
The chief now signalled to the hunter to
show them how the things worked. Thom-
as fastened on the skates with great care,
picked up his rife and used il as cane,
pretending to support himself. He moved
awkardly. fell down, got up and stumbled
around. the Indians all the time laughing
and capering at the sport. Gradually
Thomas stumbled little further away.
whirling about, and making believe il
was very hard work to keep his balance,
until he was near the point where the
smooth lake ice stretched miles and miles
away.
Suddenly gathering himself up, he
grasped his rife firmly, gave . war
whoop as wild as the Indians own, and
dashed up the lake like an arrow, skating
as he had never skated before. 1fhe had
disappeared in the air the Indians couldn't
have been more astonished. or course
they couldn't hope to catch him, over the
CLASSY ice, and they stood gaping after
him, wondering more and more at the
magic s'ice moccasins.''
| Nothing pleased old Thomas more in
after wears than to tell how he .sfoOled
the redskins ''--Goiden Rule.