Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-09
HE KEPT HIS VOW.
AN INDIAN ryTnIAs SEEKS Ills DEATH.

havebecn thc first white man, say
tho Syracuse Herald, who sought
permanent residence in Onondac
county, aud passed most Of his tim
among the rcd men Of fis day. Fore
Of circumstances brought him To On
0Hdaga, and s0on after lic had Ioeata'
there u young brave Of the Cayng'
sation ono morning presented him
self before the chiefs Of the Ononda
ana and Mr.. Webster, while sitting "
the door Of the council house. IN,
young man said:
III have come to dwell an,eng 20,
aud your people, IL You will permit
have left forever the home Of MY
father and the hearth Of my mother
seek home among You my name
Is Mantinoall; deny me not
: '"NIantinoaI',ysu arc welcome here,
I. S,i,l the aged chief IN, whick -do-ta
"sit down among us. 10 our son, VIC
will be to you father; You can hunt
and fish with our yeung men, and
tread the war path with the braves
Of our nationj you shall be bonored
US you deserve"
Nearly two years passed and Man
tinoab WAS apparently contented and
happy. lie was the first, In chase,
most active IN the dance, and the
lo,itlest IN tic song. His eve,-pleas-
ant and even manner won for him
the friendship Of Webster, and tholo-
fore, il was that wle,c one wns there
the other was also. Webster Nas
surprised one bright morning by Man
tlno,'h sqying::
~ must leave your peaceful valley
'soon forever. 90 toward the setting
sun; have u vow to perform. My
nation and my friends know Manti-
Hoall will be true, My friend, de-
sire you to 90 with me-"
Webstcrconsented, md preparation
was nude for the Journey. They loft
Onandagn valley together, and after
q walk Of three or four days, taking
their journey feisu,cly, hunting aud
fishing by The way, they arrived At
an enainonce near Mantinoahs vii
lage.
"licre,' said Mantinoah, '.lct Ms
rcst--lct us invoke the Great Spiri,
TO grant It's strength to pass triumph
antly through, tho scenes Of this day.
Here" said he, "we will eat, and
here, for the last time, will smoke the
pipe Of peace and friendship togcth-
er!"
After - repnst of boiled venison and
and bread, the pipe was passed from
one to the other irregular snccessioD,
and the silence was broken by Man
tinoal, saying:
"a little more than two years hive
elapsed since, in my native village
near to us, in " burst of passion, |
slew my bosom friend aud chosen
companion. The chiefs Of my nation
declared me guilty Of my friends
blood, and decrced | must suffer
death. II was then sought your ma
ton; it was then | won your friend
ship. The nearest Of kin 10 him
slew, according to our custom, was
to become my exccutioner. My exc
eution was deferred two fall years,
during which time was condemned
TO banishment from my nation. 4
vowed to return. The term Of two
full years expires this day, when the
setting sun sinks behind tho topmost
branch of FOUNDER tree, Beneath the
broad branches Of this venerable oak,
whore we now stand, Mt the foot OIL
this ancient rock, against which wei
lean, stand prepared to receive my
doom. My friend, we have had many
cheerful sport together; our Joys
have not been circumscribcd; Our
sricis have been few; look not 40
sad now, but let new joys arouse, you
TO happiness. When yon return to
Dhe 0nondagas bear witness that
AIantinoall died like true brave of
tho Caynga; that he trembled not at
,he approach of death, like the cow
nd palcfacc, nor shed tears like n
woman. My friend, take my belt,
NV knife NV hnnt;nr ,n,o1 ,,