Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-12-16

When | was quite young, my father went
AS missionary 10 the Indians who lived In
what was known as the Red River district.
We made the voyage down the river from
st. Joseph, Mo, in tw0canoes, which were
drawn upon shore for us 10 sleep IN at night,
bright fire being kindled in front of them
to keep off prOwling animals.
In this way our little party, consisting Of
my father, mother, one older sister, myself,
and two boatmen journeyed to the mission
| station. The station was II long, low, dou-
BILE building of logs, already occupied bv
| another missionary named Mccoy. He had
| lived, until our family came, without any
other companion but a half breed Indian
called Tony.
Supplies were sent to this lonely spot by
the Board of Missions and other friends from
the States. These were brought down the
| river in canoes and hauled up to the station
ON rude sled by yoke of stout oxen,
One day Mccoy and my father had gone
to the nvcr for load of supplies. 1t was "a
days journey to the landing and back. Tony
had gene with them. No one was left at
home but mother and us two girls.
The day passed very pleasantly. Toward
her work, my sister suddenly clapped her
hands, and cried out, 'Oh, what big
dog"
We turned TO the door, and my mother
uttered cry of terror, for IN the doorway
there stood, not dog, but large black
bear.
lie was probably drawn by the smell of
the sugar and mOlasses, for bears are very
fond OF sweets. We were greatly frightened
and could not leave the cabin, because the
animal was between us and the door.
If we could have got 10 the ladder and
up the loft, we might have escaped that
way; but the barrels were In Iont of the
ladder, and so was Bruin. There was real
ly no way of escape, 50 my mother drew Us
| two children close 10 her, and took refuge
bShind the great packing box, where She
had been at work, thus putting slight bar
Iler between us and our unwelcome visitor.
4 barrel of crackers was open, ami we
found out then that bears like crackers, for
that fellow soon upset the barrel and MUNICH
ed rs many rs lie pleased, while we looked
helplessly on, and saw our luxuries dIsap-
pear,
But he was anxious TO get at the sugar,
and soon left the crackers and began TO
paw and scratch at the sugar larrel, which
was not open, and which stoutly resisted
his efforts,
lie grew angry, and, with aflerce growl,
gave il a smashing blow with his huge paw,
and lifted his foot for another; when a re-
port from a rifle sounded in our ears, and
We heard the ping! of ball just az Mr..
Bruin rolled, II huge, woolly heap, on the
floor. The sound of horses feet followed,
and, as nay mother hnrried out from her
refuge, our dclverer stood in the wide door
way.
He was stalwart Indian, with long
black hair streaming half yard down his
back, and a scarlet blanket wrapped around
his strong limbs. We children were almost
as much afraid Of him us of the bear But
all the Indians who came to the mission
were friendly, and my mother knew this
one. lie was a Cherokee chief called Ma
shoon-iire, which means 1.-The Running
Wind"
''Ha! Squaw heap scarce he cried,
with u laugh. Me see tracks, track him
N house! ShoOtee! No hurt?" accom-
panying his words with expressive panto-
mime.
My mother told him we were not hurt,
and thanked him for shooting the bear, in
words which he conld understand.
'He! he! Bear much good meat" said
Ma-shoon-tire. Bear want eatee UP YOU
Now you eatee up bear
At my mothers request, he dragged the
huge carcass outside the door; but when
she told him it was his bear, as he had shot
Il, he emphatically refused to claim il.
My mother then gathered up pailful of
the scattered crackers and gave them TO
Ma shoOn-tire, who, when he learned their
use, seemed 10 be as delighted with them
| as the bear had been. He filled the capa-
CiOus hunting pouch at his side with them,
and then began 10 examine the goods which
my mother had been taking out of the box
when she was interrupted by his bearship.
Among other things there were two or
three little cotton pocket -handkerchiefs,
printed with figures of cats and dogs and
large A-B-C's in bright red. They had
been sent to lis children, but the great
Cherokee chief was SO delighted with them
that my mother, grateful to HIM for saw
Ing her from a great danger, gave him two
OF them.
lie took them in great glec from my sis-
ters hand, tied one on his streaming black
hair, and the other to the end of his rifle
barrel, by one of its corners. Then he
paraded before the small looking-glass and
admired himself until he was tired.
AT length ne turned to my shrinking lit
tie sister, and said, Little papoose makee
Ma shoon-tIre fincl Ma shOOn-tIre makee
| little paDOOse fine! Big much hcan fiue!"
And, taking from his pouch a long string
of brilliant beads made of various colorcd
glass, he threw them over her neck, pleas
| ing her almost as much as tho gay little
handkcrchiefs had pleased him.
An English Farmer of the Olden Timea.