The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1881-01-20
ANINDlAN PErsEIAN.
low "a Cuyuga Warrior kept
Elis Vow.

NHIWaheht residence 10 Onandaga
county, aud passed most OF his time
among the red men Of his day. Forcc
OF circumstances brought him to
Cnaudaga, and soon after he had
located there q young brave of the
CaYuga Nation one morning pre-
sented himself before the chiefs Of
The Onondagas snd Mr.. Webster.
while,sitting at the door Of the council
house. The young man said Il
have come to dwell among you and
your people, il yoa will permit. /
have left forever the home Of my
father and the heart Of my mother.
| seek a home with you; my name
is Manitinoah, deny me not"
"Mantnoah, you are welcome
bere," said the aged chief Ka.wick
do ia; 'sit down among US. BE our
sou, we will be father to you: you
can hunt and fish with our young
men, and tread the war path with the
braves Of our nation; you shall be
hOnored as you deserve"
Nearly two years passed and
Mantinoah was apparently contented
and happy lie was the FIRST in the
chase, most active in the dance, and
the loudest in the song His ever
pleasant and even manner won forhim
the friendship Of Webster, and there
fore it was that where one was, the
other was also. Webster was sur
prised one bright morning by Man
tinoah saying: II must leave your
peaceful valley soon forever | 90
toward the setting sun; | have a vow
10 perform My nation and my
friends know Mantinoah will be true.
Ny friend, desire you to 90 with
me" Webster consented, and prepar-
alton was made for the journey
They left Onondaga Valley together,
and after walk Of three four days,
taking their journey leisurely, hunt
ing and fishing by the way, they ar
rived At an eminence near Mauu-
noah's village.
"Elere," said Mantinoah, "let US
rost--lct us invoke the Great Spirit
to grant us strength to pas;
triumphantly through the scenes oI
this day Here" said he, 1--WE will cal
here and here, for the last time, viii
smoke iho pipe OF peace and friend
ship together
After a repast Of broiled venisor
and bread, the pipe was passed frou
one to the other in regular success
sion, and the silence was broken by
Mantinoah saying: "a little NOR,
two years have elapsed since, in my
native village near to US, in burs
Of passion, slew my bosom frienC
ana chosen companion. The chief
OF my nation declared me guilty o
my friends blood, and decreed
must suffer death. 1t was then
sought ynnr pafioo; ~ u-aa chen
won your friendship The neares
of kin to him | slew, according /,
the custom, was to become my exc
cuhoner. Ny execution was dc
ferrcd two full years, during whicI
time was condemned to hanishmen
from my nation Vowed to return
The time Of two full years expire
this day, when the setting sun sink
behind the topmost branch Of yonde
tree. Beneath the broad branches O
this venerable oak, where we 70,
stand, at the foot of this ancien
rock, against which we now lean,
stand prepared to receive my doom
Ny friend, we have had many
cheerful sport together; our JOY
have not been circumscribed on
| griefs have been few Look not 81
sad now, but let new joys arouse yo
TO happiness. When you return t
the OnoDdagAs bear witness tina
Mantinoah died like a true brave {
the Cayugas; that he trembled nc
at the approach of death, like th
coward pale face, nor shed tears liz
q woman My friend, take MY bel
my knife, my hunting pouch, m
horn and rifle; accept them as me
mentoes Of our friendship; l sha
need them no longer; a few moment
and the avenger will &c here; Ii
Great Spirit calls am ready; Mar
linoah fears not to die. Farewell.
AS soon as the brave Indian fr
ished, Webster demonstrated wit
him, but 10 vain he urged him to el
cape the consequences. A short s
eaoe ensued, when a yell was hear
in the distance, to which the Cayug
responded. A single Indian approach
ed and took Mantinoah by the hand
| lie, too, had been his friend, but I'll
law Of the savage could not be brC
ken.
After mutual salutations and e.
| pressions Of kindness, the avengt
/ addressed him: "Mantinoah, va
have slain my brother; our laws d
clare me his avenger and your ex
cutioner Your time Is come; deal
is at hand prepare to meet Him. 1
steadlast, be firm and may the GIe
/ Spirit sustain you"
Upon this Mantinoan gracefully {
evated his manly form, carefully ba
ed his broad bosom, calmly laid b
arm across his manly breast; not
muscle moved, not a breath wi
heard There be stood ready f
the voluntary sacrifice, immoyable q
adamant. Accompanied by a des
ening yell, the blight tomahawk
tue ayenger glistened in the fadiI
. light; its keen edge sank deep in
the brain OF his victim The thirs
earth drank the life blood Of Maul
noah, and he sank, without a gEoa
a lileless corpse before his frien
r Instantly, as il by magic, host
r savages appeared the mournful Sol
g OF death re-echoed through the 70
{ est; the gloomy dance OF the de
moved in melancholy solemn
around the corpse Of the departe
tie low, cultural moan, peculiar
the savage, murmared through /
trees, and all vas stall. They sileI
y surveyed the scene, when SLOW
I 10 groups, Ia pairs, aud singly, /
witnesses OF This thrilling scene
tired.