The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-23
Jinny's Scalp.
This is the way il bappened.

This is the way it happened. /
was PLAYING Indian in the yard. /
had wooden tomahawll and a
wooden scalping knife and a bos an
arrow. | was dressed up in my
fathers old coat turned inside out,
and had six chicken feathers in my
hair | was playing, ! was Green
Thunder, and Delaware Chief, and
was hunting for pale faces in the
yard. 1t was just after supper, and
| was having real nice time. Mr.
Tavers came, and he said, Jimmy,
what are you up to now?" So |
told him ! was Green Thunder, and
was on the war path. Said he: Jim
my, | think | saw Mr.. Martin on
his way here Do you think you
would mind scalping him?n / said
| wouldn't scalp him for nothing,
for that would be cruelty; but il
Mr.. Tayers was sure that Mr.. Martin
was the enemy of the red man, then
Green Thunder's heart would ache
for revenge, and I'd scalp him with
pleasure. Mr.. Travers said that tie
gentleman was a notorious enemy
'of the Indians, and gave me ten
cents and said that as soon as Mr..
Martin should come, and be sitting
comfortably on the piazza, was to
give the war whoop and scalp
him.
Well, in a few minutes he came,
and he and Mr.. Tavers and Susan
sat on the piazza and talked as if
they were all glad to see each other,
which was the highest hypocrisy in
the world. After while Martin
saw NE and said: How silly boys
pre- that boy makes believe he is an
Indian, when he is only silly nui-
sancc.' Now this made me mad,
and thought | would give him
good scare, just to teach him not to
call me names, began to steal soft
ly up the steps. and to get around
behind him. When | got within
six feet of him | gave a war whoop
and jumped at him. | caught hold
of his scalp lock with one hand and
drew my wooden knife around his
head with the other.
never got such fright in my
whole life Ny knife was that dull
it would not cut butter, but true as
| sit here, Mr.. Martins whole scalp
came right off in my hand, | thought
| had killed linn, and | dropped
his scalp and said For mercy
sake | didn't mean to do it, and |
am awful sorry" But he just took
up his scalp, stuffed it in his pocket,
clapped his hat on his head, and
walked off, saying toSusan, Il didn't
come here to be insulted by little
wretch who deserves the gallows."
Mr.. Tavers and Susan never said
a word until he had gone, and then
they laughed until the enoise brought
father out to see what was the mat
ter. When he heard what had hap
pened, he did not laugh, but looked
very angry, and said that Mr.. Mar
tin was very worthy man, "My
son. you may come up stairs with
me-
If You have ever been a boy, YOU
know what happened up stairs, and
| needn't say any more on very
painful subject. | didn't mind it so
much, for | thought my victim
would die, and | would be put in
Jail and hung, bat before she went
TO bed Susan came to my door and
whispered through the key-hole that
it was all right that Martin was
made that way, so he could be taken
apart easy, and that | hadn't hurt
him. I'll have to stay in my room
all day to-day, and eat bread and
water and what | say is that if men
are made with scalps that may come
off any minute, if boy just touches
them, it isn't fair to blame the boy.