The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-06
Er. Martins Scalp.

Jimmy Brown in Harpers Young Folks
This was the way it happened. | was
playing Indian in the yard. had wooden
tomahawk and wooden Scalping-knife and
a bow-narrow l was dressed up in father
old coat turned inside out, and had SIX
chicken feathers in my hair. | was playing
/ was Green Thunder, the Delaware CHIEF,
and was hunting for pale faces in the yard.
II was just after supper, and l was having
a real nice time. Mr.. Traverse came, and
said, Jimmy, what are you up to now?
So / told him / was Green Thunder, and
was on the war-path. Said he, Jimmy.
think L saw Mr. Martin on his way here
Do you think you would mind scalping
him?i ! said | wouldn't SCALP him for
nothing, for that would be cruelty; but
if Mr.. Traverse was sure that
Mr.. Martin was the enemy OF the
red man, then Green Thunder's heart would
ache for revenge, and 1 would scalp him
with pleasure. Mr.. Traverse said that Mr..
Martin was a notorious enemy and OPP
pressor of the Indians, and he gave me ten
cents and said that as soon as Mr.. Martin
should come, and be sitting comfortable on
she piazza, was to give the warwhOop and
scalp him.
Well, in few minutes Mr.. Martin came
and he and Mr. Traverse and Susan sat on
the piazza, and talked as if they were all so
pleased to see each other, which was the
highest hypocrisy in the world. Aftey a
while Martin saw me and said, How silly
boys are! that boy makes believe he is an
Indian. and he knows he is only
a little nuisance" Now this
made me mad, and L thought 1
would give him good scare Just to teach
him not to call names. So / began to steal
softly up the piazza steps, and to get
around behind him. When L had got
about Tx feet from him ! gave a war
u-bO md INN nod Qt him L CQnuht hold
of his scalp-lOck with one hand, and drew
nav wooden scalping knife around his head
with the other.
never got such fright in my whole
life The knife was that dull that ii wouldn't
have cut butter; but, true as | sit here, Mr..
Martins whole scalp came right off in my
hand. | thought had killed him, and /
dropped his scalp and said: For mercy's
sakei didn't 60 to do it, and I'm awfully
sorry" But he just caught
up his scalp stuffed it in his
pocket, jammed his hat on his head,
and walked on, saying to Susan. Il didn't
come here to be insulted by little wretch
that deserves the gallows."
Mr.. Travers and Susan never said a word
until he had 6 Ine, and then they laughed
till the noise brought father out to ask what
was the matter When he heard what had
happened, instead of laughing he looked
very angry. and said that Mr.. Martin was a
worthy man. My sen, you may come Hp
stairs with me-"
If you've 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 l thought Mr.. Martin
would die, and then L would be hung and
put in Jail; but before she went to bed
Susan came and whispered through the
door that il was all right; that Mr.. Martin
was made that way, so he could be taken
apart easy, and that hadn't hurt him.
shall 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 q boy just
touches them, it isn't fair to blame the
bOy-Jimmy Brown in Harpers Young
Folks.