The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-01-14
AMATEUR INDIANS.

I
don't link mothers have got any righi
to make boys eight years old tend little
dried-ur looking babies that can't dc
anythin. but cry"
Eddie Barnard's voice expressed the
sympath he felt for his cousin, Charley
Harnden when he found him caring for
the bah. on that particular Saturday
afternoon they had counted on for put
ting the nishing touches to a large kite
which it was believed would outsal any
other in lie village.
"Boys wasn't made to sit round
holdin' ba Jies, and | just wish Doctor
Abbott ha Int brought this one, cause
it's just one nothing but plague me
ever since it come;" and Charley almost
shook his little baby brother, who was
sucking hi thumb as contentedly as. if
he hadn't idea how sadly he was in
the way
I'll tel you what we might do, and
then babie wouldn't bother us any
more" said Eddie, as he jumped to his
feet sudden y. rWe might turn lniuns,
like two I5',ad of in book Sam Basset
lent me. We could be regular Iniun
chiefs, an SD out to Chickcommon woods
80 live
AT first = harley was delighted with
the idea, ,abt he danced around ut great
risk, of upset ing the baby entirely; but
a sudden th D lght clouded his icy.
Injuns lla ave wigwams, am squaws,
an ponies, an we can't get any of
them.n -, Z tatau.u..,.sal
"Yes we sian; we can catch Tom
Downey's old blind horse an play il was
a pony, an you amt smart il you dom t
know where Il, catch a squaw.n
Where?'- asked Charley, breath
lessly. Est e.Tat fn''t
"Ain't thtr your sister NellieP Can't
we get a lot IF grasshoppers an coax
her out behind the meetin' house to see
tkemP An th IN can't we catch her an
tie her, an dra her by the arms up to
the woods, just like any miuns dop"
" OF course. An we could get some
bed-quilts foi camp
eyes, an Wen name You Biting
Tiger, an IL bn Big Thunder, an Nell
lie can be Moor face, just as it was in
the book"
For come INC ments the boys sat in
silent bliss. Thn after a time serious
doubt crept into Biting Tigers heart,
ard he asked;
"But what viii we do for things to
eat?"
Thing. t., aat?' echoed Eddie.
/" Chiefs dou't bother about such things;
they just send the squaws out to get it,
cause that what squaws are for"
My! but won't mother be scared
when she finds oul that she got an Iniun
to hold the bahyP' said Charley, think
ing with delight tt at in his mother fear
he should be more than repaid for all the
trouble the little fe low had caused him.
''Rut then she won be so awfully fright
enod. for he amt got anything to scalp,
if you wanted to do -
We can wait till he grows, an then
scalp MIN most every day." said Eddie,
cpnsolinCly.
Then came the question of how they
were 20 get away, FIR, valiant chiefs as
they were, they could hardly drop the
baby on the floor ami run.
''r!l tell you VIVA we can do" said
Eddie. I'm 90 home an get some
ropes 70 tie Nellie W tn, an then I'll 90
for the grasshoppers. When you hear
me holler you send fellie over, an put
the baby in the Grad c, and come over
lickety-split, SOS to hold the squaw's
mouth if she sets up lyell."
Big Thunder startt d for his mothers
clothes-line and some grasshoppers,
while Biting Tiger sa + holding the baby
as quietly as if he hal never thought of
being an Indian.
Surely There never we're two chiefs on
the eve OF starting il the Indian bust
ness so fortunate as these two were, for
in short time after Big Thunders de-
parture Mrs. Hsrnde took the baby.
and Nellie seated he self on the door
step to play with her doll.
Charley told her of he captive grass
hoppers she would SEE if she went with
him; and claspins, her loll firmly in her
arms, she started Tor the Westinghouse
near by, while Charley followed, ready
to spring upon her as BON as he should
see his brother chief.
Eddie was prepared for the first act in
his new life. He had armed himself
with long carving-kni'e and fully ten
yards of clothes-line, sol hat he was ready
for any desperate attem ot at escape the
squaw might make
All unsuspeetiIg thu horrible fate
that awaited her, Nellie approached the
fatal spot, when Big Thunder sprang
out; winding the rope an,und her body
dozen times.
"Why don't you cry an screech an
kickPn asked Charley, thoroughly dis
appointed because thei- captive had
submitted so quietly.