Nebraska advertiser., 1882-01-26
AMATEUR INDIANS.

/ don + think mothers have got any right
to make boys eight years old tend little
dried-up-looking babies that can't do
anything but cry"
Eddie Barnards voice expressed the
sympathy he felt for his cousin, Charley
Harnden, when he found him caring for
the baby on that particular Saturday
afternoon they had counted on for put
ting the finishing touches TO large kite
which it was believed would outsail any
other in the village.
"Boys wasn't made to sit round
holdin' babies, and | just wish Doctor
Abbott hadn't brought this one, cause
it's just done nothing but plague me
ever since it Gomez" and Charley almost
shook his little baby brother, who was
sucking his thumb as contentedly as if
he hadn't IN idea how sadly he was in
the way.
I'm tell you what we might do, and
then babies wouldn't bother us any
more" said Eddie, as he jumped to his
feet suddenly. 1--WE might turn Iniuns,
like two l read of in book Sam Basset
lent me. We could be regla Iniun
chiefs, an 60 out to Chickcommon woods
to live"
AT first Charley was delighted with
the idea, and he danced around at great
risk of upsetting the baby entirely; but
a sudden thought clouded his Joy.
"lnjuns have wigwams, an squaws,
an ponies, an we can't get any of
them"
Eyes we can; we can catch Tom
Downey's old blind horse an play it was
pony, an you amt smart if you don't
know where TO catch a squaw."
WhereP" asked Charley, breath
lessly.
Amt there your sister Nellie? Can't
we get a lot of grasshoppers an coax
her out behind the meetin' house to see
them? An then can't we catch her an
tie her, an drag her by the arms up to
the woods, just like any Iniuns doP'
"Of course. An we could get some
bed-quilts for camp"
"Yes, an we'll name you Biting
Tiger, an I'll be Big Thunder, an Mel
lie can be Moon-face, just as it was in
the book"
For some moments the boys sat in
silent bliss. Then after time serious
doubt crept into Biting Tigers heart,
and he asked:
"But what will we do for things to
eatP"
"Things to eatp" echoed Eddie.
"Chiefs don'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 out that she got an Injun
to hold the babypn said Charley, think
ing with delight that in his mothers fear
he should be more than repaid for all the
trouble the little fellow had caused him.
'But then she won't be so awfully fright
ened, for he amt got anything to scalp,
if you wanted to do il"
1--WE can wait till he grows, an then
scalp him most every day." said Eddie,
consolingly.
Then came the question of how they
were to get away, for, valiant chiefs as
they were, they could hardly drop the
baby on the floor and run.
"rll tell YOU what we can do" said
Eddie. I'm 90 home an get some
ropes to tie Nellie with, an then I'll go
for the grasshoppers. When you hear
me holler YOU send Nellie over, an put
the baby in the cradle, and come over
lickety-split, SOS TO hold the squaw' $
mouth if she sets up yell"
BIG Thunder started for his mother $
clothes-line and some grasshoppers,
while Biting Tiger sat holding the baby
as quietly as if he had never thought OF
being an Indian.
! Surely there never were two chiefs on
the eve of starting in the Indian bust
ness so fortunate as these two were for
in short time after Big Thunder's de-
parture Mrs. Harnden took the baby,
and Nellie seated herself on the door.
step to play with her doll.
Charley told her of the captive grass
hoppers She would see if she went with
him; and clasping her doll firmly in hel
arms, she started for the meeting-house
near by, while Charley followed, ready
TO spring upon her rs soon 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-knife and fully ter
yards of clothes-line, so that he was read,
for any desperate attempt at escape the
squaw might make.
All unsuspecting the horrible fat,
that awaited her, Nellie approached tn,
fatal spot, when Big Thunder sprans
out, winding the rope around her body
dozen times.
"Why don't you cry an screech an
kickpn asked Charley, thoroughly dis
appointed because their captive hat
slhmittad so ouiptlv