The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-12-30
THE SMALL BOY
Applies the Torture Test to a Trav.
cling HalG-Biood Cherokee.


lOple r. Read
Ishail not soon forget a stage coach ride
from Fort Smith, Arkansas, TO Muskogee,
Indian territory. 1 had thought that / would
be the only passenger, but when a womnn
and a boy, and subsequently, a half Indian,
entered, very naturally revised my former
impressions and decided that / would nave
company. The half Indian had been educated
at an eastern school, and was a very lntelli-
gent man. He wns, | understood him to say,
a member OF the Cherokee council. and was
returning home from a visit to Washington,
TO attenda session of that grave, II not potent,
body Of Indian legislators. When the boy
learned that the man was an Indian he began
to xhibit a restlessness which I soon discov-
erred would result In tho red mans annoy
ance.
did you ever kfll s~nybodyf" he asked
Tommy said tho woman. don't be
rude.r
II think not" replied tho Cherokee.
Then what makes you be a IndianP
81 am only a bali Indian"
(Which halfn
Thomas" exclaimed the woman, turning
Kim around, unhuttonins his coat and but
toning 1t again. He remained quiet for a few
moments and then said:
"Mawfn
"yyhat, dearf'
HAL lnnlan Would only mar Kill any
body, wouldn't herr
III you don't hush I'll put you OUT
Then I'd have to walk, wouldn't IT
Yes"
AN the bears might get ms, mightn't
they
YES, they would"
Would you carer
yes"
Then what makes you wAnter put me out.
Do the Indians scalp folksr' again addressing
the Cherokee councillor, who exhibited the
stoical side of his Indian nature, but thei
yielding to the white and Of course the politi-
cal half, replied:
''lhe wild ones do"
"But you are not wild. arc your
'sNo.n
'TGhy amt your
"My little man, 1 must say that you are
asking too many questions" casting a re-
proachful glance at the woman
"If you don't hush III whip you. Do you
hear mef' taking his hat from the door and
quitting it on bis head.
"Yessum."
He remained quiet for a few moments, but
dropping his hat on the floor, he reached
down, took it up and said;
"f you was q wild Indian you'd cut me
with a knife when I stoop down, wouldn't
your
The Cherokee looked Ear out over the lands
Of his fathers but made DO reply.
"lf l waster to hit you, you'd hurt me any
how, wouldn't your
"No," the red man replied
why wouldn't you"
Another word out Of YOU and nj whip
you. Never mind; rIl tell your father" saId
the woman.
1t was impossible for him to keep quiet and
after awhile he asked:
Have you got any boysT7
Eyes; two"
care they indian boysT"
''Their mother Is a white woman"
-As white as my mawf'
"Just another word out Of you and I'll box
you" said the woman, blushing. He had evil
IDENTIFY tested his indulgont mother on many
an occasion, for after tho shortest possible
si!cnce on his part. he asked:
"Di you ever see any scalpsf"
eyes, l think So"
odd they have blood on 'emr'
mo. they were dyy, ~7feplied ths Cherokee,
plainly showing tht IFS political readiness In
answering questions had risen above his In
dian ~stoicisn.
D they peel them like apples when they
dry 'emT'
"Hush your mouth" The Indian nature
was endeavoring to assert itself.
"If you ask another question III whip you,
you little rascal, !" said the woman Are you
going to hushp'
"Yessum"
He twisted himself around, scratched the
coach door with a nail which he mystoriousk
produced, and asked:
Would you rather be an Indian than a
white manf'
Hold on" demanded the Cherokee, calling
TO the driver. Let me ride outside.n
Its goin' to rain, l think, colonel - the
driver responded.
makes no difference and he got out and
climbed on top OF the coach. then thought
my time had come, but he was after better
game; our red man OF the forest was his aim
ity. He screwed himself around for awhile,
and then leaning from the coach window, he
called;
Say, doss Indians scalp niggersf'
whoa" said the Cherokee, '1et me get
down.
''want TO get back insidef' the driver
asked.
mo, I'm going to walk. Drive on and If l
don't oyertake you, all right Did II 1
wouldn't rather be a witness in the United
States court"