The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-15
A Modern Hiawatha.
Peoria Journal.


From the land of the Dacotahs, rich in
many hoary legend and in emigran1
scalps prolific. where the naughty red
skinned warrior gets from Uncle Sam his
blanket and swaps it off for fire-water
naughty still but thirsty ever;-lived q
radiant Indian maiden. On the banks oil
White Oak river, near the line of Mantle
ba, where this maiden's kinsfolk squafted
waiting for the good Great Father TO send
them rifles, grub and powder. For the old
bucks were away watching squaws work
in the cornfield, and they longed to hunt
| the bison, SO they said, but were they ly-
| ing with the skill learned from their faith
| ers; for they knew where numerous white
scalps could be had without their asking.
So they waited for their bugjuice, and
the goVernm entS ammunition. Will
the SHOWS of winter melted. Then the
beauteOus Bid-de-haha daubed her face
with odorous train oil, gathered on the
white mans railroad. where it fell from
axle boxes in the days of dying summer .
Cavalry pants had she for dresses, which
she wore withou: hustle. in the fashion
of that country. on her head plug hat
shining like unto the politician of the
Ninth ward in the city, the blooming city
of Peory, fixed her up like any masher.l
Thus accoutred forth she wandered up til e
banks of White Oak River, making mash
es by the dozen, till she struck the youth
full fancy of Hokee -pokee Hankee pankee
which. in in the language of the paleface,
means Young Man who-Beat his washer
oman. Straightway was the maiden
smitten, and his nibs had no objections,
so the stars saw their betrothal, likewise
did the festive polecat from corner of
bis Wlgwam. then the maiden hurried
hOmeward, told her male and aged parent
of the passionate impression she made
upon the dusky dandy. and implored the
old bucks blessing. But the father, who
was boozy, would not listen to her plead
ings, told her of a tootseywootsey dwell
in neighboring shanty, he had selected
for her hubby. He was old and rather
toothless, bnt he stood in pretty solid with
Uucle Sans conniving agent, What he
could not beg he'd pilfer, so, between his
check and stealing he made a comfortable
living. Then, to let her down quite easy,
the old buck slew the rowing dandy,
tore the scalp from off his noddy, and
took il to the Indian maiden saving, '.ern s
Wots left of yer blooming pardner" And
the maiden locked in horror, but she shed
no tears SO briny, merely looked at Pan
KEGS back hair and tossed it out the open
window. Then turning to her aged father |
she said in tone just like daughter, |
''old buzzard I'm yer huckleberry, Where |
thou go / viii follow" Then the old man |
outward trotted to the wigwam of his |
neighbor, gave him there fathers Quit |
claim to the keeping of his daughter, who |
has never been recorded. For the maiden |
spied a jack-knife stuck into neighbor-
ing rafter which she drew out from the I
deerskin. Ia the light she quickly flashed |
it, slit her aged parents weazand and /
made things quiet for the stranger, after
which she suicided. Such is the sad and
simple story from the land of the Daco-
tahs near the line of Manitoba, while the
present moon was fading, as told to us in
he dispatches.