News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-01-24
THE INDIAN AND THE BOY.
An Interview That Showed Juvenile Au-
dacity and Cherokee Disgust.

1 shall not soon forget stage coach
ride from Fort Smith, Ark, to Musko-
gee, I. t. had thought I would be
the only passenger, but when a woman
and boy, and subsequently half In
dian, entered, very naturally revised
my former impressions and decided that
I would. have company. The half In
dian had been educated at an eastern
school, and was very intelligent man.
He was, I understood him to say,
member of the Cherokee Council, and
was returning home from visit to
Washington, to attend session of that
grave, if not potent body of Indian leg
islators. When the boy learned that
the man was an Indian he began to ex-
hibit restlessness which I soon dis
covered would result in the red mans
annoyance.
'rDid you ever kill anybody ?'' he
asked.
''Tommy," said the woman, "don't be
rude"
81 think not" replied the Cherokee.
s"Then what makes you be Indian 2
''I'm only half Indian"
(Which half 2"
"Thomas," exclaimed the woman,
turning him around, unbuttoning his
coat and buttoning it again. He re-
mained quiet for a few moments and
then said:
"Maw ?"
"What, dear ?"
ga half Indian would only half kill
anybody, wouldn't he ?" =,
seIf YOU don't hush I'll put you out.
"Thep I'd have to walk, wouldn't l =
eyes"
"And the bears might get me, mightn't
they ?"
eyes, they would.
"Would you care?"
eyes"
.Then what makes you wanter put me
out ?" FILL ~,
addressing the Cherokee counsellor, who
exbihited the stoical side of his Iudian
nature. but then yielding to the white
and of course political half, replied:
''The wild ones do
"But you are not wild, are you :"
"No."
"Why amt you p
"My little man, must say that your
asking too many questions" casting a
renroachful glance at the woman.
eff YOU don't hush I'll whip you. NO
you hear me ?"
Taking his hat from the floor and put
ting it on his head he answered.
"Yessum."
eff you was a wild Indian you'd cut
me with a knife when stoop down,
wouldn't you ?"
The Cherokee looked far out over the
lands of his fathers but made no reply.
eff I waster hit you, you'd hurt me
anyhow, wouldn't you p
"No,'' the red man replied.
"Why wouldn't you?'
''Hush your mouth. The Indiat
nature was endeavoring to assert Itself
''If you ask another question I'll whlI
you, you, you little rascal, said the 'wo
man. "Are you going to hush ?"
"Yessum."
He twisted himself around, scratched
the coach door with q nail which ht
mysteriously produced, and asked
"Would you rather be an Indian THAI
a white man ?"
''Hold on" demanded the Cherokee
calling to the driver. ''Let me ride out
side."
, ''It's goin' to rain, think, Colonel,
, the driver responded
"Makes no difference" and he got on
and climbed on top of the coach.
then thought my time had come, but h
: was after better game; our red man c
; the forest was his affinity. He screwe
, himself around for while, and the
r leaning from the coach window, he said
r "Say, does Indians scalp niggers ?"
} "Whoa," said the Cherokee. "Le
me get down"
l "Want to get inside?" the drive
asked.
"No, I'm going to walk. Drive o
, and if don't overtake you, all right"
3 A CH1EF.-Nearly forty years ago til
: Comanches raided Texas and carrie
g into captivity Cynthia Parker. A fe
0 years afterward she married Comanch
q chief, and of this union a son name
| Ouinah was the fruit Cen SuI RO,