The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1884-12-13

hs,le old basket full OF "fAitie Indian
corne," and a large round basket, narrow
at the top, with some thirty-six eeodly
ears Of come" which was goodly sight ;
for it held about three or four bushels,
which they shared in eommoa, 10 Be
saved for seed and hos they had thea
with any of the Indian inhabitants, "to
make them large satisfaction" which pro-
posal they had carried out some time
afterwards on meeting MaSsasoat.
OF course they talked over the hearty
welcome which, two years before, they
had received from Samosei, the first Ia.
dian whom they had personally known !;
for they remembered his tall, straight
figure, nearly naked, his black hair, long
behind and short in front, his beArdless
face, and his bow oftso arrows, "the one
headed and the other unheaded" They
remembered how he had brough, Squanto
to them as an interpreter since he had
been q slave in England hrough,
from Massasoit message desiring An In
terview with the governor; how the gov
ernor had sent WinSlow back with him,
with present of Three knives, a copper
chain with jewel attached, an earring,
a pot OF strong water and some biscuit"
to the great sachem, who has met them
with sixty Of his followers how, after a
brief parley, Winslow had been lett be-
hind as hostage, while MaSsasoit and
twenty unarmed followers had met
S;andish and others at the brook which
divided the parties; hoS they had been
conducted TO an unfinished building
where rug and cushions had been
spread for them; and had met the gov
ernor and some few muskc,eers with
their = drum and trumpets; aud as they
referred to this Massasoit must have re-
membered how treaty had then been
made that he and his people should offer
no injury TO the English, which treaty he
was proud TO feel he had thus far kept
Perhaps he remembered how afraid he
vas OF the guns, SO much so that, tremb-
ling all over, he had motioned them
away. He surely recalled how, after the
interview, having left hostages behind. he
was led back to the brock by the governor
himself TO rejoin his pa ty; where he
found that, in the meanwhile, the gov
ernoT had sent for his kettle, returned IL
full of pease." As Governor Carver had
died soon alter the meeting with the
great chief, he was not present at these
festivities to add his memories OF that
pleasant occasion. Perhaps this little
tie later time when an embassy, with
Squanto as interpreter, from the colon
lists, came to his home in Narragansett
Bay, and brought to him, as a present,
rel cotton coat, "laced with a slight
lace" and to his chiefs some beads and
Jack knives how he received them
gladly, adorned himself in the coat,
made great speech assuring them
of his friendship and cautioning them
not to trust the rival tribe OF the Nara
gausetts.
AT the mention of this tribe, some OF
the coionists must have been reminded,
even in the midst Of their feasting, of the
sad fate OF poor Squanto, who was killed
by one of its chiefs; but they were doubt
less proud TO relate how ten OF their num-
Der, armed, surrounded the tribe number
ing its several thousands, on its domin-
ions, and conquered them. Squanto
was dear to the Pilgrims, for it was he
who had told them how to cultivate the
corn and TO manure it with fish; and
pumpkins and beans which added SO
much to their feast.
Massasoit must have missed, in these
festivals, the bright young face Of the
gentleman born Winslow. He was one
Of the youngest OF the leaders being
then only twenty-nine years old-but his
diplomatic power made him essential in
all the negotiations Of the colonists. He
was off IN England at this time, on bust
ness for the olony, where he remained
till the followl.,, spring, when he returned
with three heifeis and ball, these being
the first neat cattle that came into
New England. Perhaps he thought that
if he could not have the pleasure Of par
taking of the first thanksgiving feast in
New England, he could claim the honor
OF having been the first one who was
married there for his vile having died
soon after her arrival, he had married the
mother of Peregrine White, who was the
FIRST Pilgrim child born there. Massasoit
owed much TO this generous hearted man
and his friendship tor him never failed.
AS he missed him on this joyous occa-
sion, his thoughts must have gone back
to the year before, when he fell very sick.
so sick that in his failure TO see Winslow,
who had come to help him. he grasped
his hand and cried out, "Oh, Winslowl
Winslcww He must have remembered
how Winslo< washed ou. his mouth,
gave him his medicines, and finally
cured him. If Winslow himself had
been at the feas, he could not have told
pleasant Renaissance Of the sickness ;
how when he went to the house OF Massa-
soft to help him, he found many Of the
Indians 8" in the midst of their charms for
him making such hellish noise as dis
tempered US that we're veil and therefore
unlike to ease him that was sick"
But all feasts come 10 an end and so
did this.
Thus they kept their hrs, Thanksgiving,
and Massasoit and his ninety followers
returned their own dominionx.
II is pleasant TO know that this great
sachem, in his long life Of eighty years,
never forgot his treaty With the Pilgrims,