Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-15
Juvenile Audaclty and Cherokee Disgust,

gee, [. I. l had thought that I would
be the only passenger, but when a wo-
man and boy, and subsequently a half
Indian, entered, l very naturally revised
my former impressions and declared
that l would have company. The half
Indian had been educated at an Eastern
school and was a very intelligent man.
He was. / understood him to say. a
member of the Cherokee Council, and
was returning home from a visit to
Washington to attend a session of hat
grave, if not potent, body of Ind an
legislators. When the boy learned that
the man was al Indian he began to ex-
aibit a restlessness which l 1901 discov-
cred would result in the red mans IN
noyance.
"Dfd you ever kill anybody?" he
asked.
Tommy" said the woman, don't
be rlde."
II think not" replied the Cherokee.
"Ihen what makes you be an In
dian?"
81 am only a half Indian"
(Which half?"
"Thomas," exclaimed the woman,
turning him around, unbuttoning his
coat and %buttoning it again. He re-
NAMED quiet for a few moments and
then said:
.sMaw."
"What, dear?"
ga half Indian would only half kill
anybody, wouldn't hep"
eff you don't hush I'll put you out"
"Then I'd have to walk, wouldn't I?''
ssYes.'
can the bears might get me, mightn't
they?"
eyes, they would.".
would you care"
"Then what makes you wanter put
me out? Do the Indians scalp folk?"
again addressing the Cherokee Council
or, who exhibited a social side of his
Indian nature, but yielding to the
White and of course political half, re-
piled:
1.-The wild ones do"
But you are not wild, are youe" 7
"Why amt youp"
"My little man, 1 must say that
you're asking too many questions,'
casting a %reproachful glance at the wo-
man.
eff you don't hush I'll whip you. Do
you hear me?' taking his hat from the
floor and putting it on his head.
'sYessum."
He remained quiet for a few mo-
ments, but dropping his hat on the
floor, he reached down, took it up and
said:
eff you was a wild Indian you'd cut
me with a knife when l stoop down.
wouldn't you?'
The Cherokee looked far out over tho
lands of his fathers, but made no re-
ply.
''If I waster hit you, you'd hurt me
anyhow. wouldn't you?"
No" the red man replied.
"Why wouldn t you?"
"Another word out of you and Ill
whip you. Never mind; I'll tell your
father,"' said the woman. !.
1t was impossible to keep him quiet.
and after a while he asked:
"Have you got any boys?"
"Yes; two.'
care they Indian boys?"
"Their mother is a white woman"
Gas white as my maw:?"
"Just another word out of you and
I'll box you," sad the woman, blush
ing. He had evidently tested his in
dulgent mother on many an occasion,
for after the shortest possible silence on
his part he asked:
"Did you ever see any scalps?"
eyes, L think So"
"Did they have blood on 'em?"
"No, they were dry" replied the
Cherokee, plainly showing that his po-
litical readiness in answering guess
tons had risen above his Indian stoi-
cism.
'.Do they peel 'em like apples when
they dry emp"
.;Hush your mouth" The Indian
nature was ~endeavoring to assert ITSELF,
eff you ask another question IN
whip you, you little rascal" said the
woman. care you going to hush?:"
..Yessum."
He twisted himself around, scratched
the coach door with a nail he mysteri-j
ously produced, and asked:
''Would you rather be an Indian than
q white man?"
"Hold on" demanded the Cherokee,
calling to the driver. .Let me ride
outside"
otis goin' to rain. I think, Colonel"
the driver responded.
"Makes no difference and he got
out and climbed on top of the coach. I
then thought my time had come, but he
was after better game; our red man of
the forest was his affinity. He screwed
himself around for awhile, and then
leaning from the coach window, he
called:
"Say, does Indians scalp niggersp"
Whoa said the Cherokee, LET me
get down"
"Want to get back inside% the driver
asked.
"No, Pm going to walk. Drive on and
if / don't overtake you, all right. I'll
be cussed if l wouldn't rather be a wit
ness in the United States Court. "-Opie
Read, IN AZ. Y. Mercury.
Adirondack Murray thus rails at
poverty. ooh, cursed poverty! L
know thee to be of Satan, for | myself
have eaten at thy scanty table, and Slept
in thy cold bed. And never yet have I
seen thee bring one smile to human lips,
or dry one tear as it fell from human
$3.50. D-A 4 h.