River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-03-19
AMONG THE INDIANS.

1t was lonely place that young Rob
ert Grant brought his bride TO.
place without doctor, clergyman, or
store-keeper A few rough buildings
erected for the convenience OF the
traders, was all that was to be seen by
way of village, except the wigwams
of the Indians, who collected in large
numbers here, to dispose of their skins
to the traders, and to receive the gov
eminent supplies.
Robert Grant was the government Of
ficer who distributed these supplies.
The Indians called him ''The Ogamar,
which means the father. Very young
he looked to be called father by those
dignifed, dark proved warriors, who
gathered around him upon payday.
One payday, when they were all col
lected, he informed them that he was
soon to bring bride to the little house
that he had been building. They re-
ceived the news with their usual gravi-
ty, and the oldest among them said:
ave are glad to hear that we are to
have mother, and we wish our father
much joy"
Robert Grant smiled as he thought
of the young girl to whom this old chief
had given the title of mother. ms few
weeks after this, Robert brought his
young wife to her home in the wilder
ness.
The steamboat that landed the brl-
dial pair at the small wharf built by
traders, landed also the housekeeping
articles to furnish their little home.
There was row of dark faces, and
many curious eyes turned toward her,
when Katy Grant, leaning upon
her husbands arm, stepped off the
plank and stood, with sinking heart,
looking upon scene that was truly des-
olate enough, for the great forest seemed
fairly to shoulder the waters of the
lake, and no habitation was to be seen.
These Indians too, she was afraid of
them.
Robert whispered encouraging words
ia her ear. Some of the old Indians
came forward gravely, and shook hands
with their Gather" They said some
words of welcome to Katy, but she did
not understand, so she could only bow
and smile Her lips trembled and it
was a pitiful smile, for she was still
afraid of the savage looking men.
In few days the little house began
to seem like charming home to her.
1t contained only two rooms, but one of
them was carpeted and there were white
curtains at the windows, and pictures
on the walls, and snow white bed. In
the kitchen, there was stove that was
always black and shiny, some shelves
filed with crockery, and little table
that, at meal time, was set out with
white cloth, bright teapot, and silver
spoons. Katy was very nervous at first,
when she looked up from her
tea-tray and saw half a-dozen
black faces pressed against the win
dow panes Upon the first day she
would have run to put the curtains
down, but Robert said that they were
all friendly, and it was only good-na-
tured to let them look at the bride.
Once the oldest woman in the tribe,
said to be over a hundred years old,
came to the little house, accompanied
by her children, grandchildren, and
great grandchildren. She said she
wanted to see her mother" Robert
invited her in and led Katy forward.
Katy sat down by the withered old
squaw and allowed her to examine her
face.
"Nichechin, said she, "kaget niche
chin" pretty, very pretty.)
This was not the last time that Katy
heard these words applied to her. The
squaws made her frequent visits, and
they all said she was "kaget nichechin. "
They particularly admired her hair,
which fell in ringlets over her shoulders,
and they had never seen anything like
it before. they would take itu in their
hands and stroke it, then drawing it out
to its full length, laugh to see it spring
back into the pretty curl She could
not understand what they said but when
Robert was there, he would interpret,
for he had learned to speak their
language.
what do you put on your hair to
make it twist SOP" they would say.
Will you not give us something to make
our hair twist too, so that we shall be
pretty like you? Then, perhaps, our
husbands will be good to us, as yours
is to you.
Poor things! they led hard lives, for
/ their lazy husbands made them do all
/ the heavy work. Katy made friends
I with them. Even the old chiefs would
come and sit cross-legged upon the
1 kitchen floor, and watch her as she went
briskly about her work. AS they did
not understand many things that she
/ did, they had kind of superstitious
awe of heI.
Robert kept COW. and Katy made
many pound of butter from the rich
cream When the Indians saw her churn-
ing, they said, ugh, UGH" They were
very much surprised that she should
/ SDeuu u6I tIII6 bliIlilS a SAaiih 1OuhN
/ and round but at last came to the con-
,lusion that it was religious ceremony.
Katy had brought with her many of
! The little Injuries and reinements that
/ she had been accustomed to in her
/ ehildhood's home; among them large
/ bottle of cologne water. Now this bot
tie stood upon the bureau in her cham
| Der, but when the door was open 1t
could be s3en from the kitchen. Buff
4 falo, a stout young Indian, who often
/ visited the Ogamar's house, mad OBJ
/ served it, and he thought 1t was the
| fire. water that he loved so well; so one
morning he came to the house, and
squatted upon the kitchen floor, stealth
/ ily watching his chance, and when Katy
was busy, with her back to the bed
room, he glided in, seized it, and, draw
ing the cork, took a large swallow.
With a loud "'Ugh!" he dropped the
bottle, and began doubling himself
up, and whirling about, lifting first one
leg, and then the other, while his hands
were pressed on his stomach.
''Too much fire, too much fire; burn
up inside y easped he.
Dear me! dear me! all my cologne is
/ gone" said Katy; but seeing the poor
fellows distress, her good feelings over
came her vexation, and she ran for
some water which she gave him to
/ drink.