The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-09
INDIAN TERRITORY.
DINNER AT THE "NINE KILLER TAv-
ERN," CHEROKEE RESERVATION.
sod House and "Dug- Out"-The Creek
Girl in the Kitchen-New Way to
Make Butter--A Daughter
at College.
[Ena Guernsey in Pretzel's weeklyl


"Chick, oh chick. my crane, NV crow.
] went to the well to wash ma great toe;
When came back my black-eyed chicken
was gone,
What o'clock, old WITCH
shrilly sang seven of the healthy, happy
young Nine Killers. The witch, Creek
girl, mdustriously kindled real fire, boiled
an imaginary kettle, preparatory to the cap
ture OF the flock zealously guarded by the
hen mother
Time, October, 1884: place, the Cherokee
reservation Indian territory.
Entertainment fur mans and hors," 80
said the sign hanging over the low door of
the "Nine Killer tavern a broad, low sod
house, with comfortable dug-out near by.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nine Killer were the owners OF
fertile acres; yet a very little stirring of the
soil satisfied Mr.. Nine Killer A patch
of corn, another of melons, and small
garden supplied their wants, while the
travellers were not numerous enough to make
much eXertion necessary.
In close proximity to the house, seven
white canvas-covered wagons stood, the
| sleet ing apartments of a number of young
braves. Clad in hunting shirts and buck
skin leggings, they leaned against these
| "NS'iln, Ndtehilie llie CuIlOuSly anu cONefbA}
| from under white trimmed slouched hats, as
l sat in the low doorway interested in the
| growing smallness Of the flock of chicks.
Only one left. With vigorous Tapping of
wings and a loud growing the hon mother
essayed to save that one; but the wary
witch" showed no mercy. Soon the chicks,
! crane and crow were ready for the boiling,
stewing or frying that awaited them.
"Adee, Adee," called Mrs Nine Killer
the Cherokee hostess. which meant that the
Creek girl was wanted in the kitchen. Mrs.
Nine Killer was a woman to be obeyed
promptly. Reluctantly the witch left her
chicks to fetch coal and water and wait or
the cooks
The kitchen, dining-room and bedroom
all in one, was dark, long and narrow
room At one end stood the cooking range
but the numerous vessels were seldom used
Mr. Nine Killer believed in taking her cas-
and washing few dishes. Dried venison anC
rabbit hams, also pieces of bacon hung over
head; strings of pumpkin and dried apple
were in convenient corners; cheerful biddies
lorlly chandeliers in gay plumage wer
perfectly at home perched about upon TIN
chairs and tables dogs and cats lay close t
the range, unmindful of the kicks beStowe,
upon them by Mrs. Nine Killer and her tire
I servants.
For our dinner, Adee hastily stirred to
gether corn meal, handful of pumpkin
sauce, another of pressed-out cracklings
mixed it with water and set it in th5roven {
bake Mrs Nine Killer stepped in col
water half crushed coffee berries, the
! boiled for an hour that beverage
4 would you like butter for dinner| Mr.
Nine Killer politely inquired.
Bent upon pleasing me- she set Adee
r making the butter, process to me entirel
T new, the way she made it. Pouring a sma
). quantity of sour cream into a quart bow
II tie Creek girl patiently beat with an iro
" spoon the frothing cream until the butte
came This was skinned off and placed u
- sailed before me.
A bowl Of pumpkin sauce, LIBERAL
sweetened with molasses, was the sole deser
The corn cake was palatable, though
dark in color as to spoil its relish The mea
were variel and abundant Cold roast wi
turkey, prairie chicken, thin slices Of drit
veaison and rabbit hams were piled high b
fore me.
Around me stool the children, ready f
in their dinner, which was given them in the
hands, the cats and dogs claiming their 4
T. Ioyrance too. Not one of the family a
with me, ana the table was spread all afte
noon for the convenience of the hunters, wi
7 came and went as it pleased them.
In another apartment an upright pia
stood, and silk dress hung upon the wa
Nv Proudly, Mrs. Nine Killer fastened to t
,s, me that | had not yet seen her daughtt
he who was attending college. School bool
de- sheet music, a neat work-baSket, and brig
ra- colored zephrys, all the property Of Do
Nine Killer, made the small room see
home-like, "girlyfied"
af- "Dodo learn all, eheryting; den learn us
RA know urn. too, when she git here, said
Us proud mother, fendling the heavily jet e
broiiereJ silk dress.
A shrill scream from Adee who had pull
kettle of water, boiling hot, from
range, scnlding herself, number of unf
tunate fowls, cats AMI dogs, called M
Nine Killer to the scene Poor Adee's bs
feet were severely scalded. TendeTly, NJ
Nine Killer applied remedies, at the sa
. time scolding loudly the careless servant
My pony was at the door, and the lC
ride before me advised me to hasten; yt
was unwilling to leave the witch in sue
! sorry plight In the playground, Adj
place was filled by another witch" lar
girl, one that | had not seeR. As r.
away, the young Nine Killers had again
gun circling about the oil witch, AMI "
singing in high-pitched voices, Chick,
cnick, my crane" etc, heeilesS OF the Ii
groans OF the suffering Adee.