Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-10-25
A HOT Joke.
WHICH EVEN AN INDIAN COULD
APPRECIATE -GRANDMOTH-
ER'S ADVENTURE.

&c fCii ~ OiOoi Otihboi oi'hO 'hoNH
sible to the emotions of joy CT
grief; but the following incident |
which was related to me by my /
grandmother, an early settler of
Andoyer, shows that some of them
can enjoy a Joke, even when 1t is at
their owr expense.
ga good many years ago." says
my grandmother, 81 with my hus-
band moved into AndOver, then a
wild country with only few white
settlers. Our home was in lonely
place SOHO ways from any Inhabl-
tants, and | was often, when my
husband way away, both lonely
and fearful. OF course he never
went from home for any length Of
time without taking baby and me
along with him, as he would not
dare to leave US alone, bat | mean
when he was engaged in his nee.
ersary farm work or hunting, 1 was
afraid. You see was young and
had a great dread of the Indians.
swell one day when baby and I
were alone had terrible fright.
had just put her to sleep in her
cradle and was standing with my
back to the door mixing my light
bread, when a slight noise called
nay attention, end looking around
saw two tall Indians wrapped in
gray blankets just entering the
door. Ny heart stood still. l
could hardly keep from screaming
aloud, but fortunately l did not,
aud my unwelcOme visitors stalked
to the fire and very deliberately
proceeded to warm themselves.
"Presently one of them turned
around and pointed to someibottles
which, as my cupboard was small,
| had hung on pegs driven into
logs of which our cabin was built.
Two OF these we're black quart bot
ties; one OF them held whiskey and
the other pepper sauce. OF course
| knew the Indians wanted whis-
KEY, and as | was afraid to refuse
and my hsrds were IN the dough
| nodded aflirmatlyely.
"Muttering something | could
not understand, one walked across
the room and taking down the
nearest bottle raised it to bis mouth
and swallowed portion of its con
contents. Stralghtway he began
to cough and choke, and half fright.
ened out OF my senses | saw he had
the wrong bottle in his hand
Shaking the sticky mass of dough
from my fingers | started toward
him; but with loud ugh, heap
strong" while the water filed his
eyes, he shook his head at me and
handed the bottle to his compan-
ion, who had turned from the fire
and was watching the proceedings
with much interest.
"Grasping the bottle eagerly the
other Indian took q huge swallow,
and then such a strangling and
sputtering VOC never saw. Bend
ing almost double while the saliva
poured from his mouth, and tears
from his eyes, be coughed and
choked until was afraid he would
burst blood vessel, and all the
time the first Indian was in a par
o1ysm CT delight. He shouted
with laughter, clapped his friend
on the back, snatched the bottle
and offered him another drink, ex-
claiming: 'Nough strong water,
hey' Ugh, good warm up Indian
cold =
"By this time had managed to
get the other bottle down, and now
to prove that | was not to blame
took the cork out of it and handed
it to them. Still laughing the first
Indian took it, nodding under
standIngly, and then passed it to
the other sufferer who had some
what recovered.
STRENGTHENING himself he pushed
the extended hand aside, saying,
'Big fool Indian, tink he mighty
smart, all same fool, ugh? and
walked out of the door without
giving me glance.
"Hls friend handed me the bot
tie and pointing fret at the fire
aud then at his throat, exclaimed,
All same hot, heap hot, no more
cold Indian inside ugh = and fol-
lowed In the footsteps OF the other
fellow.
81 stood in the door and watched
them as they plodded along In
single file through the deep snow,
the rear one stopping occasionally
to laugh and look back and shake
his head grimly.
Tn spite of their evident enjoy
ment | was q little afraid. | knew
how revongeiul Indians are and L
thought maybe they would come
back and take revenge on us. But
l never heard of them again; and
my husband said the joke was
such a good one that even an In
dian could not help enjoying it,
LeoistOR Journal.
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