, 1889-09-25
A HOT JOKE.
which Even an Indian Could Appreciate
-Grandmother's Adventure.

hNth nj AhthAh SouAu
-Grandmother's Adventure
Indians are generally regarded as
very stoical beings, alike insensible to
the emotions of joy or grief; but the
following incident which was related
to me by my grandmother, an early
settler of Andover, shows that some
Of them can enjoy a joke, even when
it is at their own expense.
"a good many years ago" says my
grandmother, II with my husband
moved into Andover, then a wild coun-
try with only a few white settlers.
Our home was in a lonely place some
ways from any inhabitants, and l was
often, when my husband was 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, but l mean when
he was engaged in his necessary farm
work or hunting, l was afraid. You
see l was young and had a great dread
Of the Indians.
well one day when baby and i
were alone l had a terrible fright l
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 my attention, and
looking around l saw two tall Indians
wrapped in gray blankets just enter
ing the door. My heart stood still. |
could hardly keep from screaming
aloud, but fortunately / did not, and
my unwelcome visitors stalked to the
fire and very deliberately proceeded
TO warm themselves.
Presently one of them turned
around and pointed to some bottles
which, as my cupboard was small, 1
had hung ON pegs driven into the logs
of which our cabin was built. Two
of these were black quart bottles; one
of them held whiskey and the other
pepper sauce OF course l knew the
Indians wanted whisky, and as 1 was
afraid to refuse and my hands were in
the dough l nodded afiirmatively.
"Muttering something / could not
understand, walked across the
room and taking down the nearest
bottle raised it TO his mouth and swal-
lowed a portion of its contents.
Straightway he began to cough and
choke, and half frightened out of my
senses l saw he had the wrong bottle
in his hand. Shaking the sticky mas
ward him; but with a loud ugh, heap
strongr' while the water filled his
eyes, he shook his head at me and
handed the bottle to his companion,
who had turned from the fire and was
watching the proceedings with much
interest.
''Grasping the bottle eagerly the
other Indian tooka huge swallow, and
then such a strangling and suffering
you v saw. Bending almost
double while the saliva poured from
his mouth, and tears from his eyes,
he coughed and choked until / was
afraid he would burst a blood vessel,
and all the time the first Indian was
in a paroxysm of delight. He shouted
with laughter, clapped his friend on
the back, snatched the bottle from
him and offered him another drink,
exclaiming: 'Nough strong water,
hey2 Ugh, good warm up Indian coldr
by this time l had managed to get
the other bottle down, and now to
prove that 1 was not to blame l took
the cork out of it and handed it to
them. Still laughing the first Indian
took it, smelled of it, nodding under
standingly, and then passed it to the
other sufferer who had somewhat re-
covered.
STRENGTHENING himself he pushed
the eSJenueu nullu uSlue, saying, Dig
fool Indian, tink he mighty smart, all
same fool, ughr and walked out of
the door without giving me q glance.
His friend handed me the bottle
and pointing first at the fire, and then
at his own throat, exclaimed, All
same hot, heap hot, no more cold In
dian inside ughT and followed in the
footsteps of the other fellow.
II stood in the door and watched
them as they plodded along in single
file through the deep snow, the ear
one stopping occasionally to laugh
and look back and shake his head
grimly.
In spite of their evident enjoyment
1 was a little afraid. knew how re-
vengeful Indians are and 1 thought
maybe they would come back and
take revenge on us. But | never heard
of them again; and my husband said
the joke was such good one hat even
an Indian could not help enjoying it."
Lewiston Journal.