Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-09-05
A FALSE PROPHET.

Forty years ago the region of the Muske-
gon valley Michigan, was one vast wilder
ness. One of the first white men to cast
his lot among the pines and strike for a
home and fortune in the valley was Jacob
Horson.
He came with his family, cut swathe
along the south bank of the river, and
erected a water mill.
The result was thriving settlement in a
few years. The woods were yet the hunt
ing ground for a numerous body of In
dams, and the fiat at the mouth Of the
stream where Horson erected his mill was
used by the Ottawas as a camping ground
in the spring of the year-the sugar season.
A few miles back from the river were
immense forests of maple, where the In
dams made sugar, and 'toted" it to the
river camp where it was stored during the
season.
There were forty wigwams erected on
+ the fiat one spring, twoscore years ago,
when the incidents occurred that | am
about to relate.
Near the bank of the river was large
bark wigwam, which had been erected as
storehouse for sugar, and here, now the
end of the sap season, thousand pounds
receptacles made for the purpose by the
Indians.
One pleasant spring morning as Jacob
Horson was crossing the mill dam, going
from his house to the mill, he noticed
considerable commotion among the Indi-
ans and squaws, a large number of whom
had gathered about the storehouse on the
river bank.
Mr. Horson knew that something was
wrong, but paid no heed to it at the time.
An hour later two stout Indian bucks ap-
peared at the mill and asked to see Hor-
son.
1.-TWO bark gone-full sugar"
This was the announcement made by the
two Indians when the pioneer confronted
them A little inquiry elected the fact
that two birch barks, containing at least
100 pounds of sugar each, had been stolen
the previous night from the storehouse.
Jacob Horson was indignant at the
thought that any of his mill crew had been
guilty of such work, and he at once assured
the Ottawas that he would have a thorough
investigation.
At the noon hour, when all the men had
gathered in their room at the boarding
house, Mr.. Horson. accompanied by the
two bucks, presented himself before them
and stated the case pointedly.
eff any member or members of my crew
have stolen sugar from the Indians want
to know it. 1t may have been perpetrated
as a joke, and confession now and restitu-
ton will save the mischief makers from
discharge.
The men seemed surprised. Each for
himself denied the theft, and the mill
owner believed them. The two Indians
shook their heads and went away mutter-
ing.
Several days passed, and the discomfort
grew more serious Jacob Horson did not
believe one of his crew had perpetrated the
theft. 1t must have been some wandering
hunters, he said, and SO for time the mat
ter rested.
'Madge, did you know that great In
dian prophet had appeared down at Pages
landing?" said young Austin Woodston,
the mill blacksmith, who often visited the
kitchen of the Horsons to see the pretty
hired girl, Madge Mason.
Woodston was superior young man
and of a studious disposition. AS the
boarding house was full Mr.. Horson adj
mitted the young blacksmith to his house,
where he took so well he seemed like a
member of the family.
Pages landing was ten miles below the
mill settlement.
81 hadn't heard of it," remarked Madge.
"Well, it's true, it seems, for Mr.. Stowell
told me so this morning"
''Is he a fortune teller?"
81 guess not that, but an Indian seer, a
prophet. The Indians have gone down to
consult him about the loss of their sugar"
'The idea! What nonsense!" and Madge
laughed merrily.
$50 think, but Mr.. Stowell believes in
it. He said he believed the Indians would
now find their stolen property"
1.-THE idea that man like Mr.. Stowell
could be so superstitious.
That afternoon, however, a delegation of
Ottawas visited Mr.. Horson at home.
eve know the thief" said the spokes-
man in fair English. 'He lib with YOU"
mill owner, quite surprised at the visit.
He supposed the red men had given up all
thought of finding the stolen sweets.
''Great spirit tell medicine man we find
thief your house."
"Do you mean to accuse me?"
"Will you let us search house? Man
steal our sugar, young, with hair on lip
blue eyes"
"Do you mean Woodston? He wouldn't
do such thing. Yes, search the house if
you want to. You'll have your trouble for
| your pains. I'll lead the way"
| The mill owner opened his own trunk to
| the red investigators He did not care to
| have the enmity of the Indians, and was
willing to satisfy them that none OF the
| stolen sugar was in his house
At length they entered the young black
| smiths room. One of the Indians bounced
| upon a green chest in one corner, and
| threw up the cover, it not being locked
| Lo! and behold, there, exposed to view
was heap of maple sugar, partially en-
veloped in pasteboard box.
The Indians gesticulated violently, and
seemed both pleased and enraged at one
| and the same time.
| Jacob Horson was thunderstruck.
Hesent for the young blacksmith at once
| When he was confronted with the evidence
| he seemed dumfounded.
"Where did you get that sugar, Austin
| Woodston?" demanded the mill owner.
81 did't get it at all" avowed the black
| smith. 81 don't know how it came in my
] chest. Pm sure it wasn't here two days
| ago."
If the young man had said that he
| bought the sugar Mr.. Horson might have
believed him. His denial of all knowledge
| of how the sugar came to be in the chest
but added to the suspicion of guilt. The
Indians confiscated the sugar, only small
| portion of the amount lost, and returned
to their friends with the news.
That night there was great pow-wow IL
the Ottawa camp, and the whites feared
| that trouble might ensue.
| II don't know how it can be settled,
| said Woodston. cts mystery how the
sugar got into my chest"
81 accept your word, Mr.. Woodston.'