The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-01-07

children. The grateful mother said,
when Squaw Betty was about ready to
return to her own home: w lat shall
l pay you for this great service to me
and mine2'
"Said Squaw Betty, l do not want
your gold or silver-I want that cloak !
pointing to beautiful garment hang
ing in the hallway of the house. This
was a long, scarlet cloak, of circular
shape, very full and bordered with
black fur. The material was of finest |
broadcloth-the product of the looms |
of England, and the rich, warm, red |
color was as enduring as the cloth it. |
self. Goodwife Poynton, for that was
the name of the mother of the sick
children, did not hesitate a moment,
but, removing the cloak from its peg,
threw it over the shoulders of Squaw
Betty, and in its ample folds she was
compile tely enveloped. Squaw Betty
had all the Inherent love of finery and
gay coloring peculiar to her people, and
no Broadway belle experienced 80
much genuine satisfaction when arrayed
in the most elaborate Paris toilet as
that dark-skinned Indian woman did
when arrayed in her scarlet cloak, and
fitting from house to house, like min
istering angel, with her herbs and
banks, bent on soDe errand of mercy
and devotion"
AT this point in the narrative, the
dear old lady interrupted herself.
Little girl" said she, "did ever you
hear anything about the Indian chief,
King Philip" "Yes, ma'am," l re-
piled, " have read about him in his
tory" "Well," said she, Ct can tell
you something about King Philip that
| you never read in the histories" go,
tell it, tell it," | exclaimed, with en-
thusiasm. " Be quiet, and l will tell
you. You must know that this Squaw
Betty was a relative of King Philip,
who had a summer retreat at Mount
Hope, or Montaup, as you may have
read. This is a beautiful miniature
mountain, and near its summit was an
immense rock, where nature had deity
carved a seat fit for monarch of the
forest to occupy. 1t was here that
Philip loved to linger, and near by he
called his warriors together in council
When goaded by sense of wrong and
injustice he would flee to this strong
hold of nature and commune with his
inner self. Here, too, he came in
SlOTUlS anu WdlCutu lnt play VI luC
lightning, the beating of the crested
waves of the bay, and the eight of the
storm birds. Their wild shrieks, the
roar of the thunder, seemed somehow
in sympathy with his troubled soul,
and, to his overweight mind, appeared
like the whispering of the Great Spirit.
King Philip once made visit to
his kinswoman, Squaw Betty, and that
visit was a never-taillng source of pride
to the Indian woman. He came up
from Taunton Great river in a canoe,
four braves bearing him company.
Squaw Betty was somewhat surprised
at this unexpected honor, and her first
thought was, like that of modern house
wives, what could she get for them to
eat? She had nice fat heifer, which
was ordered to be dispatched instantly,
and in a short time the young and ten
der creature was in process of being
changed into roasted beef. Then the
proud hostess sent for all the neghbor-
ing red men and women to come and
assist at the feast. They had no vege-
tables or bread, yet they seemed to
think the dinner sumptuous enough.
They did have the addition of boiled
clans, and some beautiful blackberries
for dessert that the young maidens had
brought from the woods near by. Nor
had they tea or coffee, only clear cold
water that dubbed from a spring near
Squaw Betty's wigwam. For a table
they used the broad flat surface of a
rock, and the dinner was served with.
out knife or fork or dishes, save some
wooden plates, rudely made, and clam
shells. Squaw Betty was exceedingly
proud of her effort, and, arrayed in her
scarlet cloak, presided at the banquet
with all the dignity of a queen. The
king was richly attired on this occasion,
wearing his beautifully embroidered
sash and belt. These articles were
wrought by Wootone Ranuske, the wife
| of Philip and Weetamoe, her sister,
the wife of Alexander, who was brother
to Philip. After the death of AleXan-
der, whose Indian name was Wamsutta,
his widow ruled in his stead. She was
known as the queen of POcasset. The
feet of Philip were encased in mecca
sins, embroidered with tiny shells, as
was also his tunic of sheep skin. Upon
his head was a turban composed of
some sort of bark, and adorned with
wild turkey feathers. In a year from
that time Philip was shot through the
heart by one of his own people in a
swamp where he had taken refuge at
Mount Hope. The Indian who killed
him was named Alderman. He said, at
the capture of Philip: You be one
very big chief, but 50 big as you be l
now chop you in pieces and at once
proceeded to cut off the head of Philip,
and also his hand Philip had one mu-
tilated hand, that had been injured by
an explosion of powder. 1t was this
hand, by which all would know it be-
longed to Philip, together with his
head that was placed in a basket and
exhibited for day that all might see
that Philip was no more. But the fol-
lowing night, as Alderman lay asleep in
his wigwam, some friends of the dead
| monarch entnrad sfaalthilu his nhnhn