The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-05-07
A TRUE INDIAN STORY.
How Two Little Girls Were Badly Scare
by Terrible War Whoop.


by Terrible War Whoop.
You see. my dearS. when | was a
child said mother not mamma, as
you do. That sounds old-fashioned to
yon. but TO me it sounds very sweet.
My mother was the dear grandmamma
whom you can hardly remember: she
would be cightythree years old to-
day
Mrs Ashley gave little sigh. Alice
and Charlie kept quite still ont Of SYM
pathy. though they were eager to have
her 60 on.
II don't think either of you ever saw
an Indian. but you have heard about
the Indian troubles during the past
months. ! suppose they have recalled
things mother used to tell me about her
own childhood.
Indians were plenty here then.
When she was a little pirl like you.
Alice. she went to wh:-. they called a
district school, 1t seems odd enough
now. but there Was no janitress to take
care Of the school-room. and the sweep
ing was done by the schoolgirls. Every
afternoon two were appointed by the
teacher to stay after sc:aool and sweep.
They enjoyed it because they made a
frolic out of the work and it was no
unusual thing for two C. them to ask:
"'Please. sir, may We stay tonight
and sweep the schoolroom"
ION this day. the duty fell to my
mother and her best friend. Little girls
had best friends then. as they do
now
Mrs. Ashley pinched Alice's ear bit:
Alice laughed and they both thought
about Hattie Brown. who was Alicc's
"best friend"
''The girls were doing their task rs
fast as their fun would let them. but it
took some time to sweep around the
legs of those old benches and desks.
Mother stepped into the entry to get
the dust-pan from behind the door.
when she looked ont and saw an Indian
boy pass. with two brooms on his
shoulder. They often made brooms To
sell in those days. Mother was fear
less. and don't suppose she thought
he would hear her; at any rate she
called out:
Pretty little Indian. Got two
brooms..
with that she went back to gather
pan for the other girl to brush il on,
when she heard right in her ear. the
most nnearthly yell. 1t was 40 more
nor less than the regular Indian war
whoop.
There stood the Indian boy close by
her side, mocking look on his face.
his eyes dancing with fun to think he
had paid her off for her careless speech:
an instant. then he ran off like deer.
Mother said they were both SO
frightened they hurried home as fast as
they could, and they didn't ask the
privilege again to stay and sweep tho
school-house.
Maybe III be soldier and go fight
the Indians when I'm man. said
Charlie. valiantly. ''What If Id meet
that very fellow who frightened grand.
ma. Id settle him" he added. with a
delightful disregard of chronology.
Mamma laughed, but she shuddered
too.
II trust the Indian troubles will be
settled and the fighting over, before my
boy is a man. though hope he will be
ready to do any service which his coun-
try has Il right to claim"
Mother used to tell me great many
stories about when she was girl .
Mrs Ashley continued. land this one |
never tired of. though ! dare say
heard it fifty times over. could just
see that Indian boy with his brooms,
and could hear that awful yell. mother
made it SO vivid.
= fancy was like most children:
enjoyed a danger which wasn't Il dan
ger any more. and liked to thrill and
trernblc over it. 1t was delicious Il
know that after all it was for me q
make-believe Indian and make believe
yell. Little Men and Women.