The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-07-07
SNIDER'S WICKEDNESS.

very bank OF the Mlsslsslppl-sO near
to the water that when his active i'm
agination or conscience would not let
him sleep. he had been known to get
out Of bed in the dead watches of the
night and plunge into it as diversion
and a sOlace. '.'.. ....
Snider's playmates were boys and
girls Of two races, the red and the
white. and he confessed slight pre-
ference for the white on week days
and the red on the Sab bath. for being
a badlish boy, he played all day Sun
day and it is hard to get along
tremendously all day with the little
white boys who are permitted to play
on that day.
Snlder's sire held the orthodox
Western view that '.lnjuns is pizen I"
and did not approve his sons fami-
liarity with the aborigines. but this
did not seriously interfere with the
boys plans, for it was not regarded as
strictly necessary that he should con-
suit his parents as to his goings IN and
comings out OF the woods
Snider's best friend and steady
company" was an Indian maiden of
ten whose name in English would be
freely translated Red Leaf, but which
in her native tongue could be only
spelled by com bination of letters
that would look very discouraging to
civilized people. Red Loaf's mother
had no warrior she could call her
own. and this detracted from her pop
ularity with the tr be- for its male
members were expected to divide the
produce Of the chase with her. and
gratitude was not her strongest char
actcristic. Her husbands scalp was
blowing about like dry rag in some
Sioux warriors tepee. he having been
killed in battle seven or eight years
before Snider formed the acquaintance
OF his daughter The lady's name
might have been rendered Alkali in
English. although it is quite likely
she had adopted or been given this
bitter title at later date than her
marriage.
But Snider had other sources of
amusement than the congenal society
OF the Indian maiden. One Of the. e
was the casting Of stones at wayfarers
from ambush. 1t CHANGED one day
that he cast a stone into passing
immigrants covered wagon and struck
babe on the head making a cruel
wound and it CHANGED that the child
father succeeded in dragging SNYDER
from his concealment IN the high
grass and dragging him to the wagon,
first to show him the villainy he had
done and next TO swinge him soundly.
But when Snider had seen the wound
he was so abject so remorsefuL 50
anxious to be smitten hip and thigh
and made terrible example of. that
the Immigrant and his wife and the
baby to boot forgave him with all
their hearts.
Others had seen his evil deed, and
the news of it went speedily to his
father so that Snider was bruised
and battered little imp when his
father sent him supperless to bed that
lght He resented his punishment
with bitterness of spirit reasoning
that, having made peace with the i'm
migrants outside parties had no right
to disturb the status quo.
His fathers punishment made it hard
for Snider to sleep. and being queer
motherless little fellow. he lay upon
his pillow and thought of the cool
waters of the river and the smoky
tepees where the Indians were asleep,
and how they, at least always re-.
ceived him gladly. Then he rose IN
and stole out of the house after illioe
his pockets with biscuits. He was
going to be an Indian.
The ours did not bite at Snider as
he approached, but shifted his pockets
and Wagged their absurd and dam.
aged tails. Luckily for Snider. AIkali
Was asleep and her daughter awake.
1t would be pleasant to describe
Red Leaf as Pocahontas. Minnebaba.
Wenona and other Indian maidens
have been described by literary peo
pie who have employed terra Gotta OF
bron models; but Red Leaf. alas
was genuine Indian girl, with al
the mental and physical character
lstlcs OF her race AS she emerged
from her mothers tepee on observing
the face of Snider peering in wonlc
be as good an opportunity to describe
her as any likely to be obtained. He,
hair was long, black and coarse, anc
at the part was streak of yellow
pigment. This hair hung down owe,
her swarthy and not always clear
cheeks in such a way as TO make he,
forehead tolerably correct triangle
Her eyes We're almond shaped ant
wonderfully dark and deep with ,
trace OF natural ferocity about then
that made stranger look a SECOND
time before he remembered with !,
shudder that they were made to lool
upon the fortunes that the savag,
heart below might devise. He
mouth was large. but the handsom
white teeth within made it a rattle
pleasant feature. Like all CROWN.
children. her shoulders arms an,
body were angular and bony. He
ralment seldom parted with b
night or by day until it fell from he
person piecemeal, consisted Of a sin
gle calico garment 'toggled" togethe
as only squaws know how to do dress
making, torn and mended in man
places, torn and unmended in man
others. Shoes she had none; head
gear she would have despised.