The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-12-20

ones mind about engagements,
either. On one occasion we had
gone the rounds OF the camp
inviting all, old and young, to
sort of entertainment-a reception
we called it, for want of another name
On the day appointed was seized with
fever, and my sister decided that we
would have to postpone our treat. 50
she sounded the police signal, three
taps on the bell, and sent our faithful
Stiff Arm to let the camp know that no
one was to come to the school-house
that day. But she reckoned without
her invited guests. Indians are pune
tuality itself, and promptly at four
O'clock, the hour set, they began to
pour in. The first Corners were allowed
to come into my bedroom, that they
might report my illness to those on the
way. But it did no good. The entire
camp arrived. My sister rushed for the
bareback that we had meant to be a
part of the refreshments, and distrib-
uted it among them at the door, and
| babe them good-by. Then they went
reluctantly home. Il
For the closing exercises of the school,
we invited all the camp to come at ten
o'clock in the morning. Before our
seven-o'cloc!x breakfast, we saw wag'
on drive up filed with parents and
children. We gave them pictures to
look at, and they were so entertained
by these and by our running about in
our preparations for the occasion that
do not think they were sorry to wait
three hours before the entertainment
! proper began. .,
Our wards became SO atfectiOnate
that we had to forbid their coming to
the house before breakfast. If they
stayed too long, it was no insult to say,
in the idiom of their language, that we
wished to make the door solid,' which
! meant that we wished to shut the door
! behind them. The same visitor would
| be smiling at the door the next day
waiting for admission. 1t is a grief and
modification to the Dalzotas if a teacher
leaves their camp. When we found that
the climate was too severe for us and
decided to leave, they expressed their
sorrow in many pathetic ways. They
came singly and in number to say that
their hearts were very sad. The
chief men in the camp came to the
schoolhouse and held a solemn council,
sitting silent for about an hour and
| half. Then one or two said their hearts
were sad, and all went away.
They gave us farewell Omaha
dance. This is one of their friendly
Dances A good many young braves
were invited from a neighboring camp
to make it a very smart ball indeed.
With the exception of a bit of blanket
! or calico. they wore no clothes except
| their feather dresses, necklaces, arm
let's, and ornaments for the scalplock
and the ankles. Their faces and bod
les were painted Enthusiastically. We
scarcely recognized familiar friends It
was good deal like a masquerade. Our
dignified policemen. Littlc-Dog and
Stiff Arm and Cut Foot, whom we had
been accustomed to see in the United
States army uniform, were particular
ly amazing in our eyes. They gave us
chairs, and once or twice during the
progress of the dance asked us to rise
that our seats might be placed where
we could be still more comfortable. All
| the Indian women and all the men. ex-
| cept those who beat the drums, sat on
the ground or on plank laid on the
ground. The women danced apart from
the men. Neither sex paid the least at
tention to the other, apparently. .--
| She was aroused from her reflections
| by the entrance of her husband
| "More wet feet, eh?" he said, as he
drew chair to the stove. r.. r.
callers wet feet when there's any
| thing to wet ,'em in," she returned.
Then, after a moment, she added:
| "You go tell the old woman she can
come in to the fire. Beggars and young
'uns are enough to make folks lose their
wis.,
| Il passed an old woman outside the
gate" he said, as he took his pipe from
the shelf and began to fill it: IF it's
| her you mean, she's half down the street
| before this
"Then I'm shet O tibet trial. she
'said in relieved tone. ''Some of the
neighbors will be sure m take her in. -
All night long and the next day and
night the snow whirled and drifted
about the village. Then the sun came
out and the men and boys took their
teams and shovels and began to dig
communications between the houses
AS the paths became clear one neigh
Dor after another sailed forth to gossip
over the events of the storm. ~
| At length some one mentioned the
old beggar woman, and then it was
learned that no one knew of her where
abouts; nearly all had seen her, and
most of them confessed that they had
sent her away with flea in her bon
not.'
One man thought she went toward
the Freeman house. This was de-
serted building just out of the village
Without hesitation the men took their
shovels and began to dig vigorously in
that direction. And Mrs Barten worked
with the foremost.
| Lucky there's q good fireplace and
plenty of fuel in the old house," said
one. THE old lady can keep warm, but
I.guess she'll be mighty hungry
When they reached the house there
was no sign of its being occnn;ad