The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-01-12
[From Second Edition of "Frontier and Indian Life."]
INDIAN MOTHERS.

Missouri river crossing of the Northern Pacific
railroad, more particularly during the time that
Aric:ree scouts we're being employed at Fort
tribe were frequently passing and re-passlng along
the Fort Stevenson and Bismarck trail for the
purposes of barter and trade with the wide awake
merchants of the growing town by the crossing.
Owing to previous acquaintance, and TO some
knowledge Of the Pawnee tongue, OF which many
of the Aricarees were also familiar, these red
travellers made : regular rule of way camping at
the timber point to which had made claim. The
chief of this tribe had asked as a special re-
quest that l permit such of his people who came
that way to rest themselves in camp there. Some
of the white settlers along the trail had regarded
these wandering reds as intruders, and their mere
presence as intrusive, and it was the wish of this
fair minded Indian: chief, that he would guard
against the least se,nblance of a pretext for I'M
pleasant thoughts between his people and the
aggressive strangers.
Among these casual campers at Preparation
point was a tall Aricaree called Walkingbull, wife
and child. In all my dealings with him, he sus-
tanned his record Of past life, as an upright, hon
est Indian, and passed his days quietly. His wife,
Younger in years, was cheerful and kind hearted
in her primitive way. "A little girl with painted
cheeks, bundled up in her tbeady, buckskin robe
completed the personal of the family.
Known by name as Pawnee Talker, among this
tribe, l found that Mrs. ,>Walkingbull, also laid
kinship to one of the Platte river bands and de-
lighted to discourse in the Pawnce tongue. In
this way a friendship began with the Walkingbull
household that continued unbroken along the
line of passing seasons.
About 1882, after an absence of nearly two
years, Mrs. W%alkingbull came into camp with
a party of friends. She had much to say. Her
good old husband, ailing these many years had
been quietly laid at rest. His tall form would
never again be seen bending over the familiar
camp fire. Her little pratling daughter had been
given over to the missionaries care, 10 be taught
the ways of white people and be educated.
Two more years glided by. and again the
Widow W%alkingbull came to revisit the old scenes
of her earlier davs. She had good news to tell
Her daughter had been sent to a school in the far
east and would come to her some day a fine lady
The intervening time 70 herself would be long
and the absence Of her child, trying in its lone
illness. But TO know that she would return to he1
some day, decked out in fine dresses and bearing
herself in ladylike, mannerly ways, encouraged
her through the ordeal. She remembered the
Sights put upon herself and daughter by the
dressy fair haired girls as they promenaded thu
streets of the town by the railroad, who sneeree
at herself and child for their grotesque garb ane
unconventional ways. And now when her girl re
turned from her stay in sunrise land, she woulc
mingle with her fair haired Aryan sisters with al
the grace they themselves possessed. Then ii
the exuberance Of her Joy as the fanciful shad
ows Of the imagination fitted gaily by, the widow
exacted a promise that wher her girl did return
l come up to the Aricarec village and behold
the transformation-to see the little greasy-tacee
smoke perfumed Indian girl decked out in he1
silken hnery, rich laces and plumed hat.
AT last after an absence of many years.
being then the srmmer of 1889, | found it conve
nient to take a drive to Fort Berthold. | Wa:
preparing for a far eastern trip to be gone a mum
Der of years and had come up for a final look a
the old village and say good bye for the last time
to many of its inmates. Naturally enough | en-
CURED for the Widow Walkingbull's residence
and was shown a little dwelling surrounded by ar
tifcial arbors and a neat white pailing inclosed II
nicely. The widow, l thought, anticipating her
daughters return endeavored to fix up her place
so that when she arrived the young lady need not
be ashamed of her mother or her home.
Me- 'ITo11:~~l,,1 o,ot ,r,a of fha 1ofR \hG