Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-09-12
T~onquepah's Blanket.
BIZ ROBERT BUCHANAN.

BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
WHEN little Tonquepah came to the
mission school she wa probably II
years of age,r rather small for her years,
but bright and possessed of an intelli-
gent face. She was at first extremely
shy, even for an Indian child. Her
father, a warlike Sioux, while not an
aggressive hostile, disliked the innova-
tions that white men were making upon
the Indian habit and character. He
scorned the "squaw man" who wore
white mems apparel, firmly believing
that the blanket val the true badge of
Indian independence. He loved his
daughter Tonquepah, he had een the
splendor of the pale-face woman, had
seen her dressed gorgeously. and treat
ed with loving difference, and il he
could only give to Tonquepah these
good things and keep her sacredly a
Sioux at the same time he would be
the happiest of Redmen.
Going to the mission school me day,
he called the superintendent out, and
asked that Tonquepah be admitted, at
the same time telling him his daughter
being a Sioux must not be tempered
with in her religion or love of her race;
that if she preferred to 9 the blanket
in preference TO the dress of the pale
face, she was to be permitted. At first
the superintendent hesitated, but with
out promising Sacalac her admission
told him to bring his daughter, naming
the day, and he would talk the matter
over. On the day appointed, Sacalac
and Tonquepah put in an appearance.
The child was wrapped in q blanket,
aud very dirty, a true child of the
plains, but her bright eyes and intelli.
gent face impressed the superintendent
favorably. After some discussion with
the father Tonquepha was admitted.
She was treated very kindly, and
given a room decorated with pictures
and ornaments. Attention was given
to her personal cleanliness, and she
was taught the use of soap and water,
combs and brushes, lessons she learned
aptly. Mingling with the other girls
all neatly dressed. Tonquepah looks
odd indeed robed out in q wooden
blanket, but her teachers warned every
n not to allude to the oddity, be-
lieving that a natural womanly instinct
would, COMPEL her to ask for a change
of her own accord. After some time
two neat and comfortable dresses we're
hung upon the wall in Tonquepah's
room, but not a word was said to her
about them. how they came there, or
who they were for. They had been in
her room for probably q week, when
one day after she had been in her room
after the usual hour, her teacher en-
tered suddenly and surprised Tongue
pah dressed up in the new suits, while
she stood admiring herself before a
large mirror. The poor child was
greatly embarrassed. for two reasons,
this was the first time she had ever be-
held herself in any costum different
from that of her race, and again the
new dress was not hers. She made
haste to undress but her teacher told
her she might keep the dress IN, and
she would give it to her IL she liked it.
It was then q terrible struggle was Wis
IDLE in the child. The. pride of race,
the order Of her father on one hand
and the instincts Of femme pride on
the other. For q moment she stood
silent then bursting into tears, she
said mo / cannot wear this" and
throwing it of wrapped herself anew
in her old blanket.
Nothing was said Of this to the other
children, and they all continued to
play, laugh and joke as II nothing had
occurred. One day the teacher pinned
q O on the BOSOM Of each girls
dress, and the class marched around
the school grounds. The prettiest rose
Of them all was pinned to Tonquepa's
blanket, and the bright eyes Of the
child fairly danced with pleasure. She
was every day more and more falling
in love with her teacher. While tho