Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-07-09
TWO FRONTIER CHILDREN,
Grown-Up Indian ana an Jndcr-
grown white BOY.

The monotonv of my stay in little north
western town was broken 10y the appear
apce of two types Of the frontier When
the first came | was in the sitting room,
calmly embroidering violets, when sudden
" became oppressed with the conscious
ness that ] was being watched Glancing
up at the window ] saw, pressed close to
the pane. a copper-colored face framed IN
coarse black hair and surmounted 10y two
hats-the trsta soft, wide-brimmed gray
felt and the other a very knowing looking
cheviot fore-aud-aft with turkey wing
in it. While ! gazed in some trepidatlon. the
face widened into smile, ! dropped my
embroidery. remembering that ! was the
only person down stairs, and that the
kitchen door was unlocked and l hurried
to the kitchen When ] reached there my
curious visitor was standing erect IN the
doorway between the back porch and the
kitchen
"Bezhoo. was bis word of greeting
"What do you want ! asked.
For answer he gave me large, much
soiled card upon which were printed the
following terse statements
"This is Charley Ox-heart. Tie Is good
Indian lie is a good friend to all the
whites He has killed three Sioux. You
may give nm clothes food, or money.
returned this extraordinary letter OF
INTRODUCTION. and in so doing my hand was
firmly grasped in the brown paw OF Charley
Ox-heart and cordially shaken
"What YOU give me ~ be asked Grub,
money, what
This absolute confidence in my gener-
ositv was most tlattering. and l was sorry
to reward this heroic destroyer OF the herce
Sioux with so small an amount as ten cents
If was a CHEAP valuation for So valiant a
deed but there was something about Ohar-
lev hearts frank geniality that led me
to suspect that. now that the sioux mao
ceased from troubling. he spent MS money
and ample leisure at places where legalH
or illegally, tire-water Is dispensed. w ME
he was slowing away the ten ceuts' with
an absolutely impassive countenance' III
fat and roomv bead purse, Linka the Nor
1re,ian maid of all work came into the
kitchen To smooth over her very evident
displeasure at the sight of Charley Ok
heart, ! said
'Iinka this Is Charley Ox-heart lie
shakes hands with all the whites
Charley Ox-h heart smiled compromising
tx. and extended his grimy hand towards
iinka There was no selt-consclous hest
fancy in the act. IT was done with the man
ner of q ruler condescending to grant
privilege To- a humble but pleasing subject
Linka had the bad taste to utter an eNcIa-
nation of disgust and TO put both her hands
behind her back, wnereat Charley 0N-heart
made a sound III his throat indicative OF
indignation and contempt Then Llnka,
either through fear or courtesy, lmme-
diately advanced aud shook hands.
"Weu, what YOU give me inquired our
guest
Linka disappeared into the pantry. and
presently reappeared extending at arm
length to Mr. Ox-heart a piece of cheese
and half a dozen welghty little oblonEs that
she had introduced at breakfast under the
euphonious title of Snowflake gems he
beneficiary smelled of each article. The
cheese he held to his nose several times.
There was something about 1t that literally
tickled his olfactory nerve, for he chuckled
to himself after every Whit, and seemed
reluctant to tuck it away under his blanket.
"Now, 90 away with yourself, SAID
Linka.
But Charley x-heart 5 eye was attracted
by all old white straw hat that hung IN the
kitchen. Linka read his thoughts.
you've got two, she said.
''AIv suuaw want hat, he said.
''Your squaw What's your squaw's
name"
Linkas tone was expressive of strong
doubt as to the existence of any squaw
cone name Mary Ox-heart one name
Minnie Ox-heart; one name
Take the hat Llnka exclaimed, over
come by this weight of evidence, and Char
lev Ox-heart departed triumphantly with
two hats on his head and one under his arm.
Linka seized the broom and swept the spot
where he had stood.
Hes alasy lasy, dirty Indian, she said
to me "He rather walk over the two Da
kotas and Minnesota and Iowa than do one
stroke work / visit mothers folks once
IN northern " eesconseen, and there he
came peering III window and begging
AS / returned to the sitting room the
front door bell rang, and, knowing that
Linka was deodorizing the kitchen, | went
to the door to greet what proved to be the
second of the frontier children. He was a
small boy of twelve or thirteen, healthy,
brown, and strong.
as Mrs Gordon at home be asked
When ! told him that she had gone early
that morning with Mr. Gordon to the next
town, and would not be back before night,
his face fell and ne said in a tone of an
guish "Oh, Gee"
Come in l said. Il am visiting Mrs.
Gordon Can't you leave a message with
me You don't live IN Forkington, do you
"No, hive at Fort K, he said following
me into the sitting room, and sitting down
opposite me.
And where is Fort X ..' | asked
ooh, it's miles from the railway. / had
to come IN q mule team, tordIng the river
and over the prairie to l., to get the train
to come here. Ny fathers IN the army
you know, and we're ordered East il d
hurry, and mother hasn't any hat TO wear
That Is she S got one, two in fact; she says
they look all right at the Fort. but SHE
doesn't ike To wear either one of then