The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-12-28
enre.t the teacher. heard about an 81.


her. ard. with look of disappointment
and anxiety on her usually inexpensive
face. silently left the schoolhouse.
'Mooshna had made very deep i'm
preston upon the teacher, ard after a
brief mental conflict, which knew was
one Of the hardest battles that brave
little woman ever fought, she laid the
case before her pupils.
81 said no TO MooshEa,' she ex-
planned. because | am not afraid of
these Indians. But / wish to say to
those who are afraid, that if they think
best to go home and bring back some
thing for our expected guests to eat,
they have my permission 10 do so. The
Only thing | insist upon is that you all
return. and as quickly as possible.
Mooshna has never told me lie, and
since she has said they are al going
south, am willing to make this con-
cession.'
II can tell you there was one boy who
made q rush for the door, and was fol
lowed by at least half the pupils. i
hadn't much breath wheT reached my
mothers pantry, ard she hadn't much
food left after had made up my bun
die. | shall never forget how she
begged me 10 remain with her. But
though very much frightened, and very
cowardly. | fear, couldn't be as mean
as that. Yet | confess there was 40
place like home about that time.
when | entered the schoolhouse
with my package, tie teacher laughed
till she cried. ! can see her now wip-
ing the tears away and hear the merry
ma! ha! ha' with which she greeted me.
well, the redskins arrived-fiye of
them this time-looking as black as
thunder clouds and more horribly
painted ard bedecked than ever. 1t
was evident that this call meant bust
ness.
II thought the teacher would never
dismiss the class. You see. she wasn't
made of the kind CT stuff that could
concede two points the same day. But
al last the little bell tinkled, and we
were at liberty to Go as we pleased.
1.-The names of the Indians were Deer
and High Stopper, the last being chief
ly distinguished by his long legs and
lis ability to get over the ground
quickly.
But there wasn't one of the five who
would have felt any more conjunction
about numbering the whole lot of us
than they would have felt in killing
chipmuhk.
The boys and girls who had provided
for this occasion set to work immedi-
ately to make a good showing of the
viands. My contribution covered "a
whole desk and at once attracted Thun-
derbol. and High Stopper, vino sailed
in to my mothers goodies with an APP
probation which must have been born
Of long fast. The more they ate the
better | fel:, having been early in
structed that man wa Il very docile an
ilnal when his stomach was full
"'Boy eat said Thunderbolt. point
ing to solitary piece of bread on one
corner of the newspaper.
The boy thus commanded shook his
head; but ii must have been a very sick
~ smile that played about his trembling
lips.
"'Boy cat the Indian insisted.
"'Boy no like said l, trying TO grin
again.
Just at this point Mary Hammond
ard Lizzie Bradbury approached my
desk. Mary Fad a piece of cake in her
hand and Lizzie sandwich. They held
them out apparently in good faith, and
then, as the Indians were about to take
them, they drew them back with most
tantalizing and contemptuous express
sion.
Before l could draw second breath
High Stopper had seized Mary and
thrown her across his shoulders as if
she were only feathers weight, and,
with a war whoop that can hear now,
strobe out of the schoolhouse. No
words of mine can describe the scene
that followed.
'srhe other four Indians kept on gor-
mandizing, apparently not in the least
disturbed by this episode.
''Thunderbolt, inspired by the exam
pie of his comrade, made movement TO
seize Lizzie, but the teacher and few
of the larger boys stood between.
THE matter was settled by the ar-
rival of IA score or more fathers and
brothers, who put the wre,ches 10
flight.
MARY Hammond returned unharmed
but so badly frightened that it was
a week or more before she could artic-
ulate single word.
'"The Indian had mounted his pony
with his burden still swung over his
shoulder, and, after having taken her
far enough to satisfy his vengeance.
suddenly dropped her and allowed her
10 return 10 the settlement.
Whether this unique punishment
was compliment 10 the girls past
fearlcssness or not we could not tell;
hut this we do know-that, however
the red man may see fit TO punish i'm
pertincnce, he always has sneaking
respect for those who dare make use
Of it.
81 have always thought that if High
Stepber could have recalled ore time
when Mary was ever afraid of him he
would have killed her. But to quote
the words of the girls little sister:
~ just guess that Mary Hammond
won't never sass another Injun as long
as she lives. Holden Days.