The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-12-02
the BLEEDING HEART.
BY BLANCHE GRAHAM.


Once upon a time there dwelt ma.
tion OF Red Men on the banks OF the
Mississippi, who were noted for their
bravery. They often boasted that no
white man should ever deprive them
OF their homes, and while the old
warriors instructed the younger ones
In the mysteries Of war, they neglected
not to impart stories Of the granduer
Of the race from which they sprung,
and the sanctity Of the rights OF
which the white man sought tn rob
them. And though they sang and
danced through many golden hours,
while the shy moon played hide and
seek with her image In the restless
forest t-bordered river, not q warrior In
the Nation but would have answered
the faintest signal to fall upon the
hated enemy's home and desecrate
its sacred altar
There Uranus, wife Of the great
Chief, bore a child whom they called
NacOchce. But the mothers loving
eyes never beheld the tiny treasure,
for with the birth Of this sweet young
life, her soul passed into the Spirit
Land.
When the Chief had lost his fair
young wife, he bore her tn the river
side and placed the dead body care
fully in his canoe, saying, as he
Iaunced the light craft: Drift her,
oh, ye mighty waters, drift her to the
mighty Manitou."
Nacochee loved her father very
dearly and followed him wherever she
could. She was much beloved by all
the people, and in her daily wander
ings was often accompanied by the
warriors of her tribe. And when she
had grown into a beautiful young
woman they strove to win her heart,
but in vain. The Chieftain said:
None shall ever wed my daughter
without her consent"
The Indians loved the Little Even.
ing Star, as they called her, and be-
licvcd that she had been sent by the
Great Spirit as q guide unto their
race.
Often In their warrior expeditions
they were glad to be wounded SO that
she might nurse them and heal their
wounds. She thought II her mission
to dress and care for the sick and
needy.
Nacochee was very fond Of riding,
and often pleaded with her father to
take her with him when he raided the
homcs Of the settlers. At this time
the Indians were always at war with
the white men, or pale faces, as they
we're won't tO say, and II was no un.
usual thing to see them returning
home with the scalps from the heads
Of y hundred men whom they had
slain. This was their delight. 1t was
then they would smoke their pipes,
drink their gin and dance and sing.
Oh, how glad and free they were In
those old days when all the land was
to them happy hunting ground.
One day while NacOchee was wan.
dering near the banks Of the river,
gathering flowers, she heard o voice
call her name. This happened many
times, and upon looking around nc
one could be seen, 80 she came IL
know it was the Great Spirit Wit
spoke. Once as she strayed thus neal
the river the voice called to her again
and directed her attention to q grouI
of twelve Indians standing around
tree. They were preparing to scalp
young white man, whom they said
had come to steal their homes and rOt
them of their lands.
Nacochec pleaded with them Il
spare the white man--to let him y
from whence he came. Anything sh'
said they thought was good, and free
" would they have died for their Lit
tie Evening star, so the boon she ssk
cd was granted. They gave into he
her hands the life for which sh'
pleaded.
Knoweu, the prisoner, knelt 1t th'
feet Of Nacochee and sought 70 thanl
her for saving his life And not %
string to return 70 his people hs oesves
that he might remain With thsm
He Vas allowed TO remain.
Know sought the frtsodenip %
the asrso warriors, and they oeeeme
] very foud-of him after yesTs Of Close
! assoclatloo. And when darkness fe'l
over ~ vast wateFs Of the river and
! tbe horhless moon gIlded the wavint
tiee-tvps, thsy eathesed about hin
lSnd lniened p ths wonderful storis'
NJ 'f u. n a. 'I 4.a = l1ll.. AN1 II Il N4I