Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-12

waved his hand toward the big trees.
lie told the writer legend after legend
OF nls people Us he went along. until
the last by-strcet In Charlevolx was
turned and he pointed to the abode of
Elizabeth MennonaquoI
tiny brown cabin back OF another
lust 40 small. past chicken coops, dogs
ana pigs. and the guide knocked at the
woath,f beaten door. IL was opened ~
| a thin. vflnkled old woman. who looked
az n she had lived past the allotted NE.
Igut this was not Mother Mcnnonaquot
John explained that she was the daugh-
ter of the eldest daughter. and that
her daughter was playing win her 'h"-
dren In the mlddel OF the iioor
Here were four generations seated IN
| this little room In one corner was q
had and here lay the representative OF
| an almost extinct race. blind ana com
parativeiy helpless. The moment the
| guide spoke her name and announced
the presence of stranger she Ic.uE-
/ uixsd his voice und raised herself 20 u
Sitting position. The long white hair
/ flowing about her face was w striking
! contrast 10 the, brown. Wfinklcd. ptrch-
| cd skin She locked more like an Enyp-
tlan mummy than o human being.
Her face lightened with pleasure ana
she chnttcd with the guide a moment
Then the writer told him 10 present MS
.
friend 81 her people. She was friend
~ and expressed o desire TO snake
hands
When asked the meaning Of Mennon-
nquot she said; u am afraid can
tell 40 NJ you viii understand. but u
means great cloud comes from th.
west aud hangs over wigwnm. NY ana
bv n brcnts. and then rain comes. aud
that IL the meaning " my dead chieis
name"
CLOUD hurat7" she was asked. and
she answered. "Knrroc. knrgoe,'
which meant Yves. yes.
Would like to 70 back 10 my Wig
wan and Nv. ne | used TOT Mn. MN.
my Old chief with squaw and pappoosc
lived IN great wigwam and were nap.
ny. Then Monnonaquot he died aud
nrunw was left alone. then white man
come and hriid pqunw a house. she
like n. but u N not wirwhm, MIN Mn.
chief gore to heaven 20 big wiEwami
squaw 30. too. some day"
The decrcpit daughter who attends
her. and partially supports the little
family by matchmaking. was busy
dyelng poroupine quilts with the roots
Of herbs. These are woven Into gaudy
fiowerr in the hlrch-hark basket. The
odor ~ sweet grass iiilcd the room.
The elder daughter was reluctant TO
talk. ~ are most Indians. From what
chief Nennonaquot NJ one time owned
twenty acres of land. after his death
Mother Mennnnnauot sold nineteen
acres. rcscrvinE life lcnse OF one
acre on which the hut stands. The
county provides FOR them In n measure,
allowing ~ a month In provisions ana
the townrpeople do much toward their
support. Mary Shnw-wn- -dnw,
the oldest daughter. ~ ambitious ana IL
always at work. t'ntii the old woman
became blind. some twelve years ago.
she used TO work In the village. sowing
carpet rags and doing odds and ends
which hor strength would permit. and
her proudcat feat was to outstrip some
younger woman.
In June. 1859. the Rcv. W. =. Potter.
pastor ~ IN" First Presbyterian
church, delivered historical sermon.
giving the names ~ the members who
we're there previous TO his coming In
1875. lie believes that Mother Mcnnon-
apuot II without doubt 40 years old. u
not more.
When the writer left the Rrcnt-grcRt-
grandmother was dnzlng; the great
grandmother was frying fish; the
grandmother was dycinR porcuplne
quilts. and the mother was weaving
baskets. while n 2-year-old pappoosc
played az her knee.