St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-01-28
nearest the teacher. heard abou. all 81,

going further south; but the braves
were coming to the schoolhouse this
very day. To save trouble the squaw
| advised that they should be fed. In
vain did our teacher reply that the pu
pills no longer brought their dinners
and that there was nothing to feed
them with.
'Papooses go home-get eat. Mcosh
na insisted.
"But the teacher said no to all of this
kindly but firmly. and at last her visitor
! drew her blanket more closely about
her. ard. with look of disappointment
and anxiety on her usually inexpensive
face. silently left the schoolhouse.
"Mooshna had made a very deep i'm
preston upon the teacher. ard after
brief mental conflict, which knew was
one of the hardest battles that brave
little woman ever fought. she laid tbs
ease before her pupils.
~ said no to Mooshna, she ex-
p!ained. because / am rot afraid Of
these Indians. But l wish to say tc
those vino 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 al!
return. and as quickly as possible
Mooshna has never told me lie. aid
since she has said they are all going
south, am willing to make this cor
cession.'
II can tell you there was one boy who
made rusi, for the docr. and was fol-
lowed hy at least half the pupils.
hadn't much breath wheE / reached my
mothers pantry. and she hadn't much
food left after had made up my bun
die. shall never forget how she
begged me to remain with her. But
though very much frightened, and very
cowardly. fear, couldn't be ss mean
as that. Yet l confess there was no
place like home about that time.
when / entered the schoolhouse
with my package. tie teacher laughed
till she cried. can see her now wip-
irg the tears away and hear the merry
la! ha! has with which she greeted me.
s.Nell. the redskins arrived-five of
them this sin,eAlooking as black as
thunder clouds and more horribly
painted and 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 I
made of the kind cf stuff that could
ccncede two points the same day. But
at last the little bel; tinkled. and we
were at liberty to Go as we pleased.
"The names of the Indians were Deer
Skin. Oak-knot. Thunderbolt. No Eyes
and High Stopper. the last being chief
ly distinguished by his long legs and
his ability to get over the ground
quickly.
But there wasn't one of the five who
would have felt any more compunction
about numbering the whole lot OF us
than they would have felt in killing a
chipmunk.
"The boys and girls who had provided
for this occasion set to work immedi-
ately to make good showing of the
vinntis. My contribution covered a
whole desk and at once attracted Thun-
derbol. and High Stopper. vino sailed
IN to my mothers goodies with an ap-
probation which must have been born
CT long fast. The more they ate the
better fel:, having been early in
structed that man was 1; very docile an
imal when his stomach was fuil. q.
".Doy eat said Thunderbolt. point
ing to solitary piece of bread OH one
corner of the newspaper.
The boy thus commanded shook his
head: but it must have been very.sick-
ly smile that played about his trembling
lips.
Toy tat the Indian insisted.
boy no like said i, trying TO grin
again.
'..Just at this point Mary Hammond
and Lizzie Bradbury approached my
desk. Mary Fad 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
and contemptuous express
sion.
Before could draw second breath
High Stopper had seized Mary and
thrown her across his shoulders as If
she were cnly feathers weight. and.
with q war whoop that can hear now,
strobe out OF the schoolhousc. No
words of mine can describe the scene
.ha: followed.
'.The other fonr Indians kept on gor-
mardizing. apparently not in the least
disturbed by this episode.
.'Thunderbolt. inspired by the exam
pie of his comratle. 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 score or more fathers and
brothers. who put the wretches TO
flight.
MARY Hammond returned nnharmed
hut so badly frightened that it was
4 week or me before she could artic-
alate single vord.
.'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.
dropped her and allowed her
to return to the settlement.
"aNhetaer this unique punishment
was a compliment TO the girls past
or not we could not tell;
hut this we Go know-that, however
,he red man may see fit to punish i'm
he always has sneaking
respect for those who dare make use
Of il.
Il have always thought that il High
Stepter could have recalled one time
When Mary was ever afraid of him he
would have killed her. But to quote
the words of the girls little sister:
az just guess that Mary Hammond
won't never sass another Iniun as long
as she lives Golden Days.
Cola-weather Diet.