Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-10-04

part,
His own artihcer in iron, wood,
Or stone, Or any thing that made for good.
Whilst one man made the piow, or shaped
the hoe,
Another built the cart and made il 20;
Another turned the sod. or pushed the
plane,
And so life's toll was shared, and so the
gain.
But stay, old memory, here awhile aud
tell
About those early homes plain personel.
As yet the ostrich was allowed to wear
It's own bright plumage in its native air;
Nc hand as yet, the song-bird's wings
had torn
In vain some fancied beauty to adorn.
Bot woman's face, just as the Maker
made Il,
With every tinge Of grace just as He laid
it,
A full-orbed beauty in lis simplest trim
Beamed ever meath a pssteboard bon
nets rim.
The worms Of Italy, the looms Of France
Were needed not her beauty to enhance.
Queen Of the loom and spinning w,leel,
she wore
What her own hands produced and moth
ing more.
The men wore buckskin pants and elk
hide shoes,
And caps Of jus. such pelt as each might
choose.
With hunting shirts all bound around with
fringe.
And all made bright with beads OI
various tinge.
In these gay quits, II was the woman''
pride
Her husbands formiess alsitude TO hide
And send him out, by odds, the best KEEP
man
The proudest brave-in all his savag'
clan.
Now. say, my friend, think you thes'
mush-wronged folk
To humor deadl Unskiilsd in mirth
proving joker
Or eiviliIation's cunning should employ
To show them how to live and TO enjoy
An those we're days when peace in river
flowed,
And plenty stalled and laughed alonl
the road;
When the brown year, spontaneous fruit
age ont,
Shed plums and nuts into the lap Of want
The jolly husking done, at close Of day
The tables chairs, and stools are cleare'
away;
The puncheon floor is Furnished with
broom,
Aud none but dancers occupy the room
Impatienee marks the features Of eael
face;
Like eoursers. all are praneing for III
race.
The fiddler twangs the signal, Read
ALL"
A tide OF music then rolls down the hal
They cast themselves upon its leathea
crest,
And in dream Of pleasure, all are bles
The air that seemed the dTesmers mo-
10 please,
Was reminiscent, and the words wei
these;
1.-THE Indian gone to the Arkansaw,
Cause he couldn't stand the white man
law" etc.
, And so, in buckskin pants and hOm
spun gown,
We played and danced inisiortune's mi
cries Down.
But civilization once again intrudes.
, Aud spreads disaster through our peae
fii woods.
1t laughs to scorn our bows and issb
arrowt;
With trained artillery wars upon OF
S sparows;
a Declares our birds aud squirrels TO be on
laws;
And brings them down to death witho
cause;
To reap vain glory from vast agony,
Shoots down the bison just 10 see hi
die;
+. Forbids the Wild goose. in the fall Al
rhroasS heaven to lead his people
the wing.
The wild blue pigeon, that in millio
rise,
f, And cast roaring shadow DER the skis
: Il shoots, and shoots, until the CLOWN
q REcIaims, "roo hoti" "can nsv
shoot NO more
Then, waiting, cOOls the fervid barr
again,
And shoots, and shoots, tiIl the las, bi
isslain,,
O civilization Thy destructive hand
OF Gods free bounties, hath dsspoil
Hath set starvation on the Indians lrac
4 And no degree Of force can drive hi
8 back.
. We dance. as once Of yore, and sing 4
help