The St. Louis Republic., 1901-03-31
Chouteau Thought to Disgust them
by Making Them Work.

ears and has listened to the words of Wis
| dom that the white father spoke. He y
| afraid-not because he breads the scalpiI(
] knife and the tomahawk, for he Is BRAT
and fears nothing for himself. But he feat
| for his squaw and his children. The, wolv{
that pursue him know no mercy. The},'
| devour women and children even when thd
dare not go on the warpath like true wal
riors ,. &
'"The white father has spoken truly
| There are many of our enemies across ths
big river. When they, know that We arSl
here. they will descend upon US. and viii
| make our squawS and children their slaveat
| They will scalp our white brothers who
have been our friends. Therefore. we will;
not stay. We would not place your lives
| in danger.
| But the Indian is pocr. He has no fbod:'
| he has no powder and bullets with which
| to kill game that he and his squaws may
| eat or with which he may defend himself
from the attacks Of his enemies. He asks
| the white father to give him these Then
he will go in peace. And the Great Spirit
will smile on the white brother ami on
the Indian" 9
NJ. 1igueste feigned to wipe away a tear
Of sorrow at the thought Of parting.
Your white fathers heart Is sad at the
thought that he must part with his red
friends" he told them But the indian
has decided wisely. The brave neither
fears for himself, nor makes his wife and
children to. fall Into danger. The Great
Spirit will guide you Come to me to-mor.
row morning when the sun is in the sky
and will give you aid so that you may
rave safety from your enemies and that
you may not want for food"
.he Indians turned away. One OF the
Frenchmeu began to dance for joy.
Now! Now" he cried. 7 can fill my
stomach! Zounds! But have been half
fed for two weeks!''
And may taste my wine, which have
had TO keep hid for fear that the red beg
gars might find itp' cried another
Silence" commanded L,guests. ."Would
you bring danger on US again? Shut YOUR
eEattering heads and await their departure
before you shout. And you, JACQUES leave
your wine hidden, lest 1t make your little
brain to be more added than 1t fs.'s:
Ligueste hurried away to arrange for the
presents that he was to give the parting
guests. He found that he had not enough
powder and shot: so he dispatched party
to Cahokia to get what they could of. ann
Iaunftion and also corn,s beads. blankets
snd frinkets. The messengers returned be-
fore 1t was yet daylight and Ligreste land
Chouteau were ready to give their gifts
when the old chief came for them with the
first glimpse of the rising sun
One by one other Indians came into the
village, until all Of the tribe were there to
.eSeNe ehel presents. NOW ana then
brave would condescend to sha:e hfs Gifts
with, his wife, but for the most part they
were content to allow their wives 10 taka
the corn and care for 1t untn t should be-
ground into meal. -
1t was no short task to disburse such a
quantity Of presents. and it was well toward
noon before the last OF them was given cut.
And even then the Indians did NOT no THEW 6
nung pack to beg and steal. They pleaded
pitifuiiy; they argued stoically about tha !
great sacrifice they were making; they even !
sat fat upon the ground and refuscd "a g 8
nuose until another blanket or unoiher I
s.nns OF beads had been added to their nor
ton. .-.----e '-eN- sss-s;s! s-;z;
nut wnen they had badgered and besr.a2 8
anu s'oien until there was nothing mon % &
gain by it they departed. &;
And thus passed the frst crisi, IN tn :
tory of st. Louis. = - - 1