New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1902-08-13

4
land his squaw and found other quarters
and my master retained the team and the
loaded wagon. The addition of the team
to the household of course added to my
/ labors. It was at times difficult for me
to find plenty Of feed on the dry prairies
i for both the horses and oxen. The horses
must have been hungry at times tor they
began to devour the salt pork and flour
that was within their reach of them. Al.
though I had no quarrels with my masters
brother yet he could not forbear wreak-
ling his vengeance upon me.
One day after heavy shower IN which
HAD been caught Invested myself Of all
clothing excepting my belt and breech
cloth and hung it up to dry. was sent
on An errand to distant part of the camp
on my pony thus scantily attiIed. It
happened that passed the lodge of this
Indian he and few companions were
standing around the open fire. He noticed
me, picked up burning ember of a yard
in length and hurled 1t at me, striking me
across my thighs at the same time hitting
the pony. I lost no time in getting away
from the place and reporting this spiteful
act to my master who appeared highly.
| displeased with his brother. ..s..
Here among the Indians for the first
time saw three of the white mans inven-
lions, playing cards, paper money, and.
an album with tiu-type pictures. These
things were given to the children with:
which to amuse themselves. I might easily
have appropriated some of the money.
The red man then looked with disfavor
upon paper money and doubt that he
valued it at all. It sometimes happened
that alone was left in charge of the tee
pee. At such time there came girl of
about my age to keep me company.
Whether she was hidden to come or
whether she came of her own accord
do not know but we'll remember the
shy little brown maiden. She brought
| the album along to show me. We would
sit for hours and silently gaze at the
pictures therein although the faces were
all strange to both of US. Then would
dig down to the bottom of my uncle's
trunk which my master had left on our.
wagon, and show her. the few copies of
Harper's Weekly. " s e,~
The illustrations we're then mostly war
scenes. There was hardly word spoken
but we were company to each other all
the same. She would leave as suddenly.
and quietly as she had come. On her next
call the same programme would be en-
acted with perhaps the Only variation
that i would show the periodicals. first.
In my day dreams I have often seen the
mysterious little visitor sitting by my
side. tits but natural that she should
beof more than trivial interest to me and
that often long to meet the friends of
those days when friends were few but
thoroughly appreciated.
The bringing up Of children, it seemed
tome, caused the Indian parents but little
trouble. They grew up as contended and
happy as kittens or puppies. There was
no crying of the babes. and when older.
no scolding or lndicting of punishment.
Ofscourse child sometimes made mis-.
take but q look of disapproyal was suffl-
|cient to deter it from repeating the same.
Morally the adults stood on q higher
plane than the average white person. I
have not yet heard of a single case where.
a female captive has had cause to COM.
plain on that scUre. Although I have
had relatives among them and would In
directly if not directly have become &C
quainted with such cases.
q Twas looked upon as quite q prodigy
because Icould read, and they also be-
lieyed that was able to write though az q
matter Of fact I was not proficient in the
latter art at that time. When; visitors
came as they sometimes did, it was quite
natural that I should sometimes be the
subject of their conversation. They
would tell me that my mother had writ
tensa letter in which she requested my
return. | was asked whether / was will
ing to go home again and similar talk.
would be carried on. When they touch
ed tile domain Of religion, philosophy or
astronomy as they seemed inclined to
domy vocabulary failed me as knew
buttwo words pertaining to those sub
jects.
Some Of these visitors would ask me to.
call on them the following day and dine