The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-11-05
Snickshack said nothing about Anty-

white mans influence. He set himself
to bring in plenty of venison to dry
for winter, and an abundance of buck
skin to tan. His cabin was as good as
any in New Salem.
Shickshack held land in his reserva-
tion as all his tribe held it, without
cultivating or improving an acre except
patches of maize and pumpkins. He
could not understand the white mans
greed for real estate when the prairies
were so free to all. The product of his
labor consisted of peltries. These he
exchanged for the necessaries of simple
living.
Shickshack was not unmindful Of
the change in his adopted child. He
used to watch her silently. When she
brought him the first pair of stockings
made by her hand he sat and smoothed
them across his buckskin knee. They
were useless to him as a covering, for
he could not enjoy the freedom of his
ankles in anything but hunters neips
Before the weather grew cold he gave
Peggy roll of heavy dark red linsey
cloth instead of the usual tanned deer
skins. Ann Rutledge helped her cut
and make the dress. He had the salts
faction Of seeing her warmly clad, in
short-waisted gown with bag sleeves
and a thick cape and hood lined with
dull yellow flannel which Ann had
saved among her stores.
AS autumn days drew close to the
margin Of winter, the big boys, relieved
OF labor that they owed to their parents
every working season until they were
Il years old, came to Minter Grayham's
school. Though willing to make them
selves useful carrying in logs for the
fireplace, they were full of frolic as
colts. They stirred up the school until
Mlnter Grayham in despair made a.
new law and announced that he would
listen to no more complaints of wad-1
throwing, fistcuffing, and fighting, I'M
less the complainant could show that,
blood had been drawn. Then the boys
were gloriously happy. The sallow|
young schoolmaster, writing copies at
his desk, would suddenly hear through
the drOne of study:
Master, Viane Rutledge looked at;
me and drew blood!''
master, Nancy Green's eyes are,
drawing blood on me this minute!"
In November there was haze over!
the landscape like bloom on grapes;
Indian summer fingered. Settlers had
not then learned the Mississippi val
ley's sudden and bitter changes of cli-'
mate. )
Lincoln and AntyWine were still alb:
sent early in December, when Shick-,
shack waited one evening behind
Minter Grayham's schoolhouse for
Peggy to come out. A jet of boys and
girls seemed to spost forth, racing
down to Rock Creek. They could
almost smell their supper johnny cakes
across the ravine. Peggy was hopping
briskly in the joyful midst of her
schOOlmates, when she saw her FOSTER
father reckoning her at the foot
of the bluff. She followed him.
Shichshack led her where there was
no path through ascending woods,
parting naked bushes for her, and help
ing her over fallen logs which had be-
come almost a powder Of flakes covered
with moss.
'Where are we going?' she inquired
more than once.
But Shickshack made no reply until
he had put a loop of deerskin around
him over his blanket, and lifted Peggy
on his back in this portable hammock
She was learning to use her lame leg
with stOical determination which the
New Salem doctor encouraged. Though
nh oh off,
carried than leaned on it. Shickshack
was evidently undertaking journey,
and she looked anxiously through the
woods as some flakes of snow melted
on her face, and up at the void peopled
as by winged white insects.
"Father,' said Peggy in the Sac
language, where are you taking me?"
ITO the young chief Yates" he
answered in English, trudging across
the ridge, sure-footed and muscular.
But he lives far away and I won't
go! What will Antywine and Mr. Lin
coin say when they come homer"
''Antywine and the chief Abe on the
survey trail. They not here to stop
Pedro Lorimer. He get you this time''
Has he come back again."
Shickshack grunted. AT the Grove
two, four days. He tell the young
braves Black Hawk is on the war path.
Drive out old Indian! Burn his wig
wan! Old Indian help Black Hawk.
Me not need totem signs to find out
what he want. He say old Indian have
no business to keep white girl
But, father, you cannot carry me
SO far!" Peggy strongly revolted. She
wept, shivering against his back. He
descended toward darkened plain
without needing her arguments against
his course, except to assure her he in
tended to hire horse at the first
cabin.
The sloughs were frozen, and frost
blackened grass crisped under his feet.
Nowhere could any farmhouse light
be seen, and the gentle flicker-liks
insect wings had become a driving
ctorro Of snow Shicl< Sh acE fO1Dd tho