The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-09-09
CHAPTER ".

I
CHAPTER ".
wa AVN found me lying wide
e. Ea awake, with my head OF
~ saddle. I slipped out into the
dewy half light.
1t was mid forenoon by the sur
when I reached our lodges and sal
down tagged outside my fathers doo1
to think longer before entered. Hun
ger was the principal sensation, tnougt
we had eaten in the cabin the nlgh1
before, and the Indian life inures
man to fasting when he cannot come
by sood. I heard Skenedonk talking
to MY father and mother in our cabin
The village was empty, children anc
women, hunters and fishermen having
scattered to woods and waters.
HE ought to learn books" said Sken
edonk. Money is sent you every yeal
to be spent upon him, yet you spend
nothing upon him.
'.What has he needed?' said my IA
ther.
s.He needs much now. He needs
American clothes. he wept at the
sight Of q book. God has removed the
touch since he plunged in the water"
"You would make fool Of hin,
said my father. "He was gone from
the lodge this morning. You taught
him an evil path when you carried hin;
off,"
'It is a natural path for him. He
will 20 to his own stayed and
talked with De Chaumont, and bring
you an offer. De Chaumont will take
Lazarre into his house and have hin
taught all that a white boy shoulc
know. You will pay the cost. If yor
don't De Chaumont will look into this
annuity Of which you give no &C
count"
s'I have never been asked to give &c
count. Could Lazarre learn anything
The priest has sat over him. He hao
food and clothing like my own"
'That is true. But he IS changed
| Marianne Will let hlm go.
s'The strange bog may co." said my
mother, ''but none Of my children shat
leave US to be educated"
81 got up and went into the cabin
All three knew I haG heard, and they
waited in silence while approached
my mother and put my hands on he,
shoulders. There was no tenderness
between us, but she had fostered me
The small dark eyes in her copper face
and her shapeless body were assoc1at
ed with winters and summers stretch
ing to a vanishing point.
Mother" I said, "is it true that
am not your son"
She made 40 answer.
':Is it true that the chief is not my
father?"
She made no answer.
'sWho sends money to be spent on me
every year?'
Still she made no answer.
'If I am not your son, whose sol
am II"
In the silence I turned to Skenedonk
slsn't my name Lazarre Williams
Skenedonk?"
"You are called Lazarre Williams"
"a woman told me last night that il
was not my name. Every one denies
me. No one owns me and tells whose
child I am. Wasn't born at st. Re
gis?"
"If you were, there is no record Of
your birth on the register. The CHIEFS
other children have their births record
ed"
I turned to my father. The Gesolatlor
of being cut off and left with nothing
but the gucsses Of strangers overcame
me. I sobbcd so the hoarse choke
echoed in the cabin. Skenedonk opened
his arms, and my father and mother
let me lean on the Oncida's shoulder.
I have thought since that they re
scnted with stoical pain his taking
their white son from them. They botf
stood severely reserved, passivcly loos
ening the fillal bond.
All the business Of life was suspend
ed, as when there is death in the lodge
Skenedonk and I sat down together or
9 bunk.
"Lazarre," my father spoke, "do yor
want to be educated? Do you want tc
live in De Chaumont's house and learr
his ways?'
NV father and mother had been 81
lent when I questioned them. 1t was
my turn to be silent.
'.Or would you rather stay as yoc
are?'
NO. father" answered; 81 want tt
co.
The camp had never been dearer.
walked among the Indian children
when the evening fires were lighted
and the children looked at me curiouslJ
as at an alien Already my people hat
cut me off from them.
What learn 1 will come back anc
teach you," l told the young men anc
women Of my own age. They laughed.
You are a fool, LaZarre. There Is
good homo for you at st. Regis. If yoI
fall sick in De Chaumont's house wht
will care!''
'Skcncdonk is my FRIEND" I an
swercd.
"SkcncGonk would not stay wnerc n
is tying you. When the lake freeze:
YOU will be mad for snowshoes and
sight of the st. Lawrence"
Perhaps so. But we are not mad(
alike. Do not forget me-
They gave me belts and sarters, anc
I distributed among them all my IN
dian property. Then, as If to work
charm which should keep me iron
breaking through the circle, they join
ed hands and danced around me.