Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-12-22

IL was OIL Nlilluh . piCdDuIC buut y
learn to carve, and. in truth. l found ii
easy.
We were but four to dine that day
Dir William, Mr.. Butler, Silver Heels
n myself. Mistress Molly remained
In the nursery. Colonel Guy Johnson
remained at Detroit, Captain John
Johnson was on a mission to Albany.
Thayendanegea in Quebec, and Colonel
Claus, with his lady, had gone to
Castle Cumberland. There We're no
visiting officers or Indians at Johnson
Hall that week.
Having carved the juicy joint, the
gilly served Sir William, hen Mr.. But
Ter, then Silver Heels. whom | had
scarcely noticed, so full was l of my
quarrel with Mr.. Butler. Now, as
Saunders laid her plate, | gave her q
look which meant, II did not tell Sir
William" whereupon she smiled at her
plate and clipped a spoonful from a
dish of potatoes.
Mr.. Butler and Sir William spoke
.gravely of the discomfort now rampant
in the town of Boston, and of Captain
John Johnson's mission to Albany. l
listened g~reedily, shifting for news of
war, but understood little of their dis
course save what pertained to the In
.dians.
Some mention, indeed, was made of
rangers, but, having always associated
militia and rangers with war on the
Indians, l thought little of what they
discussed. l eve forgot my new dig
nifty, and secretly pinched a bread
'crumb into the shape of a little pig
which l showed to Silver Heels. She
'thereupon pinched out a dog with
hounds ears for me to admire.
was reused by Sir Williams voice
In solemn tones to Mr.. Butler, Nov,
God forbid l should live to see that,
Captain Butler!' and | pricked up my
ears once more, but made nothing of
what followed, save that there were
certain disloyal men in Massachusetts
and New York who might rise against
u king and that our Governor Tryon
meant TO take some measures concern
ing tea.
''Some day, Sir William, will you
not make me one of your deputies ?" l
asked eagerly.
Hear the ladr' cried Sir William,
pushing back his chair. "On my soul,
Captain Butler, 1t is time for old
weather worn Indian commissioners
like me to resign and make way for
younger blood! And his majesty might
be worse served than by Micky here.
-eh, Captain Butler?'
Perhaps said Mr.. Butler in his
dead voice.
Sir William rose, and we all stood
up. The baronet went out to the por-
tico, where B~areshanks, one of his
Scotch gillies, attended with gaff. spear
and net sack.
So he went away, the sentry at the
south blockhouse presenting his fire
lock. and back into the hall.
had now been enfranchised nearly
three hours and had already used these
FIRST moments Of liberty In picking a
mortal quarrel with MI. Butler. l had
begun rashly, / admitted that, yet |
could not regret the defiance. Soon or
late l felt that Mr.. Butler and / would
meet. / had believed IL ; for years.
Now that at last our tryst was In sight
1t neither surprised nor disturbed me,
nor. now that he was out of my sight,
did l feel impatient to settle 1t, so &C
customed had ! become to waiting for
b inevitable hour.
! mounted the stairway, seeking my
W little chamber. Sitting there on
my cot, l surveyed my domain serene
~, proud as though 1t had been a man.
sion and all mine. My chamber was
small, yet pleasing. Upon the walls I
had placed. by favor of Sir William,
pictures of the best running horses at
Newmarket, also our prints Of q camp
by Vatican, well executed, though
French; also there hung above the door
a fox's mask. my whip, my hunting
horn, my spurs and two ash rods made
for me by Joseph Brant, who is called
Thayendanegea, chief Of the Mohawk
n of the Six Nations and brother to
Aunt Molly, who II no kin Of mine,
though her children are Sir williams
and he Is my kinsman.
/ had written In my lie but two let
tiers, one three years since I wrote to
Sir Peter Warren to thank him for a
sum Of money sent for my use, the
sAS hetAS 6ii n8Ancu AufiC Law
ingston, whom I knew in Albany when
Sir William tool me for the ~probating
Of papers which l do not yet under
stand.
She wrote me a letter. which was
delivered by chance, the express hav-
ing been scalped below Fonda's Bush,
and signed your cozzen Marie" Mr..
Livingston being kin to Sir william. l
had not yet written again to her.
though had meant to do so these
twelve months past. She had yellow
hair which was pleasing. n she did
not resemble Silver Heels In complex
Ion or manner. having never iouted
me.
As ! sat there on my cot, scenes of
my life came jostling me like long alb
sent comrades. softening my mood un-
I'll I fell to thinking OF those honored
parents I had never seen save In tine