The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-07-03
AN INDIAN PRINCESS.
Toc-me-to-ne Was a Friend of Both
the Indians and the White
Men.


the Indians and the White
Men.
From Gen. 0. o. Howard's "Fa-
nous Indian Chicfs' in July St.
Nicholas.
We called her Sarah Winncmuc-
ca, but her real name was Toc-me-to-
ne, which means shell-flower: Have
you ever seen these flowers growing
in an old garden among their many
cousins of the mint familyq Well,
Toc-me-to-ne loved them Of all flow
ers best, for was she not herself a
shcll-flower7
Her people were Pluc Indians, and
they lived in every part of what is
now the great State of Nevada
Toc-me-to-ne had flower name,
so she was allowed to take part in
the children's flower festival, when
all the little girls dance and sing,
holding hands and making believe
that they are the very flowers for
which they are named. They wear
their own flowers, too, and after
they have sung together for 4 while
one will dance off un the grass by
herself while all the boys and girls
look on and she sings:
am a daisy gold and white
Somebody catch meme!
The grown-up people watch, too,
as their children play, and Toc-me-
tone was never happier than when,
light as a bird, she danced and sang
her shcll-flowcr song:
See me! sec me, beautiful flower
Give me q hand and dance.
Then after plays and dancing the
children had all sorts Of good things
to eat, and the flower festival was
over for year.
Only three times did Toc-me-to-nc
take part in the flower festival, for
when she was quite little girl her
grandfather, Chief Winncmucca,
took his family and went to live in
California, and when they came
back she was almost grown up.
Her grandfather was very fond Of
her and called her sweetheart. so she
was sad and lonesome indeed when
he left her and went to the happy
spirit land but she did not forget
his last words to her before he went.
Sweetheart, he said, edo not for
get my white brothers; be kind to
them and they will be kind to you
and teach you many things.'
In California the old chief gave to
his grandchildren new namcs-Nat-
chez, Lee, Mary and Sarah, and
Sarah learned to speak fairly good
English. Later, when she came to
Pyramid lake, she played with Mr.
Ormsby's children and learned to
speak better English. Besides this
Mrs. Ormsby taught her to cook and
sew and to do housework.
When Sarah was Is years old she
made long 500-mrIc journey to
California once more with her BROTH
crs and sister and her grandmother.
Her brothers took care of cattle for
good Mr.. Scott, who had known and
loved Chief Winnemucca, and he
gave them good wages, several fine
horses, and two ponies for Sarah and
Mary to ride. The sisters had always
ridden bareback like Indian men, but
when Christmas came Sarah was sur
prised to find Il beautiful Mexican
Sidc-saddlc from her brother Lee,
and she learned to ride like the white
ladies, and was very proud and hap
py.
Now the Piutes always would wan
der about. They lived by hunting
and fishing, not by farming, so they
moved from place to place wherever
thcrc"was game. When they were
in the mountains rough white set
tiers came to Pyramid lake and
caught almost all Of the fish with
nets. so that there were no fish when
the Indians returned. This made the
Indians angry, and so trouble began.
All this time Sarah was in Califor-
MIA. Her father, Chief Winncmucca
Second, and her mother were in Ne