River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-02-20
Copyrisht.)

Mods" he was called, not because he
was particularly sleepy, out rather az
an abbreviatiOn for the only name
which he had ever known, his IndiAr
appellation Of Nodawana. Maybe be
got the name without christening
When the Nez Perces got a white boy
they didn't 20 much on formality.
When Sandy Smith first saw him
lie was about three years cid and was
in trouble He was about as dirty
as airy member OF the tribe which
barbored him
Sandy had been making a little TRIP
over into Idaho and happened to ride
through this camp just at the time
when Mods was feeling pretty bad.
Seeing Mods crying. out in front OF
the teepee Sandy pulled up his horse
swung over into the side Of his saddle
ln1 took a look at such an amazing
thing as little white boy in an In
dian village hundred or SO miles
from anywhere.
Mods without delay trudged up
alongside the pony and held up both
hands Wanted to be taken up and
away from that village; to go some
place with some one who had kind
word instead of kick for him. Sandy
fairly fell off his horse, dropped down
on his knees, and put his big, long
arms around Mods and that's how it
began. How Sandy and Mods became
acquainted.
Mods gave sigh big enough for a
full-grown man, and, soon as he could
get room, put his two little arms
around Sandy's neck, snuggled his
face right up against Sandy's, and
held it there And from that on
Sandy could have died for him. 1t
wasn't anything he was used to.
When Sandy turned round, he saw
three or four blanketed bucks. But
in all the crowd there wasn't anything
white They didn't look as though
they liked Sandy much.
A powwow brought out the fact
that this youngster had been left with
IN old squaw by man who claimed to
be his daddy Said he was coming
back in a week, but year had slid
off into the nowhere.
The minute Sandy showed signs OF
wanting Mods, the chief valued him
highly. It took a day and nights
trading to get him. but Sandy won
out. being the kind of fellow that
never quits And the old squew was
10 go along, too, as Mods nurse
The chief dida't care 1t meant one
mouth less to feed, and saved some
body from knocking her on the head
And she, poor wretch, divided be
{ Yean affection for her tribe. distrust
Il the white man. and love for Mods
finally gave in to the latter, and went
long.
Well, in the course Of time, they all
lnded in Canada Gulch, and settled
.iown into the happiest little party you
ever saw. Before they came. the only
..ardner SANDY had was three
legged dos.
When one is happier than ever be
.ors in all his life, and has every
hing he wants. and all the love he has
arVed for through all the years the
',sels of Times moccasins are creased
Thea Time is young and travels fast
'Wo years, which didn't seem more
taan an hour Ions. had passed over
before Time went slow in Canada
e;ulch. then stopped and made each
lay a month. each week an age, anC
i lifetime a pack too heavy for the
shoulders.
Sandy had a piece of pipe to mend
and came up to the cabin. on the
point of the hill, when he heard steps
He turned round inquiringly to see &
man as big as himself. And he
wasn't the sort Of man you like. One
If those bull-necked, thick-lipped
cearse-loCking fellows, who leers in
AXIS.
I've come to get my boy-the one
rou call Mods he said.
The wretch dropped from Sandy:
.lay-covered hands
TSis was something he had neve
thought Of. He swallowed severa
times before he could get speech, ther
aid. III 4 dazed way Your boy
Mods your boy: And you've come TO
aim. Come tor him? %or Mods? tt
faka him away from me-to take
Auds2"
The man didn't really kaow Sandy
y1u see. or lie wouldn't hays broken