Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-04
How Ellen Came To Steal
The Indian Baby
By David MacGresor Cheney

or life jollier, than On the morning when
visit the Indians-reaI, live Indians that did
nothing but weave baskets and sell baskets and
little girl happief for that matter than was Ellens
own little self all spiek-and span and dainty
curly head to the tips Of her little black shoes
And never was a ride over the sunlit hills and be
daisies more beautiful
At last the white tents of the Indians came
heads papa gof dow to lift bis grille out, and
to be set upon the ground, while Big Jim smiled
and smiled. and showed ,ll his shining rSws q
papa and mama: Big Jim unhitched the horses and
Ed hs% ao.s 5 e aon to NOT drink tx
der far for papa and man would be back Ri E II
so longl as she thought-until she couldn't wait
any longer. and scampered away to the first big
Oh it was a regular faryand for Ellen in that
5 eean w nss ssT and
set on barrels On the boards were baskets-heaps
e IF Of in and a saP Nox E
partial to baskets-why, even then, as she
lightly in her little dpied hands and in that bas,
ket there big soda-craekers, OF counsel
&c. being interested in baskets, Ellen tmidly en-
There were more baskets the ground under
the counter and still in the back of the tent!
There carved Indian boy doies and girl dollies
and canoes and bows and arrows, and oh, every
thing! But back of the counter her eyes caught
sight of something still more interesting. There
were great heaps Of sweet-grass of every color
the squaw, sat and sang Indian ballads, and wove
the baskets for her husband to sell. Ellen looked
up into the dusky face of the Indian who was
selling bow and arrow 10 tai gentleman for his
little boy, but the Indian did not see her, and,
within Ufa- Ulla sat and wove and on.
Ellen could not resist the temptation any longer;
she darted under the counter, and in an instant
was beside UllaUlla, the sweet-grass, and the UNI
finished baskets Utta Ulla smiled and then laughed
and Ellen smiled and laughed, too. Ulia-Ulla was
she knew no English except Eyes" and "no"-the
only two English words she could even try to say
Her lord and master did the selling, and yes"
and mo" go great way when wisely used. So
she stayed at the back of the tent squatting there
for hours, and wove sweet-scented grasses into
her only child and pride of her heart. doing away
the hours, snugy wrapped up and fastened to
board that either leaned against tree or swung
airily from its branches.
"Do YOU make all those baskets" Ellen began, the
awe her little heart felt speaking real, truly
"Yes," grunted Ulla- Ulla-oniy she pronounced it
yah"
do you always live in big tent7" Ellen ventured
again.
Ulla- UIla watched her face sharply to whether
yes mo" required in answer and finally said,
"Yah,"-wtich not true at all, UllaUlla would
have known could she have understood better what Ellen
had said to her
Just then Ellen caught sight of little Sparkling Eyes
out under the in the sunlight The flaps the back
of the that served for doors fastened back
with wooden thongs, that the afternoon sunlight
might stream into the Indian home and through this
opening Ellen saw the baby still and quiet there In