The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
AN INDIAN IN OLD KANSAS
Who Was Anpered bv a Marmalade
 Jar-A Pioneer Experience

From the Concordian Kansan.
 Some of the trifling things of child hood are the things most vividly en- graved on the tablets of an old mans memory. We wonder, sometimes, if it isn't one of the signs of advancing sec ond childhood that causes our minds to revert so frequently to the incidents of youth-and especially to the early years of pioneering in Kansas. Here's an incident that comes to us today.
 Even in the most trying times of the first settlers of this part of the state, with hunger on one side and danger of losing ones scalp on the other. the most humorous things would take place. So it wasn't all gloom in the work of shaping the destinies of Kan sas.
 in foreign land, and came to this country when about eight years oic. Setting sail for America" in those days was quite an event to all con- oerned, and the bidding of good bys and the saying of farewells was some thing of a serious forpality-and the preparations were many and great.
 There was a formal farewell dinner given by an aunt on the last night
  which was a big plum pudding over which some brandy was poured before cutting 1t, the room darkened and then a match set to the brandy. It was weird affair, and added to the mysteri- ous frame of mind we were already in regarding the great America which we were soon to see.
 Then the kindly disposed aunt gave mother white stone jar, filled wfth nr Y1Qrn1qlada a 6ellcAcV that might prove enticing in convalescence after sea sickness 1t is simply mat ter of correct historical record for us to say now that the writer of those notes ate most of it, as the rest of the family did not recover until it was about all gone.
 But it's the stone jar that figures in this story It was the fam1iy neir-. loom, the receptacle of precious things of the household, and because of it's origin and associations. It was lost to the family through an early Kansas incident
 One day a band of about 20 Chey- enne Indians came into mothers cabin, on the White Rocks, in about 1888. when they made about their last raid against the settlers in this part of the state. They came into the cabin boldiy, without knocking on the door. The men folks" were over on the claim, digging a well--and a child was dis patched to tell them to stay there. It was nearly noon, and the dinner was ready on the table The Indians in- sisted on eating it-and teey did. They made the unprotected woman-with only small children as her companions cook such food as was left in the house, until she told them she had no more Then one big buck. the leader of the gang, went shopping about, looking for more to eat. He espiec the white stone marmalade Jar on d shelf and took it down. It was hheo with a yeast starter. A,
 The Indian stuck his nose into tne jar and took one whiff of 1t, and as soon as he realized that he might live, after the experience. his indlgnatioh was something to be admired m US savaeerv. Mother said she forgot TOT the moment the personal oanse
 herself and children, in watching the facial contortions of that lnolah- HIS vocabulary of English words was qui'e limited. convey his feelings or express his con- tempt for this ingredient or the white mans sciyilization-and he used It.
 He said "Damn." and threw the pre- cious stone jar, an heirloom from across the sea, as far as, his strength would permit him out through the cabin door and into the depths of water in the White Rock-creek-and mother laughed. For her sense of humor under such to the Indian-trying circumstances she was kicked out of doors and threat ened with loss of her scalp unless she became more serious.
 But in the many years thereafter she | said she should have laughed had she known that dire calamity was about to ! befall her. And that's what became of aunt's orange marmalade jar.