The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-10-23

1
len-and when they saw the two white
men and the woman they murmuret
among themselves.
1.-THE captain knew their story-bs
knew everything that had to do witt
| Alaska-and he called them together
below the bridge.
These people have come TO live
with you he said. BE good to them.
There was considerable talk. Then
one spoke up in his native tongue:
1--we don't want the white men and
! their squaw.'
They're good men, said Healy.
They'll teach you many things and
cure your children when they're sick.
1--WE don't want the white men,
said the spokesman again. Take them
away. II they stay they will be sorry.
Maybe they will die. Who knowsy
1.-THE old mans eyes glowed and
his voice raised tone as he spoke.
"Tf anything happens TO them III
blow up your village. I'll shoot your
houses TO pieces
They had never seen a cannon be-
fore and began to laugh at this.
mo said they; we are not chill
dren TO be frightened with fools talk.
The village is too far away, and the
ship can't come close to land. No; you
must keep the white folks yourself
"At that the captain made them
climb the rigging. every one OF them.
and had me load the bow gun.
"'Shoot low, lieutenant, he said.
So I did. The shot struck halfway to
the shore laugh came from aloft.
"'what did we say 2 they gibed. The
big whale gun Is no good You can't
scare us; we are men,
load her again. said Healy. |
did, and this time the laughter was
not so loud. for the ball struck close to
the beach. They we're unconvinced.
however. and jeered US nightly till
the commander said:
Lieutenant. that big cache to the
east Of the village
AYE, aye. sir, and | sighted.
They had caught the old mans
tone this time and ceased TO chatter.
The deck was very still as ! fired.
THE cache was rude log shelter.
perched high on posts and standing
well out from the village. 1t was a
good shot The target smashed like
a clay pigeon. We saw women and
children scurrying out of the huts back
toward the hills.
THE men came down on the deck
quietly, and they were not laughing
now. but more sullen faces l never
saw.
Don't shoot again. they said. Let
the white men and the squaw come
ashore And that's how we landed
our missionaries"
During the next few years the reve-
nue. cutter called at the village fire.
quently. leaving mail. provisions. ETC..
and It seemed that the churchmen
were getting along much better than
had been expected Particularly did
the Ohio boy succeed with them. for
he worked earnestly and treated his
charges with n tact and understanding |
Of which the other. Mathlson. seemed
totally devoid However. he was even
tually sent down the coast to Port |
Clarence in charge Of government
herd. leaving the Kentuckian |
and his wife at Prince OF Wales.
Now. the spirit of mischief dwells |
as stoutly In a native child as In one |
OF other blood: but, no matter what |
faults are committed. the Indian never |
chastises his offspring. This tender
spirit of reverence is one OF the most |
traits OF the aborigine, and |
not only does he never lift hand |
against his little ones. but violence
from another is a deadly affropt.
The children OF this village did not
like Mnthlson. and he began to feel an
unrest In his school which he could !
not fathom. One morning he found a
rude caricature OF himself on the
blackboard IL was most disparaging
to his dignity and led to severe Ian
yuage. few nights later some one
threw pebbles at his house door.
Again. the schoolhouse was broken
open and chalk taken out. He spoke
70 the scholars OF dire punlshments,
md still the thing prevailed until he
grew maddened out OF all proportion
% the gravity OF the offenses.
Had he treated them with a patient
rood humor the little ones would have
exhausted their resources OF annoy
lnce but they irritated him cumula-
lively till one day in an outburst he
threatened death TO any one who APP
,roached his house at night. His resi-
lence sat well up on the mountain
Ibove the village. and for some time
hereafter he slept in peace. But the
ibertles with the schoolhouse contin-
led. and one day. becoming frenzied.
he made public announcement that
hould he catch any one forcing II
,pen he would shoot him.
Some time after three little boys.
with deviltry. sprung the
loor 70 the place. purloining some
halk Later as they thought of the
masters threat the gravity of 1t
mote them. and they became fright
med
"Ai. we have done very bad
hing" said the littlest one who was
tut eleven and lame of the left leg.
$50. but won't the master be angryr