"If he were with me, King of Tuscarora,
Gazing as I upon thy portrait now,
In all its medalled, fringed, and bearded glory,
Its eyes' dark beauty, and its thoughtful brow--
"Its brow, half martial, half diplomatic;
Its eye, upsoaring, like an eagle's wings;
Well might he boast that we, the democratic,
Outrival Europe--even in our kings."--_Red Jacket._
My uncle Ro said nothing when the two tenants left us; though I saw, by
his countenance, that he felt all the absurdity of the stuff we had just
been listening to. We had got within half a mile of the woods, when
eight Injins came galloping up to a wagon that was directly behind us,
which contained another of my tenants, with his eldest son, a lad of
sixteen, whom he had brought with him as a scholar, in having his sense
of right unsettled by the selfish mystification that was going on in the
land; a species of fatherly care that was of very questionable merit. I
said there were eight of these Injins, but there were only four horses,
each beast carrying double. No sooner did the leaders of the party reach
the wagon I have mentioned, than it was stopped, and its owner was
commanded to alight. The man was a decided down-renter, but he obeyed
the order with a very ill-grace; and did not obey at all, indeed, until
he was helped out of the wagon, by a little gentle violence of this
fragment of his own _corps d'armee_. The boy was soon put into the
highway, when two of the "disguised and armed" leaped into the vacant
places, and drove on, passing us at a furious pace, making a parting nod
to the owner of the vehicle, and consoling him for its temporary loss by
calling out, "Injin want him--Injin good fellow, you know."
Whether the discomfited farmer _knew_ or not, we could not tell; but he
_looked_ as if he wished the Injins anywhere but in their "happy hunting
grounds." We drove on laughing, for it was in human nature to be amused
at such an exhibition of the compulsory system, or of "liberty and
equality carried out;" and more particularly so, when I was certain that
the "honest, hard-working, horny-handed tiller of the soil," wanted to
cheat me out of a farm; or to put his case in the most favorable point
of view, wanted to compel me to sell him one at his own price. Nor did
our amusement stop here. Before we reached the woods, we found Holmes
and Tubbs in the highway, too; the other two worthies who had been
mounted _en croupe_ having dispossessed them of their wagon also, and
told them to "charge it to Injin." We afterward learned that this
practice was very general; the owner recovering his horse and team, in
the course of a few days, by hearing it had been left secretly at some
tavern within a few miles of his residence. As for old Holmes, he was in
an honest indignation, when we came up with him, while even Tubbs looked
soured and discontented, or as if he thought friends were entitled to
better treatment.
"Vhat ist der matter?" cried out uncle Ro, who could hardly keep from
laughing the whole time; "vhat ist der matter now? Vhere might be your
hantsome vaggin and your gay horse?"
"It's too bad!--yes, it's eeny most too bad!" grunted Holmes. "Here am
I, past threescore-and-ten, which is the full time of man, the Bible
says--and what the Bible says _must_ be true, you know?--here have they
trundled me into the highway, as they would a sack of potatoes, and left
me to walk every step of four miles to reach my own door! It's too
bad--it's eeny most too bad!"
"Oh! dat might be a trifle, compared to vhat it vould be to haf peen
drundelled out of your farm."
"I know't!--I know't!--I understand it!--it's all meant for the good
cause--to put down aristocracy, and make men raa'ly equal as the law
intends them to be--but this I say is eeny most too bad!"
"Und you so olt!"
"Seventy-six, if I'm a day. My time can't be long, and my legs is weak,
they be. Yes, the Bible says a man's time is limited pretty much to
threescore-and-ten--and I'll never stand out ag'in the Bible."
"Und vhat might der Piple say apout vanting to haf your neighpors'
goots?"
"It cries that down dreadfully! Yes, there's plenty of that in the good
book, I know from havin' heard it read--ay, and havin' read it myself,
these threescore years; it _doos_ cry it down, the most awfully. I shall
tell the Injins this, the next time they want my wagon. There's Bible
ag'in all sich practices."
"Der Piple ist a good pook."
"That it is--that it is--and great is the consolation and hope that I
have known drawn from its pages. I'm glad to find that they set store by
the Bible in Jarmany. I was pretty much of the notion, we had most of
the religion that's goin', in Ameriky, and it's pleasant to find there
_is_ some in Jarmany."
All this time old Holmes was puffing along on foot, my uncle Ro walking
his horse, in order to enjoy his discourse.
"Oh! ja--ja, ja--dere might be _some_ religion left in der olt worlt--de
Puritans, as you might call dem, did not pring it all away."
"Desp'rate good people them! We got all our best sarcumstances from our
Puritan forefathers. Some folks say that all America has got, is owing
to them very saints!"
"Ja--und if it bees not so, nefer mind; for dey will be sartain to get
all Ameriky."
Holmes was mystified, but he kept tugging on, casting wistful glances at
our wagon, as he endeavored to keep up with it. Fearful we might trot on
and leave him, the old man continued the discourse. "Yes," he said, "our
authority for everything must come from the Bible, a'ter all. It tells
us we hadn't ought to bear malice, and that's a rule I endivor to act up
to; for an old man, you see, can't indulge his sinful natur' if he
would. Now I've been down to Little Neest to attend a Down-Rent
meetin',--but I bear no more malice ag'in Hugh Littlepage, not I, no
more than if he weren't a bit of my landlord! All I want of him is my
farm, on such a lay as I can live by, and the b'ys a'ter me. I look on
it as dreadful hard and oppressive that the Littlepages should refuse to
let us have the place, seein' that I have worked it now for the tarm of
three whull lives."
"Und dey agreet dat dey might sell you de farm, when dem dree lifes wast
up?"
"No, not in downright language they didn't, as I must allow. In the way
of bargain, I must own the advantage is altogether on the side of
Littlepage. That was his grand'ther's act; and if you wun't drive quite
so fast, as I'm getting a little out of wind, I'll tell you all about
it. That is just what we complain on; the bargain being so much in his
favor. Now my lives _have_ hung on desp'rately, haven't they,
Shabbakuk?" appealing to Tubbs. "It's every hour of forty-five years
sin' I tuck that lease, and one life, that of my old woman, is still in
bein', as they call it, though it's a sort of bein' that a body might as
well not have as have. She can't stand it a great while longer, and then
that farm that I set so much store by, out of which I've made my
livelihood most of my life, and on which I've brought up fourteen
children, will go out of my hands to enrich Hugh Littlepage, who's got
so much now he can't spend it at hum like honest folks, but must go
abroad, to waste it in riotous living, as they tell us. Yes, onless the
Governor and the Legislature helps me out of my difficulty, I don't see
but Hugh Littlepage must get it all, making the 'rich richer, and the
poor poorer.'"
"Und vhy must dis cruel ding come to pass? Vhy might not mans keep his
own in Ameriky?"
"That's jest it, you see. It isn't my own, in law, only by natur', like,
and the 'speret of the institutions,' as they call it. I'm sure I don't
kear much how I get it, so it only comes. If the Governor can only make
the landlords sell, or even give away, he may sartainly count on my
support providin' they don't put the prices too high. I hate high
prices, which is onsuitable to a free country."
"Fery drue. I sooppose your lease might gif you dat farm quite
reasonaple, as it might be mate so long ago?"
"Only two shillings the acre," answered the old fellow, with a knowing
look, which as much as boasted of the capital bargain he had in the
affair, "or twenty-five dollars a year for a hundred acres. That's no
great matter, I'm ready to allow; but my lives havin' held on so
desp'rately, until land's got up to forty dollars an acre about here, I
can't no more expect sich another lay than I can expect to go to
Congress. I can rent that place, to-morrow mornin', for $150 of as good
money as any man can pay."
"Und how much might you expect 'Squire Littlepage woult ask on a new
lease?"
"Some think as much as $62.50; though other some think he would let it
go to _me_ for $50, for three lives longer. The old gin'ral told me when
he signed the lease that I was gettin' a bargain, 'but, niver mind,'
said he, 'if I give you good tarms, you'll make the better tenant, and I
look to posterity and their benefit as much as I do to my own. If I
don't get the advantage I might,' says he, 'my children, or my
children's children, will. A man musn't altogether live for himself in
this world, especially if he has children.' Them was good idees, wasn't
they?"
"You might not dink differently. Und, how moch woult you love to bay for
a deet of de farm?"
"Wa-a-l, there's differences of opinion on that subject. The most
approved notion is, that Hugh Littlepage ought to be made to give
warrantees, with full covenants, as it's called; and covenants is all in
all, in a deed, you know----"
"But might not be in a lease?" put in uncle Ro, somewhat dryly.
"That depinds--but some say them deeds ought to be given, if the tenants
allow the landlords the worth of the land when the patentee got it, and
interest down to the present day. It does not seem a desp'rate price to
pay for land, to give principal and interest, and to throw in all that
has been paid beside?"
"Haf you made a calculation, to see vhat it might come to?"
"Shabbakuk has; tell the gentleman, Shabbakuk, how much you made it come
to, the acre."
Shabbakuk was a far deeper rogue than his neighbor, Holmes. The last was
merely a man of selfish and narrow views, who, from passing a long life
with no other object before him than that of scraping together property,
had got his mind completely ensnared in the meshes of this world's net;
whereas, his companion took the _initiative_, as the French have it, in
knavery, and not only carried out, but invented the schemes of the
wicked. He clearly did not like this appeal to his arithmetic, but
having no suspicion to whom he was talking, and fancying every man in
the lower conditions of life must be an ally in a plan to make the "rich
poorer, and the poor richer," he was a little more communicative than
might otherwise have been the case. After reflecting a moment, he gave
us his answer, reading from a paper in his hand, on which the whole sum
had been elaborately worked for the occasion of the late meeting.
"The land was worth ten cents an acre, maybe, when the first Littlepage
got it, and that is a liberal price. Now that was eighty years since,
for we don't count old Herman Mordaunt's time as anything; seeing that
the land was worth next to nothin' in his time. The interest on ten
cents at seven per cent, is seven mills a year, or five hundred and
sixty mills for eighty years. This is without compound; compound being
unlawful, and nothin' agin law should be taken into the account. Add the
ten cents to the five hundred and sixty mills, and you get six hundred
and sixty mills, or sixty-six cents. Now this sum, or a sum calculated
on the same principles, all the tenants are willing to pay for their
farms,[27] and if justice prevails they will get 'em."
[Footnote 27: In order that the reader may understand Mr. Hugh
Littlepage is not inventing, I will add that propositions still more
extravagant than these, have been openly circulated among the
anti-renters, up and down the country.--EDITOR.]
"Dat seems but little to bay for landt dat might now rent for a dollar
an acre each year."
"You forgit that the Littlepages have had the rent these eighty years,
the whull time."
"Und de denants haf hat de farms dese eighty years, de whole time, too."
"Oh! we put the land ag'in the work. If my neighbor, Holmes, here, has
had his farm forty-five years, so the farm has had his work forty-five
years, as an offset. You may depind on't, the Governor and the
Legislature understand all that."
"If dey does," answered Uncle Ro, whipping his horse into a trot, "dey
must be fit for deir high stations. It is goot for a country to haf
great governors, and great legisladors. _Guten Tag._"
Away he went, leaving neighbor Holmes, Shabbakuk Tubbs, the Governor and
Legislature, with their joint morals, wisdom, logic, and philosophy, in
the highway together. My uncle Ro shook his head, and then he laughed,
as the absurdity of what had just passed forced itself on his
imagination.
I dare say many may be found, who have openly professed principles and
opinions identical, in substance, with what has just been related here,
who will be disposed to deny them, when they are thrown into their
faces. There is nothing unusual in men's refusing to recognize their own
children, when they are ashamed of the circumstances that brought them
into being. But, in the course of this controversy, I have often heard
arguments in discourse, and have often read them in the journals, as
they have been put into the mouths of men in authority, and that, too,
in their public communications, which, stripped of their very thin
coverings, are pretty much on the level with those of Holmes and Tubbs.
I am aware that no governor has, _as yet_; alluded to the _hardships_ of
the tenants, under the limited leases, but it would be idle to deny that
the door has been opened to principles, or want of principles, that must
sweep away all such property in the current of reckless popular clamor,
unless the evil be soon arrested. I say _evil_, for it must prove a
curse to any community to break down the securities of property, as it
is held in what has hitherto been thought its most secure form, and,
what is of still more importance in a moral point of view, all to
appease the cravings of cupidity, as they are exhibited in the masses.
We were soon out of sight of Holmes and Tubbs, and in the woods. I
confess that I expected each instant to overtake Hall in the hands of
the Injins; for the movement among that class of persons had appeared to
me as one directed particularly against him. We saw nothing of the sort,
however, and had nearly reached the northern limits of the bit of
forest, when we came in sight of the two wagons which had been so
cavalierly taken possession of, and of the two horses ridden by the
mounted men. The whole were drawn up on one side of the highway, under
the charge of a single Injin, in a manner to announce that we were
approaching a point of some interest.
My uncle and myself fully expected to be again stopped, as we drove up
to the place just mentioned; not only was the track of the road left
clear, however, but we were suffered to pass without a question. All the
horses had been in a lather, as if driven very hard; though, otherwise,
there was nothing to indicate trouble, if we except the presence of the
solitary sentinel. From this fellow neither signs nor order molested us;
but on we went at Tom Miller's horse's favorite amble, until we were so
near the verge of the wood, as to get a view into the open fields
beyond. Here, indeed, we obtained a sight of certain movements that, I
confess, gave me some little concern.
Among the bushes that lined the highway, and which have been already
mentioned, I got a glimpse of several of the "disguised and armed," who
were evidently lying in ambush. Their number might have been twenty in
all, and it was now sufficiently apparent that those who had pressed the
wagons had been hurrying forward to re-enforce their party. At this
point, I felt quite certain we should be stopped; but we were not. We
were suffered to pass without question, as we had just passed the wagons
and horses, though it must have been known to the party that we were
fully aware of their presence at that particular spot. But on we went,
and were soon, unmolested, in the open country.
It was not long, however, before the mystery was explained. A road
descended from the higher ground, which lay to the westward of us, a
little on our left, and a party of men was coming down it, at a quick
walk, which, at the first glance, I mistook for a detachment of the
Injins, but which, at a second look, I ascertained to be composed of
Indians, or real red men. The difference between the two is very great,
as every American will at once admit, though many who read this
manuscript will be obliged to me for an explanation. There is "Indian"
and "Injin." The Injin is a white man, who, bent on an unworthy and
illegal purpose, is obliged to hide his face, and to perform his task in
disguise. The Indian is a red man, who is neither afraid nor ashamed to
show his countenance, equally to friend or enemy. The first is the agent
of designing demagogues, the hireling of a discontented and grasping
spirit, who mocks at truth and right by calling himself one who labors
to carry out "the spirit of those institutions" which he dishonors and
is afraid to trust; while the other serves himself only, and is afraid
of nothing. One is skulking from, and shirking the duties of
civilization, while the other, though a savage, is, at least, true to
his own professions.
There they were, sure enough, a party of some sixteen or eighteen of the
real aborigines. It is not an uncommon thing to meet with an Indian or
two, strolling about the country selling baskets--formerly it was brooms
of birch, but the march of improvement has nearly banished so rude a
manufacture from the country--with a squaw or two in company; but it is
now very unusual to meet a true Indian warrior in the heart of the
State, carrying his rifle and tomahawk, as was the case with all those
who were so swiftly descending the road. My uncle Ro was quite as much
astonished as I was myself; and he pulled up at the junction of the two
highways, in order to await the arrival of the strangers.
"These are real redskins, Hugh--and of a noble tribe," cried my uncle,
as a still nearer approach gave him a better and better view. "Warriors
of the West, out of all question, with one white man in attendance--what
can such a party possibly want at Ravensnest!"
"Perhaps the anti-renters intend to enlarge their plans, and have a
scheme to come out upon us, with an alliance formed with the true sons
of the forest--may they not intend intimidation?"
"Whom could they thus intimidate, but their own wives and children? But,
here they come, in a noble body, and we can speak to them."
There they did come, indeed; seventeen of the finer specimens of the
Redskins, as they are now sometimes seen passing among us in bodies,
moving to or from their distant prairies; for the white man has already
forced the Indian, with the bears, and the elk, and the moose, out of
the forests of America, upon those vast plains.
What is to be the end of the increase of this nation is one of the
mysteries of Divine Providence. If faithful to the right, if _just_, not
in the sense of yielding to the clamors of the many, but in the sense of
good laws, if true to themselves, the people of this republic may laugh
at European interference and European power, when brought to bear on
their home interests, as so much of the lumbering policy of ages no
longer suited to the facts and feelings of our own times, and push on to
the fulfilment of a destiny, which, if carried out on the apparent
designs of the Ruler of the earth, will leave that of all other states
which have preceded us, as much in the shade, as the mountain leaves the
valley. But, it must not be forgotten that the brightest dawns often
usher in the darkest days; that the most brilliant youths frequently
precede manhoods of disappointment and baffled wishes; that even the
professed man of God can fall away from his vows and his faith, and
finish a career that was commenced in virtue and hope, in profligacy and
sin. Nations are no more safe from the influence of temptation than
individuals, and this has a weakness peculiarly its own. Instead of
falling back on its popular principle, in extremities, as its infallible
safeguard, it is precisely in the irresponsible and grasping character
of that principle that its danger is to be apprehended. That principle,
which, kept within the limits of right, is so admirably adapted to
restraining the ordinary workings of cupidity and selfishness, as they
are familiarly seen in narrow governments, when permitted to overrun the
boundaries placed for its control, becomes a torrent that has broken out
of its icy bed, in the spring, and completely defaces all that is
beneficial or lovely, in either nature or art, that may happen to lie in
its course. As yet, the experience of two centuries has offered nothing
so menacing to the future prosperity of this country, as the social
fermentation which is at this moment at work in the State of New York.
On the result of this depends the solution of the all-important
question, whether principles are to rule this republic, or men; and
these last, too, viewed in their most vulgar and repulsive qualities, or
as the mere creatures of self, instead of being the guardians and agents
of that which ought to be. It is owing to this state of things, that we
have already seen a Legislature occupied with discussing the modes of
evading the provisions of its own laws, and men who ought to stand
before the world, stern and uncompromising in their public morals,
manifesting a most pernicious ingenuity in endeavoring to master and
overreach each other in wielding the arts of the demagogue.
As the Indians entered the north and south road, or that in which we had
stopped, the whole party came to a halt, with characteristic courtesy,
as if to meet our wish to speak to them. The foremost of the band, who
was also the oldest, being a man of sixty, if not older, nodded his
head, and uttered the usual conventional salutation of "Sago, sago."
"Sago," said my uncle, and "Sago" put in I.
"How do?" continued the Indian, who we now discovered spoke English.
"What call this country?"
"This is Ravensnest. The village of Little Nest is about a mile and a
half on the other side of that wood."
The Indian now turned, and in his deep guttural tones communicated this
intelligence to his fellows. The information obviously was well
received, which was as much as saying that they had reached the end of
their journey. Some conversation next succeeded, delivered in brief,
sententious remarks, when the old chief again turned to us. I call him
chief, though it was evident that the whole party was composed of
chiefs. This was apparent by their medals, their fine appearance
generally, and by their quiet, dignified, not so say lofty bearing. Each
of them was in a light summer attire, wearing the moccason and leggings,
etc.; the calico shirt, or a thin blanket, that was cast around the
upper part of the person, much as the Roman may be supposed to have worn
his toga; all carrying the rifle, the bright, well-scoured tomahawk, and
the sheathed knife. Each, too, had his horn and his bullet-pouch, and
some of the more youthful were a little elaborate in their ornaments, in
the way of feathers, and such presents as they had received on their
long journey. Not one of them all, however, was painted.
"This Raven-nest, eh?" continued the old chief, speaking directly, but
with sufficient courtesy.
"As I have said. The village lies on the other side of that wood; the
house from which the name is taken is a mile and a half in the other
direction."
This, too, was translated, and a low, but general expression of pleasure
was given.
"Any Injins 'bout here, eh?" demanded the chief, looking so earnestly at
the same time as to surprise us both.
"Yes," answered my uncle. "There _are_ Injins--a party is in the edge of
the woods, there, within thirty rods of you at this moment."
With great rapidity this fact was communicated to the eager listeners,
and there was a sensation in the party, though it was a sensation
betrayed as such feelings are only betrayed among the aborigines of this
part of the world; quietly, reservedly, and with a coldness amounting
nearly to indifference. We were amused, however, at noting how much more
interest this news awakened than would probably have been excited had
these red-men been told a town like London was on the other side of the
wood. As children are known to feel most interest in children, so did
these children of the forest seem to be most alive to an interest in
these unexpected neighbors, brethren of the same habits and race, as
they unquestionably imagined. After some earnest discourse among
themselves, the old chief, whose named turned out to be Prairiefire,
once more addressed himself to us.
"What tribe, eh? Know tribe?"
"They are called Anti rent Injins--a new tribe in this part of the
country, and are not much esteemed."
"Bad Injin, eh?"
"I am afraid so. They are not honest enough to go in paint, but wear
shirts over their faces."
Another long and wondering conference succeeded. It is to be supposed
that such a _tribe_ as that of the Anti-renters was hitherto unknown
among the American savages. The first intelligence of the existence of
such a people would naturally awaken great interest, and we were soon
requested to show them the way to the spot where this unheard of tribe
might be found. This was going somewhat further than my uncle had
anticipated, but he was not a man to beat a retreat when he had once
undertaken an enterprise. After a short deliberation with himself, he
signified his assent; and alighting from our wagon, we fastened Tom
Miller's horse to a stake of one of the fences, and set off, on foot, as
guides to our new brethren, in seeking the great tribe of the
Anti-renters! We had not gone half the distance to the woods before we
met Holmes and Tubbs, who, getting a cast in another wagon, until they
reached the place where their own vehicle was stationed, had recovered
that, and were now on their way home, apprehensive that some new freak
of their great allies might throw them out into the highway again. This
wagon, our own excepted, was the only one that had yet emerged from the
wood, the owners of some twenty others preferring to remain in the
background until the development of the meeting between the tribes
should occur.
"What, in natur', does all this mean?" exclaimed old Holmes, as we
approached him, reining in his horse, for the purposes of a conference.
"Is the governor sending out ra-al Injins ag'in' us, in order to favor
the landlords?"
This was taking a harsh and most uncharitable view of the course of the
governor, for an anti-renter; but that functionary having made the
capital blunder of serving, altogether, neither "God nor Mammon" in this
great question, must expect to take it right and left, as neither God
nor Mammon will be very likely to approve of his course.
"Vell, I don't know," was my uncle's answer. "Dese ist ra-al red-men,
und dem younder ist ra-al Injins, dat's all. Vhat might bring dese
warriors here, joost now, you must ask of demselves, if you wants to
l'arn."
"There can be no harm in asking; I'm no way skeary about redskins,
having seen 'em often, and my father fit 'em in his day, as I've heern
him tell. Sago, sago."
"Sago," answered Prairiefire, with his customary courtesy.
"Where, in natur', do you red-men all come _from_, and where _can_ ye be
goin'?"
It was apparent that Holmes belonged to a school that never hesitated
about putting any question; and that would have an answer, if an answer
was to be got. The old chief had probably met with such pale-faces
before, the untrained American being certainly among the most diligent
of all the human beings of that class. But, on the other hand, the
red-man regards the indulgence of a too eager curiosity as womanish, and
unworthy of the self-command and dignity of a warrior. The betraying of
surprise, and the indulgence of a curiosity fit only for squaws, were
two things that Prairiefire had doubtless been early told were unworthy
of his sex; for to some such in-and-in breeding alone could be referred
the explanation of the circumstance that neither Holmes's manner,
address, nor language, caused in him the least expression of emotion. He
answered the questions, however, and that with a coldness that seemed of
proof.
"Come from setting sun--been to see Great Father, at Washington--go
home," was the sententious reply.
"But how come ye to pass by Ravensnest?--I'm afeared the governor, and
them chaps at Albany, must have a hand in this, Shabbakuk."
What Shabbakuk thought of the "governor, and them chaps at Albany" is
not known, as he did not see fit to make any reply. His ordinary
propensity to meddle was probably awed by the appearance of these real
redskins.
"I say, _why_ do ye come this-a-way?" Holmes continued, repeating his
question. "If you've been to Washington, and found him to hum (Anglice,
'at home'), why didn't ye go back by the way ye come?"
"Come here to find Injin; got no Injin here, eh?"
"Injin? why, of one sort we've got more of the critturs than a body can
very well git along with. Of what color be the Injins you want to find?
Be they of the pale-face natur', or be they red like yourselves?"
"Want to find red-man. He ole, now; like top of dead hemlock, wind blow
t'rough his branches till leaf all fall off."
"By George, Hugh," whispered my uncle, "these redskins are in search of
old Susquesus!" Then entirely forgetting the necessity of maintaining
his broken English in the presence of his two Ravensnest listeners,
Shabbakuk Tubbs in particular, he turned, somewhat inconsiderately for
one of his years, to the Prairiefire, and hastily remarked--
"I can help you in your search. You are looking for a warrior of the
Onondagoes; one who left his tribe a hundred summers ago, a red-man of
great renown for finding his path in the forest, and who would never
taste fire-water. His name is Susquesus."
Until this moment, the only white man who was in company with this
strange party--strange at least in our portion of the State of New York,
though common enough, perhaps, on the great thoroughfares of the
country--broke silence. This man was an ordinary interpreter, who had
been sent with the party in case of necessity; but being little more
acquainted with the ways of civilization than those whom he was to
guide, he had prudently held his tongue until he saw that he might be of
some use. We afterward learned that the subagent who had accompanied the
chiefs to Washington, had profited by the wish of the Indians to pay
their passing homage to the "Withered Hemlock, that still stands," as
they poetically called Susquesus in their own dialects--for Indians of
several tribes were present--to pay a visit to his own relatives in
Massachusetts, his presence not being deemed necessary in such a purely
pious pilgrimage.
"You're right," observed the interpreter. "These chiefs have not come to
look up any _tribe_, but there are two of the ancient Onondagoes among
them, and their traditions tell of a chief, called Susquesus, that has
outlived everything but tradition; who left his own people long, long
ago, and who left a great name behind him for vartue, and that is a
thing a redskin never forgets."
"And all these warriors have come fifty miles out of their way, to pay
this homage to Susquesus?"
"Such has been their wish, and I asked permission of the Bureau at
Washington, to permit them to come. It costs Uncle Sam $50 or a $100
more than it otherwise might, but such a visit will do all the warriors
of the West a million of dollars of good; no men honor right and justice
more than redskins, though it's in their own fashion."
"I am sure Uncle Sam has acted no more than righteously, as I hope he
always may act as respects these people. Susquesus is an old friend of
mine, and I will lead you to him."
"And who in natur' be _you_?" demanded Holmes, his curiosity starting
off on a new track.
"Who am I?--You shall know who I am," answered uncle Ro, removing his
wig, an action that I imitated on the spot--"I am Roger Littlepage, the
late trustee of this estate, and this is Hugh Littlepage, its owner."
Old Holmes was good pluck in most matters; of far better stuff at the
bottom, than the sneaking, snivelling, prating demagogue at his side;
but by this discovery he was dumfounded! He looked at my uncle, then he
looked at me; after which, he fastened a distressed and inquiring gaze
on Shabbakuk. As for the Indians, notwithstanding their habitual
self-command, a common "hugh!" was uttered among them, when they saw two
men, as it might be, thus scalping themselves. Uncle Ro was excited, and
his manner was, in the last degree, theatrical, as with one hand he
removed his cap, and with the other his wig; holding the last, with an
extended arm, in the direction of the Indians. As a red-man is rarely
guilty of any act of rudeness, unless he means to play the brute in good
earnest, it is possible that the Chippewa toward whom the hand which
held the wig was extended, mistook the attitude for an invitation to
examine that curious article, for himself. It is certain he gently
forced it from my uncle's grasp, and, in the twinkling of an eye, all
the savages were gathered round it, uttering many but low and guarded
expressions of surprise. Those men were all chiefs, and they restrained
their astonishment at this point. Had there been any of the ignoble
vulgar among them, there is little doubt that the wig would have passed
from hand to hand, and been fitted to a dozen heads, already shaved to
receive it.