A Home in the West: Or, Emigration and Its Consequences

CHAPTER III. Fair Prospects—Indians—A Sad Story.

CHAPTER III Fair Prospects—Indians—A Sad Story. A pleasant little village in Iowa—Newburg by name—was the anticipated residence of Judson. Though its location dated but three years into the past, it was fast becoming a beautiful and desirable situation for settlers of all pursuits in life. Neat cottages and tasteful yards and gardens were daily increasing, many of them owned by men who had never before possessed homes. Walter noted many evidences of thrift and successful enterprise, and that upon almost every face there was a look of hopeful energy; and the joyous contagion spread to his own heart. It was as if a new life had been given him. The darkness, care and disappointment of the past were all forgotten in the anticipation of future success. Certainly Newburg was very unlike the slumberous, quiet villages at the east of its own size, for the constant influx of emigration kept up the most lively, business-like air imaginable. Work was plenty, and Walter was soon engaged at good wages by a carpenter who had contracted for a large amount of work. A small house was rented, some plain furniture bought, and soon they were once more settled at housekeeping, and with fair prospects for the future. Hope made those prospects almost certainties, and their first letters home contained glowing, but not really exaggerated, accounts of their new and beautiful home. It was a quiet, balmy afternoon in May. The wild flowers were blooming in profusion on every spot of unoccupied ground, and birds and bees were busy among them. Annie, with little Fred in her arms, strolled out of the precincts of the little village towards the green, flower-gemmed prairie. Scarcely out of sight of home, she came in view of two wigwams or Indian huts. Fires were burning before them, and some squaws and Indian children were busy about the fires, while near by several men were sitting or lying upon the ground, with all the appearance of stoical indifference so peculiar to the race. Annie started with surprise, and turned to retrace her steps. Then remembering that if dangerous or troublesome they would not be allowed to encamp so near the town, she turned back in curiosity, and 50 resolved to visit them. She had never before seen an Indian, but fear was no part of her nature. So with the babe in her arms she walked up to the group around the first fire. The eldest squaw looked up with a smile—it was not unusual for the whites to visit them out of curiosity. “White squaw want basket?” she said, producing some of beautiful workmanship. Annie admired them, purchased one of the smallest for Master Fred’s amusement, and essayed to converse with them. “Indian live here always?” she asked, trying to imitate the style of their sentences. “No, come down the river in canoe last night;— got fish, duck, berry, basket for pale face. Indian want blanket, tobacco, money.” She spoke in her own language to the other women, and they soon surrounded her with their articles of merchandise. “I do not want to buy, I came to talk,” said Annie. “John Shango, he talk. Squaw, she work: cook meat and corn. Talk to Shango,” and she pointed to a tall, middle-aged Indian on the ground. He rose to a sitting posture and looked at Annie quietly for some time. 51 “Give white papoose to me,” he said, reaching for the babe. Annie hesitated a moment, and then placed her boy in his arms. His fair, soft skin, blue eyes and pretty embroidered dress, contrasted strangely with the dark-skinned, fierce looking red man. “Pretty boy; got big eye. Pale face papoose very nice. Grow up big; be great man, know long word; talk paper talk. Indian papoose know nothing; no good; fish, hunt, make basket. White papoose all good; get all Indian have.” “The Indian papoose must learn long words and paper talk and be like white man,” said Annie. “No, no,” and he shook his head emphatically. “White man house too big—school too many. White man want land. Red man go ’way West. The sun is our father. We go where he sleeps.” Twilight was coming on, and Annie held out her arms for the babe. He gave it to her, and rising walked by her side a few paces, then returned to his...