Viewing page 327 of 485

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[preprinted]] 328 [[/preprinted]]

4

Pardon my adding a paragraph to tell of the remarkable manner in which the fourth of July was observed by a large part of the Indians of this vicinity. The people began to gather a day or two before the fourth, and to erect their awnings and tents in the pine grove about the church. Over 500 were present and the place otherwise so quiet resounded with the laughter and chatter of old & young. The Fourth opened with a religious service held at 6. A.M. under a large awning tied to tall pines. At 8. A.M. the children and their parents all clad in citizens clothes and decked out in their best, gathered in front of the church where on the porch sat the four elders. Some of the boys carried little flags and all joined in a song new to me  the words being 
"We'll stand — Fourth of July"
closing with "Hurrah Fourth of July," all the men removing their hats. As I walked about, I was greeted with a handshake, a nod of the head & smile, and "Fourth of July," much as we say "Happy New Year." Soon a procession was formed, the boys leading and graded as to size, the girls followed arranged in the same manner down to little tots, then came the men, the women bringing up the rear. Their children would [[?]] around also the trees, all singing: "We'll stand Fourth of July"