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324  THE GOOD OLD INDIAN.

THE GOOD OLD INDIAN.

CAPTAIN James Smith relates, that he was taken prisoner by the Indians in the year 1755, and lived several years among them.  At one time, he lived with an old man named Tecaughretanego, and his little son, Nunganny; they were quite alone, and there were not any inhabitants for many miles around.  The old man was too lame to go out a hunting; it was winter; they had no victuals; the snow was on the ground, and so frozen, as to make a great noise when walked on, which frightened away the deer, and the captain could not shoot any thing for some time.
2. He says, "After I had hunted two days without eating any thing, and had very short allowance for some days before, I returned late in the evening, faint and weary.  When I came into our hut, the old man asked what success.  I told him not any.  He asked me if I was not very hungry.  I replied, that the keen appetite seemed in some measure abated, but I was both faint and weary.
3. "He commanded his little son to bring me something to eat; and he brought be a kettle with some bones and broth.  After eating a few mouthfuls, my appetite violently returned, and I thought the victuals had a most agreeable relish, though it was only fox and wildcat bones, which lay about 

THE GOOD OLD INDIAN.  325

the ground, which the ravens and turkey buzzards had picked; these Nunganny had collected, and boiled until the sinews that remained on them would strip off.  I speedily finished my allowance; and when I had ended my sweet repast, the old man asked me how I felt.  I told him I was much refreshed.
4. "He then handed me his pipe and pouch, and told me to take a good smoke.  I did so.  He then said he had something of importance to tell me, if I was now composed and ready to hear it.  I told him I was ready to hear him.  He said, 'The reason why I deferred my speech till now, is, because few men are in a right humor to hear good talk when they are very hungry, as they are then generally fretful and discomposed; but as you now appear to enjoy calmness and serenity of mind, I will communicate to you the thoughts of my heart, and those things I know to be true.
5. "'Brother, as you have lived with the white people, you have not had the same advantage of knowing that the great Being above feeds his people, and gives them their meat in due season, as we Indians have, who are frequently out of provisions, and yet are wonderfully supplied, and that so frequently, that it is evidently the hand of the Great Spirit that does this; whereas, the white people have commonly large stocks of tame cattle, that they can kill when they please; and they also have barns and cribs, filled with grain, and there-
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Transcription Notes:
Another word hyphenated between pages. Unsure about using it here. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-21 02:08:50