THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

An Indian Story.

x THE early settlement of this coun-
try a strange Indian arrived at an
‘nn in Litchfield, Connecticut, and
asked for something to eat; at the
same time saying that, as he had been
unsuccessful in hunting, he had nothing
to pay. The woman who kept the inn,
not only refused his reasonable request,
but called him hard names. But a man
who sat by, seeing that the Indian was
_ suffering for want of food, told her to
give him what he wanted at his expense.
When the Indian had finished his supper,
he thanked the man, and assured him
that he should be faithfully recompensed,
whenever it was in his power.

Some years after this, the man had
occasion to go from Litchfield to Albany,
where he was taken prisoner by the
Indians, and carried to Canada. Some

of them proposed that he should be put
to death; but an old woman demanded

that he should be given to her, that she
might adopt him in place of a son, who
had been killed in the war. This was

done, and he passed the winter in her

family. The next summer, while he was
at work alone in the woods, a strange
Indian came and asked him to go to a
certain place on a given day, which he
agreed to do; though he had some fears
that mischief.was intended. His fears
increased, and his promise was broken.
But the Indian came again and renewed
the request. The man made another
engagement, and kept his word. On
reaching the spot, he found the Indian
provided with ammunition, two muskets,
and two knapsacks. He was ordered to
take one of each; which he did, and fol-
lowed his conductor. In the day-time,

field !”
mind the scene at the inn, and bidding
him farewell, exclaimed, “I am that In-

 

 

67

they shot the game that came in their
way, and at night, they kindled a fire
and slept by it. But the Indian ob-
served a mysterious silence as to the
object of their expedition. After travel-
ing in this manner many days, they came
to the top of a mountain, from which
they saw a number of houses in the
midst of a cultivated country. The In-
dian asked him if he knew the ground,

and he eagerly answered, “It is Litch-
The Indian then recalled to his

dian! Now I pray you go home.”

Politeness.

rv. Dr. Witherspoon, President of

New Jersey College, once gave

out Politeness, to a division of

one of his classes, as a subject

for composition. The young gentlemen
were delighted with it; and when the
time came for reading, some of them
expatiated upon it largely, learnedly,
and politely. After they had all read,
they waited for the President to sum

up their observations, and then state

his own views. But, he told them, he
should only give them a short definition,
which they might always remember.
« Politeness,” said he, “is real kindness,
kindly expressed.” This is the sum
and substance of all true politeness;
and if my readers will put it in’ prac-

tice, they will be surprised to see how ©

everybody will be charmed with their
manners.

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