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Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851

"Oak Openings"

Want to be made to mind business. Bye'm by teach him. No l'arn
all at once, like pale-face pappoose in school."
"Pigeonswing, have you never observed the manner in which the white
man treats his squaw?"
"Sartain--see him make much of her--put her in warm corner--wrap
blanket round her--give her venison 'fore he eat himself--see all
dat, often--what den? DAT don't make it right."
"I give you up, Chippewa, and agree with Margery in thinking you
ought not to have a squaw, at all."
"T'ink alike, den--why no get marry?" asked the Indian, without
circumlocution.
Margery's face became red as fire; then her cheeks settled into the
color of roses, and she looked down, embarrassed. The bee-hunter's
admiration was very apparent to the Indian, though the girl did not
dare to raise her eyes from the ground, and so did not take heed of
it. But this gossiping was suddenly brought to an end by a most
unexpected cause of interruption; the manner and form of which it
shall be our office to relate, in the succeeding chapter.


CHAPTER XI.
So should it be--for no heart beats
Within his cold and silent breast;
To him no gentle voice repeats
The soothing words that make us blest.


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