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who am no more than a mouth-piece, and therein not answerable for the sin of
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his words, but he says, as this good woman is getting past the comely age, it
is reasonable for you to tire of such a wife. He therefore tells you to turn
her out of your lodge, and when it is empty he will send his own favourite, or
rather she that was his favourite, the Skipping Fawn, as the Siouxes call
her, to fill her place. You see, neighbour, though the Red-skin is so minded
as to keep your property, he is willing to give you wherewithal to make
yourself some return!
Ishmael listened to these replies to his several demands with that species of
gathering indignation, with which the dullest tempers mount into the most
violent paroxysms of rage. He even affected to laugh at the conceit of
exchanging his long-tried Esther for the more flexible support of the youthful
Tachechana, though his voice was hollow and unnatural in the effort. But
Esther was far from giving the proposal so facetious a reception. Lifting her
voice to its peculiarly audible key, she broke forth, after catching her
breath like one who had been in some imminent danger of strangulation, as
follows--
Hoity-toity; who set an Indian up for a maker and breaker of the rights of
wedded wives! Does he think a woman is a beast of the prairie, that she is to
be chased from a village by dog and gun. Let the bravest squaw of them all
come forth and boast of her doings; can she show such a brood as mine. A
wicked tyrant is that thieving Red-skin, and a bold rogue I warrant me. He
would be captain in-doors as well as out! An honest woman is no better in his
eyes than one of your broomstick jumpers. And you, Ishmael Bush, the father of
seven sons and so many comely daughters, to openyour sinful mouth, except to
curse him! Would ye disgrace colour, and family, and nation, by mixing white
blood with red, and would ye be the parent of a race of mules! The devil has
often tempted you, my man, but never before has he set so cunning a snare as
this. Go back among your children, friend; go, and remember that you are not a
prowling bear, but a Christian man, and thank God that you ar a lawful
husband!
The clamour of Esther was anticipated by the judicious trapper. He had easily
foreseen that her meek temper would overflow at so scandalous a proposal as
repudiation, and he now profited by the tempest, to retire to a place where he
was at least safe from any immediate violence on the part of her less excited,
but certainly more dangerous husband. Ishmael, who had made his demands with a
stout determination to enforce them, was diverted by the windy torrent, like
many a more obstinate husband, from his purpose, and in order to appease a
jealousy, that resembled the fury with which the bear defends her cubs, was
fain to retire to a distance from the lodge, that was known to contain the
unoffending object of the sudden uproar.
Let your copper-coloured minx come forth, and shew her tawney beauty before
the face of a woman who has heard more than one church bell, and seen a power
of real quality, cried Esther, flourishing her hand in triumph, as she drove
Ishmael and Abiram before her, like two truant boys, towards their own
encampment. I warrant me, I warrant me, here is one who would shortly talk
her down! Never think to tarry here, my men; never think to shut an eye in a
camp, through which the devil walks as openly as if he were a gentleman, and
was sure of his welcome. Here, you Abner, Enoch, Jesse, where ar ye gotten
to. Put to, put to; if that weak-minded, soft-feeling man, your father, eats
or drinks again in this neighbourhood, we shall see him poisoned with the
craft of the Red-skins. Not that I care, I, who comes into my place, when it
is once lawfully empty, but, Ishmael, I never thought that you, who have had
one woman with a white skin, would find pleasure in looking on a brazen--ay,
that she is copper ar a fact; you can t deny it, and I warrant me, brazen
enough is she too!
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zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
who am no more than a mouth-piece, and therein not answerable for the sin of
Page 80
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
his words, but he says, as this good woman is getting past the comely age, it
is reasonable for you to tire of such a wife. He therefore tells you to turn
her out of your lodge, and when it is empty he will send his own favourite, or
rather she that was his favourite, the Skipping Fawn, as the Siouxes call
her, to fill her place. You see, neighbour, though the Red-skin is so minded
as to keep your property, he is willing to give you wherewithal to make
yourself some return!
Ishmael listened to these replies to his several demands with that species of
gathering indignation, with which the dullest tempers mount into the most
violent paroxysms of rage. He even affected to laugh at the conceit of
exchanging his long-tried Esther for the more flexible support of the youthful
Tachechana, though his voice was hollow and unnatural in the effort. But
Esther was far from giving the proposal so facetious a reception. Lifting her
voice to its peculiarly audible key, she broke forth, after catching her
breath like one who had been in some imminent danger of strangulation, as
follows--
Hoity-toity; who set an Indian up for a maker and breaker of the rights of
wedded wives! Does he think a woman is a beast of the prairie, that she is to
be chased from a village by dog and gun. Let the bravest squaw of them all
come forth and boast of her doings; can she show such a brood as mine. A
wicked tyrant is that thieving Red-skin, and a bold rogue I warrant me. He
would be captain in-doors as well as out! An honest woman is no better in his
eyes than one of your broomstick jumpers. And you, Ishmael Bush, the father of
seven sons and so many comely daughters, to openyour sinful mouth, except to
curse him! Would ye disgrace colour, and family, and nation, by mixing white
blood with red, and would ye be the parent of a race of mules! The devil has
often tempted you, my man, but never before has he set so cunning a snare as
this. Go back among your children, friend; go, and remember that you are not a
prowling bear, but a Christian man, and thank God that you ar a lawful
husband!
The clamour of Esther was anticipated by the judicious trapper. He had easily
foreseen that her meek temper would overflow at so scandalous a proposal as
repudiation, and he now profited by the tempest, to retire to a place where he
was at least safe from any immediate violence on the part of her less excited,
but certainly more dangerous husband. Ishmael, who had made his demands with a
stout determination to enforce them, was diverted by the windy torrent, like
many a more obstinate husband, from his purpose, and in order to appease a
jealousy, that resembled the fury with which the bear defends her cubs, was
fain to retire to a distance from the lodge, that was known to contain the
unoffending object of the sudden uproar.
Let your copper-coloured minx come forth, and shew her tawney beauty before
the face of a woman who has heard more than one church bell, and seen a power
of real quality, cried Esther, flourishing her hand in triumph, as she drove
Ishmael and Abiram before her, like two truant boys, towards their own
encampment. I warrant me, I warrant me, here is one who would shortly talk
her down! Never think to tarry here, my men; never think to shut an eye in a
camp, through which the devil walks as openly as if he were a gentleman, and
was sure of his welcome. Here, you Abner, Enoch, Jesse, where ar ye gotten
to. Put to, put to; if that weak-minded, soft-feeling man, your father, eats
or drinks again in this neighbourhood, we shall see him poisoned with the
craft of the Red-skins. Not that I care, I, who comes into my place, when it
is once lawfully empty, but, Ishmael, I never thought that you, who have had
one woman with a white skin, would find pleasure in looking on a brazen--ay,
that she is copper ar a fact; you can t deny it, and I warrant me, brazen
enough is she too!
Page 81
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]