Oonomoo the Huron | Page 3

been an Indian, with all the
characteristics of his race--indolent, selfish and savage; and her life
with him had been that of the usual servitude and drudgery.
Accordingly, when she ventured a second time upon the sea of
matrimony, she naturally fell into the same routine of labor, planting
and cultivating what little corn, beans and vegetables were raised for
the family, and doing all the really hard work. Hans Vanderbum
sometimes gathered firewood, and frequently, when the weather was
pleasant, spent hours in fishing. He was an inveterate smoker and
sleeper; and, beyond doubt, was perfectly content in his situation.
Having been taken a prisoner some years before, and adopted into this
branch of the Shawnee tribe, he was offered the hand of
Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock in marriage, and accepted it at
once, totally forgetful of his first love, which had been the beautiful
inmate of the Hunter's Cabin.
Hans Vanderbum sat and gazed at his wife with an admiring eye, as she
busied herself with the preparations of the morning meal. Hoping to
mollify her, he commenced flattering her, speaking in a low tone as if it
were not his wish that she should hear him, but taking good care, at the
same time, that nothing should escape her ears.
"Shplendid figger, Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock has got. No
wonder all te braves of te Shawnee tribe should love her, and dat Hans
Vanderbum gots her at last. Jis' look at dat foot! long and flat like a
board, and she's de same shape all de way down from her head to her
heels. Ishn't dat breakfast ready, my dear wife?"
The wife gave a spiteful nod, and Hans Vanderbum shambled up beside
her, where the food, consisting of meat and a few simple vegetables,
was spread upon a rude table which had no legs. Quanonshet and
Madokawandock were not behind-hand in their movements, and the
whole four fell to with such voracity, that, in a very short time, their
hunger was satisfied.

"Now, you two fellers come out doors and learn your lessons," said the
father, lighting his pipe, and putting on a very stern and dignified look.
The boys tumbled over each other in their eagerness to get into the
open air. Hans followed them, while
Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock busied herself about her household
duties. Quanonshet and Madokawandock rollicked and frisked awhile
before they were "called to order." After repeated commands, they
approached their father, and standing side by side, awaited his
instructions.
Hans Vanderbum had provided himself with a long pole, and stood by
a sandy portion of ground, upon which he had no difficulty in tracing
what letters and characters he wished. With due preparation and
importance he marked out the first letter of the German alphabet, and
then, straightening himself up, demanded in a thundering tone "vot dat
was." His two sons looked mute and dumbfounded. They had not the
remotest idea in the world of its name and significance. For over three
months the patient father had instructed them daily in regard to this
character, and the two together must have repeated it several thousand
times. But, it mattered not; neither had any conception now of it, and
their looks showed such unmistakably to their instructor.
"Dunder and blixen, vot Dutch Indians!" he exclaimed, impatiently.
Repeating its name, he again demanded "vot dat was." This time they
answered readily, and his eyes sparkled with pleasure.
"Shmart boys," said he, approvingly. "You learns well, now. One dese
days--"
Hans Vanderbum's words were cut short by the sudden sharp explosion
of his pipe, the bowl being shattered in a hundred pieces, while nothing
but the stem remained in his mouth.
"Where's mine pipe?" he asked, looking around in the vain hope of
descrying it somewhere upon the ground. Quanonshet and
Madokawandock indulged in one short scream of laughter, then
instantly straightened their faces and looked as meek and innocent as

lambs. Gradually the truth began to work its way into the head of Hans.
Looking sternly at the two, he asked, in a threatening voice:
"Which of you put dat powder in mine meerschaum, eh? which of you
done dat, eh?"
Neither answered, except by hanging their heads and looking at their
bare feet.
"I axes you once more, and dis is de last time."
Each now protested that it was not himself but the other, so that if there
really were but one culprit, Hans had no means of determining. Under
the circumstances, he concluded the safest plan was to believe both
guilty. Accordingly he made a sudden dash and commenced whacking
them soundly with the stick he held in his hand. They yelled, kicked,
and screamed; and squirming themselves loose, scampered quickly
away from their irate instructor.
"Dat meerschaum can't be fixed," he soliloquized, taking the bare stem
out of his