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Show 380 AU'l'OHIOG RAPHY O.F ed of dressed antelope, deer, and the skins of mountain sheep, highly ornamented by my Indian wives. J\1y long hair, as black as the raven's wing, descended to my hips, and I presented more the appearance of a Crow than that of a civilized being. She ga~ed at me for a moment with a searching look, and then exclaiming, "My God, it is my brother!" she flew into my arms, and was for some time unable to speak. At length she said, "We received a letter informing us of your death, and that Mr. Tulleck had seen you borne into Fort Cass dead." My elder sister, Matilda, was up stairs, entertaining a few female friends, and Lou bounded up stairs to acquaint her that her brother James wished to speak to her. Thinking her to be jesting, she said, "Are you not ashamed of yourself to jest on such a subject?" and she slwd tears at thus having me recalled to remembrance. Louise asseverated her earnestness, and Matilda reproved her for her wantonness, but would not budge to go and see for herself. At length a Mrs. LeFevre said, " Matilda, I believe she is in earnest, and if you do not go and see, I will." She had been a child with me, and we used to repeat our catechism together ; now she was married, and the mother of several children. She came tripping down stairs into my sister's apartment, making a ceremonious courtesy as she entered. My sister introduced her to me, asking me if I did not recollect my commere (for we were baptized together). I had forgotten her, but the mention of this circumstance recalled her to my mind, and there was another em bracing. JAMES P. BECKWOUl-<.'l'H. 381 Her faith being thus confirmed, my sister Matilda was called down, and my reception from her was even more cordial than from the preceding friends. She was a woman of great warmth of feeling, and her heart was full to overflowing with the emotions my name had called up. She was the eldest of the fan1ily, and since our mother's death she had been at once mother and sister to us all. Although I was the vagrant of the family, I still lived in her sisterly heart, and the supposition that my earthly career was closed had only hallowed my memory in her affections. This was my second reception by my relatives after I had been supposed dead. One by my savage friends, who, in welcoming me as their long-lost child, exhibited all the genuine emotions of untutored nature ; and this second by my civilized friends, who, if less energetic in their demonstrations of attachment, showed equal heartfelt joy, equal sincerity, and far superior decorunl. The following morning I visited the company's office and delivered my letters. I became too weak to walk home, and Mr. Chouteau very obligingly drove me back in his caniage. I was compelled to take to my bed, where I was confined for several days, under good medical attendance, and most assiduously attended by 1ny relatives. Their answers to my many inquiries confounded me entirely. '' Where is my father ?" "He went back to Virginia, and died there many years ago." '' Where are my brothers ?" " They are scattered about the country." "Where is such and such a friend?" |
