One of
the chiefs shed tears at the news; all seemed serious; but the others
suppressed their feelings, and spent a few moments in very earnest
conversation, the result of which Red Jacket announced to us. They had
determined to return at once to their village; but consented to leave Red
Jacket and his interpreter. In vain were they urged to wait until after
dinner, or to refresh themselves with something eaten by the way. With
hurried farewell and quick steps they left the house, and by the nearest
footpath returned home.
"This occurrence relieved me of one difficulty. It enabled me to see Red
Jacket at leisure and alone. It seemed also to soften his feelings, and
make him more affable and kind.
"Soon after the departure of the chiefs, we were ushered to dinner. Red
Jacket behaved with great propriety, in all respects; his interpreter,
Major Berry, though half a white man and perhaps a chief, eat like a true
savage. After a few awkward attempts at the knife and fork, he found
himself falling behind, and repeating the old adage which is often quoted
to cover the same style among our white urchins of picking a chicken-bone,
'_that fingers were made before knives and forks_,' he proceeded with
real gusto, and much good humor, to make up his lost time upon all parts
of the dinner. It being over, I invited Red Jacket into the general's
office, where we had, for four hours a most interesting conversation on a
variety of topics, but chiefly connected with Christianity; the government
of the United States; the missionaries; and his loved lands.
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