A Remarkable Experience

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A Remarkable Experience (A True Story)

By Marie Fowler (Age 12) (Silver Badge)

[This contribution, republished from the January, 1921, St. Nicholas, in the Improvement Era, by special permission of the Century Company, was written by the grand-daughter of Mr. Alfred Lambourne, the lady referred to being his deceased wife. Editors.]

"Oh Grandma! where did you get that silver thimble, and why has it a hole in it?" asked curious little Virginia. "It's a strange story, dear," answered Grandma. "Tell it, please." "Well," said Grandma, "a long time ago, in 1860, I came to the West from Iowa with my parents and a company of friends. I was sixteen then and had very long, yellow hair, which I wore in two braids. There were no trains then, and we traveled with ox-teams. It was a long journey and took many weeks. We passed great herds of buffalo and many deer and elk. Sometimes we would see roving bands of Indians in the distance. One day we met a band of them, with their brilliant feathers and painted faces. When the chief saw my long yellow hair, he immediately wanted to buy me. He offered twenty-five ponies to my father. But of course he was refused. He came back the next day and offered thirty ponies, but again he was refused. For almost a week the Indians followed us, and the chief would come every day offering more and more ponies, until he had offered fifty. Finally, the people of our company became frightened. They feared the Indians would attack them and perhaps kill some of them and carry me off. So, wisely, my mother cut off my hair and gave it to the chief. In return, he gave me this little thimble from a string of them he wore around his neck." Virginia heaved a great sigh and exclaimed, "That surely was a remarkable experience!"