William O Stoddard

The Talking Leaves William O Stoddard

Book Excerpt: ...hat was at once dropped and forgotten. It is a noteworthy custom, but the English have something almost exactly like it. A man in England may be plain Mr. Smith or Mr. Disraeli for ever so many years, and then all of a sudden he becomes Lord So-and-So, and nobody ever speaks of him again by the name he carried when he was a mere "young brave."It is a great mistake to suppose the red men are altogether different from the white. As for Steve, his hair was nearer chestnut than yellow, but it had given him his Indian name; one that would stick to him until, like To-la-go-to-de, he should distinguish himself in battle and win a "war name" of his own. He and Murray, however they might be regarded as members of the tribe and of that war-party, had no rights in the "Council." Only born Lipans could take part in that, except by special invitation. It happened, on the present occasion, that they were both glad of it, for No Tongue had more than usual to say, and Yellow Head was very...