Savage Ancestors by Leo Chosa & Donald Chosa Jr

Author:Leo Chosa & Donald Chosa Jr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Native American, Voyageur, Boundary Waters, Ojibwe, Minnesota, American Indian, Anishinaabe, Savage, romance
Publisher: Donald Chosa Jr
Published: 2017-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Autumn days were busy days for Paulette and her little band. With her grandparents well housed in one of the many log cabins, the girl settled into the routine activity of the post. Families from far and near arrived hourly for their usual allotment of trade goods. During the autumn season, only essential goods were given out on credit. Not until spring were the Indians allowed to spend small balances for trinkets, after all the debts were paid. Ever mindful of their poverty stricken days at Lake Superior, Paulette searched every habitation within a day’s travel by canoe for the old and helpless. Like a ministering angel, she sought out the aged and orphaned, sending them on to the post for clothing that would protect them against the ravages of the approaching winter.

It was on the return of one of her many errands of mercy, that Pascal approached the girl. “But Madam, we cannot go on giving goods to people who we know can never pay for them, the helplessly old, crippled and very young, that is not good business, it is”

Paulette held up one hand, and the little man, across the long table, sitting atop his high stool glanced uneasily at his Mistress. The girl spoke slowly as though groping for words to express an idea but vaguely formed. “I agree with you, Pascal. One cannot stay in business long if we give away the stock we have, and, and, when we are through, the Natives will also lose, including the old and sick. Surely there must be some way to help them and stay in the trade.” The girl turned slightly and glanced up at the portrait that seemed to smile down upon her. “You told me once, Mon Ami, that in the France you came from, it was not wrong to take things not yours if taken by force, if that force is represented by a King or someone like, let us say, anyone with authority whose orders must be obeyed...is that not right?”

Pascal nodded vigorously, the tips of his long beard spreading out in rapid succession over the table top at each nod. “Yes, Madam, that is the custom and a very good custom it is too.”

“All right then. Now I, Paulette, am the power or force here. I believe that the strong and able should help care for the less fortunate of the tribe, so you will take the accounts of those unable to pay and divide them equally among those that are. There are many among our Indians who do little else through the summer than boast of being the mighty hunters, to them will be added the bigger share. Those are my orders, Pascal. You will see that they are carried out...and Pascal, we will keep this to ourselves. If our people knew, there are many who might not understand and think that we are not honest.”

“God bless you, Madam, I was afraid you were giving away too much...Ah, but now we shall do well.

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