Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/184

 136 H1ST0EY OF GOODHUE COUNTY "In the spring of 1853 I farmed the old Indian cornfield. The crop was oats, corn, seven acres of potatoes, six of rutabagas, turnips, pumpkins, cabbages, beans, etc., all of which yielded largely. In the fall I needed help to secure the corn and potatoes, and there was no other resource than to hire native laborers, the white population of the county not exceeding one hundred souls. The Indian camp was situated on the Mississippi river, near the mouth of the Cannon river. I dug a few rows across the potato patch in order to ascertain what a day's work might be, and found that six rows were a moderate day's labor, but knowing the Indians pretty well I decided to make four the standard. This done, I sent word to the camp that twenty women were wanted to help me, who should receive a barrel of potatoes for every four times they dug across the field. The next morning found me at the patch, but 9 o'clock arrived before they came. At last thirteen women hove in sight, accompanied by about two dozen dogs, a like number of children, several camp kettles, sack straps and hoes. In a short time the business preliminaries were adjusted by the high contracting parties. Among the operatives were the Princess Royal Lucy and her niece, Weenona. "About 11 o'clock, after working about an hour and a half, the workers stopped work and held a short council, and I was soon informed of the result of their deliberations, which was nothing less than that I should get dinner for them. I refused to cook for such a crowd, but we finally compromised by my furnishing pork and bread. Vegetables were close at hand. A note was written to my wife on a white basswood chip, desiring her to let the bearer have eight pounds of pork and all the bread she could spare. The messenger ran off on the errand like a deer, while an old squaw rigged three tripods for camp kettles, washed potatoes and turnips, and cut up cabbages and pumpkins ; then when the pork arrived it was all dumped into the kettles together. When it was cooked it was sufficient for a company of infantry who had been on a short allowance of hard tack, but it all dis- appeared under the united efforts of women, children and dogs. At the close of the day all received their wages — two women having accomplished eight rows each, each of them receiving two barrels, which they all took home with them, promising to return the next day. "The next morning thirty-two squaws appeared, with the usual accompaniment, and the same number continued until the field was finished. When the last round was dug we were all grouped together on a slope between Main and Third streets, and women talking and joking. Lucy stepped up to me and said r. 'Pezuta-wichasta. do you know the reason why you have not