Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/270

 262 T. W. DAVENPORT. "It is the boogaboo,." lie simpered. "There are no boogaboos. Did you ever see a boogaboo?" "No." "Well, nobody ever saw a boogaboo. There is nothing to hurt you and a cayote would run away from you. You are no coward and not afraid of anything. If you are afraid some- thing will catch you, stand still and say, * Come on, ' and you will stand there until you are gray-headed unharmed. Now, go for the sheep and don 't come back without them if it takes all night." He went and returned with them in an hour. After he had gone, my wife chided me for cruelty in forc- ing the little fellow to endure such punishment and put the question to me squarely how I would relish such treatment of my boy. "That is a very different case. Charlie is not imaginative and sensitive like most white children ; he will not be injured. ' ' When Charlie entered the house after his return, his dark eyes shone with a light never seen before; and he had tEe step and visage of a conqueror. "Charlie, you will sleep better than you would if you had gone to bed without securing the sheep. ' ' One day a peddler came to our home and unrolled his pack for trade. There were pocket knives, pistols that shone with fine mountings, watches of gold and silver, pins, needles, ribbons, etc. TJie children had never seen such a dazzling display. Especially was Charlie intent upon viewing the outfit. I said: "Charlie, look over this man's goods, and pick out one article, only one, and I will buy it for you." My wife whispered, "There is a gold watch for which he asks a hundred dollars, and we can't afford to buy that for him, and you must not deceive him." "Never fear, I know what I am saying," and I repeated the offer. "Charlie, look well to the goods, pistols, knives, watches, and pick out one article that you prefer and I will buy it for you. ' '