Bartlett High School - Chronicle Yearbook (Webster, MA)

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Affm-! I ide Weamtltgitatilt 19 3 41311-ltrteirhuerae PAYNE HENRIES The Last of the Nipmucks ,HE Nipmuck Indians were a tribe less savage than other-3. They proved themselves willing and eager to learn, welcoming the teachers of the white I man's God. John Elliot, a famous missionary, was an honorary member of Mbwjgl the tribe. In 1862, in a Nipmuck settlement in Quadlek, Rhode Island, a. batby boy was born to an Indian family known as Heuries. By his parents he was named Payne. Today the Nipmuck tribe has a lone survivor, none other than this same Payne Henries. As a child Payne, with his people, roamed the lands of southern Massachusetts, which were then less densely populate-d than they are today. The shores of Webster Lake, still known to many as Charge.ggagoggm,a.nlchaugagoggtchaubunagungamaug, made an ideal camping ground. Hunting and flushing pr-oved both business and sport for these few red men who still lived on in a world which was fast losing the natural beauties which had once delighted them. Did this boy, true to the spirit of his ancestors, thrill at his first hunting excursion? Did he, too, love to hear the stories of his tribe when, in Long ago days, they had donned paint and feathers to go on the warpath? Early in life Payne learned the lore of the woods, the spell of nature. 'The older -folk of the tribe taught him all that he needed to know in order to live hap- pily out-of-doors. But the law of the white man's society had its word, and accord-

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f-17-I tri? -3, ilibancriisiiscircir IQ 3 flgnnoniene fi . Chatanook QXJHN a land of gently rolling hills, of softly undulating valleys is a beautiful lake. if Tl1ree leagues in length and as wide as the distance that a swift runner may ill cover in one hour, this lake, whose name is Chargoggagoggumanchuggagogg- ,ees chaubunagungamaug, was once the peaceful meeting place of three great tribes: the Mo-hegaus, the Nipmucks, and the Narraganse-tts. These thfree powerfull nations came to the fair lake when the y-.Jung corn, newly risen above the ground, rustle-cl in the 'soft breezes of the day. There for two moons these tribes, which duning the rest of the year had each gone their .scepafrate way, fish-ed and rested, awaiting the ripening of the co-rn. These were dvay-sv of contentment for the warrior well as for the squaw. The first dreamed of his future conlqnestsg the latter, unhn-rried, her tasks lightened, had time to babble laughingly wlith he-r friends. Among the great 'Mohegan tribe were many tried and valorous warriorsg but on-e there was who, in his many erincvouirt-e'1':i, had always proved the vic-tor. Should a warrior throw the tom-ahawk, his thlrow and speed were lgrealterg slhoiuld a warrior of the tribe circle the lake in less time than that of the former runner, still would he, starting at the same momeinnt, arrive before this other, coulid a warrior place his arrow through a leaf, he would cut the stem. Far and wi-de among these tribes was the fame of Chatanook known, for such was the warrior's name. He was tall and lithe, his body o-f red-bronze hue. The bravery of Chatanook, his courage and daring, made of him a natural leaderg and after the de-ath of the Chief Hibawan, the tribe name-d him their rulefr. H-e lo-ved. the shores of the great lake, its silvery slheet reflectinlg the moon, the softly waving trees. The mysteries of the night enthralled him, for he knew that the attendant spirits 'were those watching o11t for his people. An-d there, musing by the shore off the .great lake with its three sheets of water, there came a d-reafm to Chatanook. This, great lake had once been three separate bo-diies cf water, but time, witl1 the kindly svpirits, had united them into the great wat-ers so beloved' by hlim and his people. Was it not the will o-f these spirits- that the three tribes who me-t by its shores should become one people? So Chatanook, having had his vision, foresaw reality. He called a counlfil of the tribes, and the great pipe of peace was solemnly smoked. Then srpoke Chatanook to tell them that whuich the spirits had ordained. All liste-ned gravely, and after three sunsets the word wasf spoken. As three lakes hald become -one, so the people of three tribes became one people. Chatanook was still the great chief. He saw the young corn ripen for many slum- mlers. Then, aged, 'he journeyed into the ha-ppy hunting grounds of his fathers. So rulnls tlhe legenfdm of Cha-tanoclk. He lies forgotten, unsung, unknown: .but 'sovmetimes when the corn is gently waving unlder the full moon, his spirit lglldes over the shores of the lake to s-ee that all is well. Jeannette Leboeulf The Lake Tihe bright summer moon Rises: o'er the tall trees, And the soft clear waters Ripple under a cool breeze. On the mossy green banks In t-he silence of the night Trees cast their shadows ln the bright lmoonlight. 'Twas on such an eve, That a young Indian spake, Still be the waters Of the beautiful Lake. Anna Nezuh

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We llliamicrilsrfiirar 19 3 lliriihomieit, it 2. ingly the Indian boy went to school. Later he attended the old Nichols .Academy at Dudley. Were there other Nipmucks there, we wonder, or were his the only small, restless dark eyes of a race not endeared to unattractive books dealng wlith the three R's? Was he the silent, seldom speaking child whom earlier writers present as typical of the Indian, or had a more social life somewhat loosened his tongue? After 1-lenries was graduated from the academy, he followed divers occupations. For a time he worked in the Josiah Perry Mill, located in the town ot that name. Can you visualize an outdoor-loving indian so confined? Perhaps he had just begun to experience the typically American need ot the almighty dollar, Later he worked in a store in East Thompson. Soon afterward he traveled for a short time with a circus. Doubvtless this exhibition of himself, this being stared at as if one were a inonstrosity, soon grew distasteful. After these few worldly pursuits he took up killing hogs, which must have proved more to his liking. For a time he lived with his sister and her husband at Quinebaug. They had become mod-eiriiized, living in a tenement house, following ordinary occupations, rearing their children in the white man's ways. Payne's comment is, My people now all live in big houses and work. That's crazy-to work. Therefore, for many years now, he has made his home in a little shack at Quadick. His time is spent in hunting and iishing, which, although a means of livelihood, still remain his greatest pleasure. Why Should he wo1'k ? He does not crave the luxuries of the twentieth centuryg a comfortable, easy-going lite like that of his forbears is his sole desire, In March he was sent to the Webster District Hospital for onservation, much against his will. There he proved a highly entertaining person, to DHfiGHtS Mid nurses alike. Unfortunately for himself, he could not rest lying in a white bed, having nurses, similarly clad, waiting on him hand and foot. Nor could he eat the dainty food served tc him on a tray. Now he is back at his shack once more, happy to be his own master. Payne is a good story-teller, and his store of tales is rich. He claims that The true name of our lake is Chaubunagungamaug, which was the name of the original Indian village located where VVe.bste1- now stands. One of the stories he tells con- cerns the naming of Brandy Hill. Many years ago a load of that liquor was being drawn up a hill in Thompson. The going was of course slow, and, since a wagon pace is none too smooth at best, a barrel soon fell off. The impact was too great, and the cask broke. rolling down the slope, brandy flowing all the way. Ever since, that hill has been Brandy Hill. Payne Henries is a unique character, one certain to be liked, to be admired by those who come to know him. He is honest, upright, and good-natured. The dignity, the pride, the reticence of his people still cling to him. To us he is the only living representative of the race which long ago inhabited fhe shores of the lake which have since become our home. Eleanor Thompson '32, To the N ipmuck O clever, brawny Nipmuck, How lifelike you will -make Our thirty-three class book, Along with our great lake! Weill write of ancient stories Brought down through the years, Of all your cherished viictoriesg F-or the Nipinucks had no fears. Your lean and rug-ged body Crouched on our new school ring, With bow and arrow handy, Would please most any king. Especially do we thank you For the long but lovely name You gave our lake of deep blue hue, Which has 'brought it nation ifame. Payne Henries alone survives- To keep your history clear. The Blue and the White contrives To keep it forever dear. Helmie Sippola.