Note 1386 — Chapter V · (continued 2)

The question has often been discussed as to the origin of the title of “Indian summer,” as applied to a beautiful portion of our autumnal season. Dr. Doddridge gives us an explanation of its original significance, or, at least, of an association with it, which would make a feeling of dread rather than of romance its most striking suggestion. He says that to a backwoodsman the term in its original import would cause a chill of horror. The explanation is as follows: The white settlers on the frontiers found no peace from Indian alarms and onsets save in the winter. From spring to the early part of the autumn, the settlers, cooped up in the forts, or ever at watch in their fields, had no security or comfort. The approach of winter was hailed as a jubilee in cabin and farm, with bustle and hilarity. But after the first set-in of winter aspects came a longer or shorter interval of warm, smoky, hazy weather, which would tempt the Indians—as if a brief return of summer—to renew their incursions on the frontiers. The season, then, was an “Indian summer” only for blood and mischief. So the spell of warm open weather, of melting snows, in the latter part of February—a premature spring—was a period of dread for the frontiersmen. It was called the “pawwawing days,” as the Indians were then holding their incantations and councils for rehearsing for their spring war-parties.