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diff --git a/21244.txt b/21244.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..df1e3f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/21244.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8115 @@ +Project Gutenberg's By Canoe and Dog-Train, by Egerton Ryerson Young + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: By Canoe and Dog-Train + +Author: Egerton Ryerson Young + +Illustrator: Photographs + +Release Date: April 27, 2007 [EBook #21244] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BY CANOE AND DOG-TRAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + + +By Canoe and Dog-Train + +By Egerton Ryerson Young +________________________________________________________________________ + +________________________________________________________________________ + +BY CANOE AND DOG-TRAIN + +BY EGERTON RYERSON YOUNG + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE SUMMONS TO THE INDIAN WORK--THE DECISION--THE VALEDICTORY SERVICES-- +DR. PUNSHON--THE DEPARTURE--LEAVING HAMILTON--ST. CATHERINE'S--MILWAUKEE +CUSTOM-HOUSE DELAYS--MISSISSIPPI--ST. PAUL'S--ON THE PRAIRIES--FRONTIER +SETTLERS--NARROW ESCAPE FROM SHOOTING ONE OF OUR SCHOOL TEACHERS--SIOUX +INDIANS AND THEIR WARS--SAVED BY OUR FLAG--VARIED EXPERIENCES. + +Several letters were handed into my study, where I sat at work among my +books. + +I was then pastor of a Church in the city of Hamilton. Showers of +blessing had been descending upon us, and over a hundred and forty new +members had but recently been received into the Church. I had availed +myself of the Christmas holidays by getting married, and now was back +again with my beloved, when these letters were handed in. With only one +of them have we at present anything to do. As near as I can remember, +it read as follows:-- + + "Mission Rooms, Toronto, 1868. + + "Reverend Egerton R. Young. + + "Dear Brother,--At a large and influential meeting of the Missionary + Committee, held yesterday, it was unanimously decided to ask you to go + as a missionary to the Indian tribes at Norway House, and in the + North-West Territories north of Lake Winnipeg. An early answer + signifying your acceptance of this will much oblige, + + "Yours affectionately, + + "E. Wood, + + "L. Taylor." + +I read the letter, and then handed it, without comment, across the table +to Mrs Young--the bride of but a few days--for her perusal. She read +it over carefully, and then, after a quiet moment, as was quite natural, +asked, "What does this mean?" + +"I can hardly tell," I replied; "but it is evident that it means a good +deal." + +"Have you volunteered to go as a missionary to that far-off land?" she +asked. + +"Why, no. Much as I love, and deeply interested as I have ever been in +the missionary work of our Church, I have not made the first move in +this direction. Years ago I used to think I would love to go to a +foreign field, but lately, as the Lord has been so blessing us here in +the home work, and has given us such a glorious revival, I should have +thought it like running away from duty to have volunteered for any other +field." + +"Well, here is this letter; what are you going to do about it?" + +"That is just what I would like to know," was my answer. + +"There is one thing we can do," she said quietly; and we bowed ourselves +in prayer, and "spread the letter before the Lord," and asked for wisdom +to guide us aright in this important matter which had so suddenly come +upon us, and which, if carried out, would completely change all the +plans and purposes which we, the young married couple, in all the +joyousness of our honeymoon, had just been marking out. We earnestly +prayed for Divine light and guidance to be so clearly revealed that we +could not be mistaken as to our duty. + +As we arose from our knees, I quietly said to Mrs Young, "Have you any +impression on your mind as to our duty in this matter?" + +Her eyes were suffused in tears, but the voice, though low, was firm, as +she replied, "The call has come very unexpectedly, but I think it is +from God, and we will go." + +My Church and its kind officials strongly opposed my leaving them, +especially at such a time as this, when, they said, so many new +converts, through my instrumentality, had been brought into the Church. + +I consulted my beloved ministerial brethren in the city, and with but +one exception the reply was, "Remain at your present station, where God +has so abundantly blessed your labours." The answer of the one brother +who did not join in with the others has never been forgotten. As it may +do good, I will put it on record. When I showed him the letter, and +asked what I should do in reference to it, he, much to my surprise, +became deeply agitated, and wept like a child. When he could control +his emotions, he said, "For my answer let me give you a little of my +history. + +"Years ago, I was very happily situated in the ministry in the Old Land. +I loved my work, my home, and my wife passionately. I had the +confidence and esteem of my people, and thought I was as happy as I +could be this side [of] heaven. One day there came a letter from the +Wesleyan Mission Rooms in London, asking if I would go out as a +missionary to the West Indies. Without consideration, and without +making it a matter of prayer, I at once sent back a positive refusal. + +"From that day," he continued, "everything went wrong with me. Heaven's +smile seemed to have left me. I lost my grip upon my people. My +influence for good over them left me, I could not tell how. My once +happy home was blasted, and in all my trouble I got no sympathy from my +Church or in the community. I had to resign my position, and leave the +place. I fell into darkness, and lost my hold upon God. A few years +ago I came out to this country. God has restored me to the light of His +countenance. The Church has been very sympathetic and indulgent. For +years I have been permitted to labour in her fold, and for this I +rejoice. But," he added, with emphasis, "I long ago came to the resolve +that if ever the Church asked me to go to the West Indies, or to any +other Mission field, I would be careful about sending back an abrupt +refusal." + +I pondered over his words and his experience, and talked about them with +my good wife, and we decided to go. Our loving friends were startled at +our resolve, but soon gave us their benedictions, united to tangible +evidences of their regard. A blessed peace filled our souls, and we +longed to be away and at work in the new field which had so suddenly +opened before us. + + "Yes, we will go. We may no longer doubt + To give up friends, and home, and every tie, + That binds our heart to thee, our country. + Henceforth, then, + It matters not if storms or sunshine be + Our earthly lot, bitter or sweet our cup. + We only pray, God fit us for the work, + God make us holy, and our spirits nerve + For the stern hour of strife. Let us but know + There is an Arm unseen that holds us up, + An Eye that kindly watches all our path, + Till we our weary pilgrimage have done. + Let us but know we have a Friend that waits + To welcome us to glory, and we joy + To tread that drear and northern wilderness." + +The grand valedictory services were held in the old Richmond Street +Church, Toronto, Thursday, May 7th, 1868. The church was crowded, and +the enthusiasm was very great. The honoured President of the Conference +for that year, the Reverend James Elliott, who presided, was the one who +had ordained me a few months before. Many were the speakers. Among +them was the Reverend George McDougall, who already had had a varied +experience of missionary life. He had something to talk about, to which +it was worth listening. The Reverend George Young, also, had much that +was interesting to say, as he was there bidding farewell to his own +Church and to the people, of whom he had long been the beloved pastor. +Dr Punshon, who had just arrived from England, was present, and gave +one of his inimitable magnetic addresses. The memory of his loving, +cheering words abode with us for many a day. + +It was also a great joy to us that my honoured father, the Reverend +William Young, was with us on the platform at this impressive farewell +service. For many years he had been one of that heroic band of pioneer +ministers in Canada who had laid so grandly and well the foundations of +the Church which, with others, had contributed so much to the spiritual +development of the country. His benedictions and blessings were among +the prized favours in these eventful hours in our new career. + +My father had been intimately acquainted with William Case and James +Evans, and at times had been partially associated with them in Indian +evangelisation. He had faith in the power of the Gospel to save even +Indians, and now rejoiced that he had a son and daughter who had +consecrated themselves to this work. + +As a long journey of many hundreds of miles would have to be made by us +after getting beyond cars or steamboats in the Western States, it was +decided that we should take our own horses and canvas-covered waggons +from Ontario with us. We arranged to make Hamilton our starting-point; +and on Monday, the 11th of May, 1868, our little company filed out of +that city towards St. Catherine's, where we were to take passage in a +"propeller" for Milwaukee. Thus our adventurous journey was begun. + +The following was our party. First, the Reverend George McDougall, who +for years had been successfully doing the work of a faithful missionary +among the Indians in the distant Saskatchewan country, a thousand miles +north-west of the Red River country. He had come down to Canada for +reinforcements for the work, and had not failed in his efforts to secure +them. As he was an old, experienced Western traveller, he was the guide +of the party. + +Next was the Reverend George Young, with his wife and son. Dr Young +had consented to go and begin the work in the Red River Settlement, a +place where Methodism had never before had a footing. Grandly and well +did he succeed in his efforts. + +Next came the genial Reverend Peter Campbell, who, with his brave wife +and two little girls, relinquished a pleasant Circuit to go to the +distant Mission field among the Indians of the North-West prairies. We +had also with us two Messrs. Snyders, brothers of Mrs Campbell, who had +consecrated themselves to the work as teachers among the distant Indian +tribes. Several other young men were in our party, and in Dacota we +were joined by "Joe" and "Job," a couple of young Indians. + +These, with the writer and his wife, constituted our party of fifteen or +twenty. At St. Catherine's on the Welland Canal we shipped our outfit, +and took passage on board the steamer _Empire_ for Milwaukee. + +The vessel was very much crowded, and there was a good deal of +discomfort. In passing through Lake Michigan we encountered rough +weather, and, as a natural result, sea-sickness assailed the great +majority of our party. + +We reached Milwaukee on Sabbath, the 17th of May. We found it then a +lively, wide-awake Americo-German city. There did not seem to be, on +the part of the multitudes whom we met, much respect for the Sabbath. +Business was in full blast in many of the streets, and there were but +few evidences that it was the day of rest. Doubtless there were many +who had not defiled their garments and had not profaned the day, but we +weary travellers had not then time to find them out. + +Although we had taken the precaution to bond everything through to the +North-West, and had the American Consular certificate to the effect that +every regulation had been complied with, we were subjected to many +vexatious delays and expenses by the Custom House officials. So delayed +were we that we had to telegraph to head-quarters at Washington about +the matter and soon there came the orders to the over-officious +officials to at once allow us to proceed. Two valuable days, however, +had been lost by their obstructiveness. Why cannot Canada and the +United States, lying side by side, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, +devise some mutually advantageous scheme of reciprocity, by which the +vexatious delays and annoyances and expense of these Custom Houses can +be done away with? + +We left Milwaukee for La Crosse on the Mississippi on Tuesday evening at +eight o'clock. At La Crosse we embarked on the steamer _Milwaukee_ for +St. Paul's. These large flat-bottomed steamers are quite an institution +on these western rivers. Drawing but a few inches of water, they glide +over sandbars where the water is very shallow, and, swinging in against +the shore, land and receive passengers and freight where wharves are +unknown, or where, if they existed, they would be liable to be swept +away in the great spring freshets. + +The scenery in many places along the upper Mississippi is very fine. +High bold bluffs rise up in wondrous variety and picturesque beauty. In +some places they are composed of naked rock. Others are covered to +their very summit with the richest green. Here, a few years ago, the +war-whoop of the Indians sounded, and the buffalo swarmed around these +Buttes, and quenched their thirst in these waters. Now the shrill +whistle of the steamer disturbs the solitudes, and echoes and re-echoes +with wondrous distinctness among the high bluffs and fertile vales. + + "Westward the Star of Empire takes its way." + +We arrived at St. Paul's on Thursday forenoon and found it to be a +stirring city, beautifully situated on the eastern side of the +Mississippi. We had several hours of good hard work in getting our +caravan in order, purchasing supplies, and making all final arrangements +for the long journey that was before us. For beyond this the iron horse +had not yet penetrated, and the great surging waves of immigration, +which soon after rolled over into those fertile territories, had as yet +been only little ripples. + +Our splendid horses, which had been cooped up in the holds of vessels, +or cramped up in uncomfortable freight cars, were now to have an +opportunity for exercising their limbs, and showing of what mettle they +were made. At 4 PM we filed out of the city. The recollection of that +first ride on the prairie will live on as long as memory holds her +throne. The day was one of those gloriously perfect ones that are but +rarely given us, as if to show what earth must have been before the +Fall. The sky, the air, the landscape--everything seemed in such +harmony and so perfect, that involuntarily I exclaimed, "If God's +footstool is so glorious, what will the throne be?" + +We journeyed a few miles, then encamped for the night. We were all in +the best of spirits, and seemed to rejoice that we were getting away +from civilisation, and more and more out into the wilderness, although +for days we were in the vicinity of frontier villages and settlements, +which, however, as we journeyed on, were rapidly diminishing in number. + +After several days' travelling we encamped on the western side of the +Mississippi, near where the thriving town of Clear Water now stands. As +some of our carts and travelling equipage had begun to show signs of +weakness, it was thought prudent to give everything a thorough +overhauling ere we pushed out from this point, as beyond this there was +no place where assistance could be obtained. We had in our encampment +eight tents, fourteen horses, and from fifteen to twenty persons, +counting big and little, whites and Indians. Whenever we camped our +horses were turned loose in the luxuriant prairie grass, the only +precaution taken being to "hobble" them, as the work of tying their +forefeet together is called. It seemed a little cruel at first, and +some of our spirited horses resented it, and struggled a good deal +against it as an infringement on their liberties. But they soon became +used to it, and it served the good purpose we had in view--namely, that +of keeping them from straying far away from the camp during the night. + +At one place, where we were obliged to stop for a few days to repair +broken axle-trees, I passed through an adventure that will not soon be +forgotten. Some friendly settlers came to our camp, and gave us the +unpleasant information, that a number of notorious horse-thieves were +prowling around, and it would be advisable for us to keep a sharp look- +out on our splendid Canadian horses. As there was an isolated barn +about half a mile or so from the camp, that had been put up by a settler +who would not require it until harvest, we obtained permission to use it +as a place in which to keep our horses during the nights while we were +detained in the settlement. Two of our party were detailed each night +to act as a guard. One evening, as Dr Young's son George and I, who +had been selected for this duty, were about starting from the camp for +our post, I overheard our old veteran guide, the Reverend George +McDougall, say, in a bantering sort of way, "Pretty guards they are! +Why, some of my Indian boys could go and steal every horse from them +without the slightest trouble." + +Stung to the quick by the remark, I replied, "Mr McDougall, I think I +have the best horse in the company; but if you or any of your Indians +can steal him out of that barn between sundown and sunrise, you may keep +him!" + +We tethered the horses in a line, and fastened securely all the doors +but the large front one. We arranged our seats where we were partially +concealed, but where we could see our horses, and could command every +door with our rifles. In quiet tones we chatted about various things, +until about one o'clock, when all became hushed and still. The novelty +of the situation impressed me, and, sitting there in the darkness, I +could not help contrasting my present position with the one I had +occupied a few weeks before. Then the pastor of a city Church, in the +midst of a blessed revival, surrounded by all the comforts of +civilisation; now out here in Minnesota, in this barn, sitting on a +bundle of prairie grass through the long hours of night with a breech- +loading rifle in hand, guarding a number of horses from a band of horse- +thieves. + +"Hush! what is that?" + +A hand is surely on the door feeling for the wooden latch. We mentally +say, "You have made too much noise, Mr Thief, for your purpose, and you +are discovered." Soon the door opened a little. As it was a beautiful +starlight night, the form of a tall man was plainly visible in the +opening. Covering him with my rifle, and about to fire, quick as a +flash came the thought, "Better be sure that that man is a horse-thief, +or is intent on evil, ere you fire; for it is at any time a serious +thing to send a soul so suddenly into eternity." So keeping my rifle to +my shoulder, I shouted out, "Who's there?" + +"Why, it's only your friend Matthew," said our tall friend, as he came +stumbling along in the darkness; "queer if you don't know me by this +time." + +As the thought came to me of how near I had been to sending him into the +other world, a strange feeling of faintness came over me, and, flinging +my rifle from me, I sank back trembling like a leaf. + +Meanwhile the good-natured fellow, little knowing the risk he had run, +and not seeing the effect his thoughtless action had produced on me, +talked on, saying that as it was so hot and close over at the tents that +he could not sleep there, he thought he would come over and stop with us +in the barn. + +There was considerable excitement, and some strong words were uttered at +the camp next morning at his breach of orders and narrow escape, since +instructions had been given to all that none should, under any +consideration, go near the barn while it was being guarded. + +At another place in Minnesota we came across a party who were restoring +their homes, and "building up their waste places" desolated by the +terrible Sioux wars of but a short time before. As they had nearly all +of them suffered by that fearful struggle, they were very bitter in +their feelings towards the Indians, completely ignoring the fact that +the whites were to blame for that last sanguinary outbreak, in which +nine hundred lives were lost, and a section of country larger than some +of the New England States was laid desolate. It is now an undisputed +fact that the greed and dishonesty of the Indian agents of the United +States caused that terrible war of 1863. The principal agent received +600,000 dollars in gold from the Government, which belonged to the +Indians, and was to be paid to Little Crow and the other chiefs and +members of the tribe. The agent took advantage of the premium on gold, +which in those days was very high, and exchanged the gold for +greenbacks, and with these paid the Indians, putting the enormous +difference in his own pocket. When the payments began, Little Crow, who +knew what he had a right to according to the Treaty, said, "Gold dollars +worth more than paper dollars. You pay us gold." The agent refused, +and the war followed. This is only one instance out of scores, in which +the greed and selfishness of a few have plunged the country into war, +causing the loss of hundreds of lives and millions of treasure. + +In addition to this, these same unprincipled agents, with their hired +accomplices and subsidised press, in order to hide the enormity of their +crimes, and to divert attention from themselves and their crookedness, +systematically and incessantly misrepresent and vilify the Indian +character. + +"Stay and be our minister," said some of these settlers to me in one +place. "We'll secure for you a good location, and will help you get in +some crops, and will do the best we can to make you comfortable." + +When they saw we were all proof against their appeals, they changed +their tactics, and one exclaimed, "You'll never get through the Indian +country north with those fine horses and all that fine truck you have." + +"O yes, we will," said Mr McDougall; "we have a little flag that will +carry us in safety through any Indian tribe in America." + +They doubted the assertion very much, but we found it to be literally +true, at all events as regarded the Sioux; for when, a few days later, +we met them, our Union Jack fluttering from the whip-stalk caused them +to fling their guns in the grass, and come crowding round us with +extended hands, saying, through those who understood their language, +that they were glad to see and shake hands with the subjects of the +"Great Mother" across the waters. + +When we, in our journey north, reached their country, and saw them +coming down upon us, at Mr McDougall's orders we stowed away our rifles +and revolvers inside of our waggons, and met them as friends, unarmed +and fearless. They smoked the pipe of peace with those of our party who +could use the weed, and others drank tea with the rest of us. As we +were in profound ignorance of their language, and they of ours, some of +us had not much conversation with them beyond what could be carried on +by a few signs. But, through Mr McDougall and our own Indians, they +assured us of their friendship. + +We pitched our tents, hobbled our horses and turned them loose, as +usual. We cooked our evening meals, said our prayers, unrolled our +camp-beds, and lay down to rest without earthly sentinels or guards +around us, although the camp-fires of these so-called "treacherous and +bloodthirsty" Sioux could be seen in the distance, and we knew their +sharp eyes were upon us. Yet we lay down and slept in peace, and arose +in safety. Nothing was disturbed or stolen. + +So much for a clean record of honourable dealing with a people who, +while quick to resent when provoked, are mindful of kindnesses received, +and are as faithful to their promises and treaty obligations, as are any +other of the races of the world. + +We were thirty days in making the trip from St. Paul's to the Red River +settlement. We had to ford a large number of bridgeless streams. Some +of them took us three or four days to get our whole party across. We +not unfrequently had some of our waggons stuck in the quicksands, or so +sunk in the quagmires that the combined strength of all the men of our +party was required to get them out. Often the ladies of our company, +with shoes and stockings off, would be seen bravely wading across wide +streams, where now in luxurious comfort, in parlour cars, travellers are +whirled along at the rate of forty miles an hour. They were a cheerful, +brave band of pioneers. + +The weather, on the whole, was pleasant, but we had some drenching rain- +storms; and then the spirits of some of the party went down, and they +wondered whatever possessed them to leave their happy homes for such +exile and wretchedness as this. There was one fearful, tornado-like +storm that assailed us when we were encamped for the night on the +western bank of Red River. Tents were instantly blown down. Heavy +waggons were driven before it, and for a time confusion reigned supreme. +Fortunately nobody was hurt, and most of the things blown away were +recovered the next day. + +Our Sabbaths were days of quiet rest and delightful communion with God. +Together we worshipped Him Who dwelleth not in temples made with hands. +Many were the precious communions we had with Him Who had been our +Comforter and our Refuge under other circumstances, and Who, having now +called us to this new work and novel life, was sweetly fulfilling in us +the blessed promise: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the +world." + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +STILL ON THE ROUTE--FORT GARRY--BREAKING UP OF OUR PARTY OF +MISSIONARIES--LOWER FORT--HOSPITABLE HUDSON'S BAY OFFICIALS-- +PECULIARITIES--FOURTEEN DAYS IN A LITTLE OPEN BOAT ON STORMY LAKE +WINNIPEG--STRANGE EXPERIENCES--HAPPY CHRISTIAN INDIAN BOATMEN--"IN +PERILS BY WATERS." + +At Fort Garry in the Red River settlement, now the flourishing city of +Winnipeg, our party, which had so long travelled together, broke up with +mutual regrets. The Reverend George Young and his family remained to +commence the first Methodist Mission in that place. Many were his +discouragements and difficulties, but glorious have been his successes. +More to him than to any other man is due the prominent position which +the Methodist Church now occupies in the North-West. His station was +one calling for rare tact and ability. The Riel Rebellion, and the +disaffection of the Half-breed population, made his position at times +one of danger and insecurity; but he proved himself to be equal to every +emergency. In addition to the many duties devolving upon him in the +establishment of the Church amidst so many discordant elements, a great +many extra cares were imposed upon him by the isolated missionaries in +the interior, who looked to him for the purchasing and sending out to +them, as best he could, of their much-needed supplies. His kindly +laborious efforts for their comfort can never be forgotten. + +The Revs. George McDougall and Peter Campbell, with the teachers and +other members of the party, pushed on, with their horses, waggons, and +carts, for the still farther North-West, the great North Saskatchewan +River, twelve hundred miles farther into the interior. + +During the first part of their journey over the fertile but then +unbroken prairies, the only inhabitants they met were the roving Indians +and Half-breeds, whose rude wigwams and uncouth noisy carts have long +since disappeared, and have been replaced by the comfortable habitations +of energetic settlers, and the swiftly moving trains of the railroads. + +From Fort Garry Mrs Young and myself performed the rest of our journey +by water, going down the Red River to its mouth, and then along the +whole length of the stormy Lake Winnipeg, and beyond, to our own far-off +northern home. The trip was made in what is called "the Hudson's Bay +inland boat." These boats are constructed like large skiffs, only each +end is sharp. They have neither deck nor cabin. They are furnished +with a mast and a large square sail, both of which are stowed away when +the wind is not favourable for sailing. They are manned by six or eight +oarsmen, and are supposed to carry about four tons of merchandise. They +can stand a rough sea, and weather very severe gales, as we found out +during our years of adventurous trips in them. When there is no +favourable wind for sailing, the stalwart boatmen push out their heavy +oars, and, bending their sturdy backs to the work, and keeping the most +perfect time, are often able to make their sixty miles a day. But this +toiling at the oar is slavish work, and the favouring gale, even if it +develops into a fierce storm, is always preferable to a dead calm. +These northern Indians make capital sailors, and in the sudden squalls +and fierce gales to which these great lakes are subject, they display +much courage and judgment. + +Our place in the boat was in the hinder part near the steersman, a pure +Indian, whose name was Thomas Mamanowatum, familiarly known as "Big +Tom," on account of his almost gigantic size. He was one of Nature's +noblemen, a grand, true man, and of him we shall have more to say +hereafter. Honoured indeed was the missionary who led such a man from +Paganism to Christianity. + +We journeyed on pleasantly for twenty miles down the Red River to Lower +Fort Garry, where we found that we should have to wait for several days +ere the outfit for the boats would be ready. We were, however, very +courteously entertained by the Hudson's Bay officials, who showed us no +little kindness. + +This Lower Fort Garry, or "the Stone Fort," as it is called in the +country, is an extensive affair, having a massive stone wall all around +it, with the Company's buildings in the centre. It was built in stormy +times, when rival trading parties existed, and hostile bands were ever +on the war path. It is capable of resisting almost any force that could +be brought against it, unaided by artillery. We were a little amused +and very much pleased with the old-time and almost courtly etiquette +which abounded at this and the other establishments of this flourishing +Company. In those days the law of precedents was in full force. When +the bell rang, no clerk of fourteen years' standing would think of +entering before one who had been fifteen years in the service, or of +sitting above him at the table. Such a thing would have brought down +upon him the severe reproof of the senior officer in charge. Irksome +and even frivolous as some of these laws seemed, doubtless they served a +good purpose, and prevented many misunderstandings which might have +occurred. + +Another singular custom, which we did not like, was the fact that there +were two dining-rooms in these establishments, one for the ladies, and +the other for the gentlemen of the service. It appeared to us very odd +to see the gentlemen with the greatest politeness escort the ladies into +the hall which ran between the two dining-rooms, and then gravely turn +to the left, while the ladies all filed off into the room on the right. +As the arrangement was so contrary to all our ideas and education on the +subject, we presumed to question it; but the only satisfaction we could +get in reference to it was, that it was one of their old customs, and +had worked well. One old crusty bachelor official said, "We do not want +the women around us when we are discussing our business matters, which +we wish to keep to ourselves. If they were present, all our schemes and +plans would soon be known to all, and our trade might be much injured." + +Throughout this vast country, until very lately, the adventurous +traveller, whose courage or curiosity was sufficient to enable him to +brave the hardships or run the risks of exploring these enormous +territories, was entirely dependent upon the goodwill and hospitality of +the officials of the Hudson's Bay Company. They were uniformly treated +with courtesy and hospitably entertained. + +Very isolated are some of these inland posts, and quite expatriated are +the inmates for years at a time. These lonely establishments are to be +found scattered all over the upper half of this great American +Continent. They have each a population of from five to sixty human +beings. These are, if possible, placed in favourable localities for +fish or game, but often from one to five hundred miles apart. The only +object of their erection and occupancy is to exchange the products of +civilisation for the rich and valuable furs which are to be obtained +here as nowhere else in the world. In many instances the inmates hear +from the outside world but twice, and at times but once, in twelve +months. Then the arrival of the packet is the great event of the year. + +We spent a very pleasant Sabbath at Lower Fort Garry, and I preached in +the largest dining-room to a very attentive congregation, composed of +the officials and servants of the Company, with several visitors, and +also some Half-breeds and Indians who happened to be at the fort at that +time. + +The next day two boats were ready, and we embarked on our adventurous +journey for our far-off, isolated home beyond the northern end of Lake +Winnipeg. The trip down Red River was very pleasant. We passed through +the flourishing Indian Settlement, where the Church of England has a +successful Mission among the Indians. We admired their substantial +church and comfortable homes, and saw in them, and in the farms, +tangible evidence of the power of Christian Missions to elevate and +bless those who come under their ennobling influences. The cosy +residence of the Venerable Archdeacon Cowley was pointed out to us, +beautifully embowered among the trees. He was a man beloved of all; a +life-long friend of the Indians, and one who was as an angel of mercy to +us in after years when our Nellie died, while Mrs Young was making an +adventurous journey in an open boat on the stormy, treacherous Lake +Winnipeg. + +This sad event occurred when, after five years' residence among the +Crees at Norway House, we had instructions from our missionary +authorities to go and open up a new Indian Mission among the then pagan +Salteaux. I had orders to remain at Norway House until my successor +arrived; and as but one opportunity was offered for Mrs Young and the +children to travel in those days of limited opportunities, they started +on several weeks ahead in an open skiff manned by a few Indians, leaving +me to follow in a birch canoe. So terrible was the heat that hot July, +in that open boat with no deck or awning, that the beautiful child +sickened and died of brain-fever. Mrs Young found herself with her +dying child on the banks of Red River, all alone among her sorrowing +Indian boatmen, "a stranger in a strange land;" no home to which to go; +no friends to sympathise with her. Fortunately for her, the Hudson's +Bay officials at Lower Fort Garry were made aware of her sorrows, and +received her into one of their homes ere the child died. The Reverend +Mr Cowley also came and prayed for her, and sympathised with her on the +loss of her beautiful child. + +As I was far away when Nellie died, Mrs Young knew not what to do with +our precious dead. A temporary grave was made, and in it the body was +laid until I could be communicated with, and arrangements could be made +for its permanent interment. I wrote at once by an Indian to the +Venerable Archdeacon Cowley, asking permission to bury our dead in his +graveyard; and there came promptly back, by the canoe, a very brotherly, +sympathetic letter, ending up with, "Our graveyards are open before you; +`in the choicest of our sepulchres bury thy dead.'" A few weeks after, +when I had handed over my Mission to Brother Ruttan, I hurried on to the +settlement, and with a few sympathising friends, mostly Indians, we took +up the little body from its temporary resting-place, and buried it in +the St. Peter's Church graveyard, the dear archdeacon himself being +present, and reading the beautiful Burial Service of his Church. That +land to us has been doubly precious since it has become the repository +of our darling child. + +As we floated down the current, or were propelled along by the oars of +our Indian boatmen, on that first journey, little did we imagine that +this sad episode in our lives would happen in that very spot a few years +after. When we were near the end of the Indian Settlement, as it is +called, we saw several Indians on the bank, holding on to a couple of +oxen. Our boats were immediately turned in to the shore near them, and, +to our great astonishment, we found out that each boat was to have an +addition to its passenger list in the shape of one of these big fellows. +The getting of these animals shipped was no easy matter, as there was +no wharf or gangway; but after a good deal of pulling and pushing, and +lifting up of one leg, and then another, the patient brutes were +embarked on the frail crafts, to be our companions during the voyage to +Norway House. The position assigned to the one in our boat was just in +front of us, "broadside on," as the sailors would say; his head often +hanging over one side of the boat, and his tail over the other side. +The only partition there was between him and us was a single board a few +inches wide. Such close proximity to this animal for fourteen days was +not very agreeable; but as it could not be helped it had to be endured. + +At times, during the first few days, the ox made some desperate efforts +to break loose; and it seemed as though he would either smash our boat +to pieces or upset it; but, finding his efforts unsuccessful, he +gracefully accepted the situation, and behaved himself admirably. When +storms arose he quietly lay down, and served as so much ballast to +steady the boat. "Tom," the guide, kept him well supplied with food +from the rich nutritious grasses which grew abundantly along the shore +at our different camping-places. + +Winnipeg is considered one of the stormiest lakes on the American +Continent. It is about three hundred miles long, and varies from eighty +to but a few miles in width. It is indented with innumerable bays, and +is dangerous to navigators, on account of its many shoals and hidden +rocks. _Winnipeg_, or _Wenipak_, as some Indians pronounce it, means +"the sea," and _Keche Wenipak_ means "the ocean." + +The trip across Lake Winnipeg was one that at the present day would be +considered a great hardship, taking into consideration the style of the +boat and the way we travelled. + +Our method of procedure was about as follows. We were aroused very +early in the morning by the guide's cry of _Koos koos kwa_! "Wake up!" +Everybody was expected to obey promptly, as there was always a good deal +of rivalry between the boats as to which could get away first. A hasty +breakfast was prepared on the rocks; after which a morning hymn was +sung, and an earnest prayer was offered up to Him Who holds the winds +and waves under His control. + +Then "All aboard" was the cry, and soon tents, kettles, axes, and all +the other things were hurriedly gathered up and placed on board. If the +wind was favourable, the mast was put up, the sail hoisted, and we were +soon rapidly speeding on our way. If the oars had to be used, there was +not half the alacrity displayed by the poor fellows, who well knew how +wearisome their task would be. When we had a favourable wind, we +generally dined as well as we could in the boat, to save time, as the +rowers well knew how much more pleasant it was to glide along with the +favouring breeze than to be obliged to work at the heavy oars. Often +during whole nights we sailed on, although at considerable risks in that +treacherous lake, rather than lose the fair wind. For, if there ever +was, in this world of uncertainties, one route of more uncertainty than +another, the palm must be conceded to the voyages on Lake Winnipeg in +those Hudson's Bay Company's inland boats. You might make the trip in +four days, or even a few hours less; and you might be thirty days, and a +few hours over. + +Once, in after years, I was detained for six days on a little rocky +islet by a fierce northern gale, which at times blew with such force +that we could not keep up a tent or even stand upright against its fury; +and as there was not sufficient soil in which to drive a tent pin, we, +with all our bedding and supplies, were drenched by the pitiless sleet +and rain. Often in these later years, when I have heard people, sitting +in the comfortable waiting-room of a railway station, bitterly +complaining because a train was an hour or two late, memory has carried +me back to some of those long detentions amidst the most disagreeable +surroundings, and I have wondered at the trifles which can upset the +equanimity of some or cause them to show such fretfulness. + +When the weather was fine, the camping on the shore was very enjoyable. +Our tent was quickly erected by willing hands; the camp fire was +kindled, and glowed with increasing brightness as the shadows of night +fell around us. The evening meal was soon prepared, and an hour or two +would sometimes be spent in pleasant converse with our dusky friends, +who were most delightful travelling companions. Our days always began +and closed with a religious service. All of our Indian companions in +the two boats on this first trip were Christians, in the best and truest +sense of the word. They were the converts of the earlier missionaries +of our Church. At first they were a little reserved, and acted as +though they imagined we expected them to be very sedate and dignified. +For, like some white folks, they imagined the "black-coat" and his wife +did not believe in laughter or pleasantry. However, we soon disabused +their minds of those erroneous ideas, and before we reached Norway House +we were on the best of terms with each other. We knew but little of +their language, but some of them had a good idea of English, and, using +these as our interpreters, we got along finely. + +They were well furnished with Testaments and hymn-books, printed in the +beautiful syllabic characters; and they used them well. This +worshipping with a people who used to us an unknown tongue was at first +rather novel; but it attracted and charmed us at once. We were forcibly +struck with the reverential manner in which they conducted their +devotions. No levity or indifference marred the solemnity of their +religious services. They listened very attentively while one of their +number read to them from the sacred Word, and gave the closest attention +to what I had to say, through an interpreter. + +Very sweetly and soothingly sounded the hymns of praise and adoration +that welled up from their musical voices; and though we understood them +not, yet in their earnest prayers there seemed to be so much that was +real and genuine, as in pathetic tones they offered up their petitions, +that we felt it to be a great privilege and a source of much blessing, +when with them we bowed at the mercy-seat of our great loving Father, to +Whom all languages of earth are known, and before Whom all hearts are +open. + +Very helpful at times to devout worship were our surroundings. As in +the ancient days, when the vast multitudes gathered around Him on the +seaside and were comforted and cheered by His presence, so we felt on +these quiet shores of the lake that we were worshipping Him Who is +always the same. At times delightful and suggestive were our +environments. With Winnipeg's sunlit waves before us, the blue sky +above us, the dark, deep, primeval forest as our background, and the +massive granite rocks beneath us, we often felt a nearness of access to +Him, the Sovereign of the universe, Who "dwelleth not in temples made +with hands,"--but "Who covereth Himself with light as with a garment; +Who stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain; Who layeth the beams of +His chambers in the waters; Who maketh the clouds his chariot; Who +walketh upon the wings of the wind; Who laid the foundations of the +earth, that it should not be removed for ever." + +Our Sabbaths were days of rest. The Christian Indians had been taught +by their faithful missionaries the fourth commandment, and they kept it +well. Although far from their homes and their beloved sanctuary, they +respected the day. When they camped on Saturday night, all the +necessary preparations were made for a quiet, restful Sabbath. All the +wood that would be needed to cook the day's supplies was secured, and +the food that required cooking was prepared. Guns were stowed away, and +although sometimes ducks or other game would come near, they were not +disturbed. Generally two religious services were held and enjoyed. The +Testaments and hymn-books were well used throughout the day, and an +atmosphere of "Paradise Regained" seemed to pervade the place. + +At first, long years ago, the Hudson's Bay Company's officials bitterly +opposed the observance of the Sabbath by their boatmen and tripmen; but +the missionaries were true and firm, and although persecution for a time +abounded, eventually right and truth prevailed, and our Christian +Indians were left to keep the day without molestation. And, as has +always been found to be the case in such instances, there was no loss, +but rather gain. Our Christian Indians, who rested the Sabbath day, +were never behindhand. On the long trips into the interior or down to +York Factory or Hudson Bay, these Indian canoe brigades used to make +better time, have better health, and bring up their boats and cargoes in +better shape, than the Catholic Half-breeds or pagan Indians, who pushed +on without any day of rest. Years of studying this question, judging +from the standpoint of the work accomplished and its effects on men's +physical constitution, apart altogether from its moral and religious +aspect, most conclusively taught me that the institution of the one day +in seven as a day of rest is for man's highest good. + +Thus we journeyed on, meeting with various adventures by the way. One +evening, rather than lose the advantage of a good wind, our party +resolved to sail on throughout the night. We had no compass or chart, +no moon or fickle Auroras lit up the watery waste. Clouds, dark and +heavy, flitted by, obscuring the dim starlight, and adding to the risk +and danger of our proceeding. On account of the gloom part of the crew +were kept on the watch continually. The bowsman, with a long pole in +his hands, sat in the prow of the boat, alert and watchful. For a long +time I sat with the steersman in the stern of our little craft, enjoying +this weird way of travelling. Out of the darkness behind us into the +vague blackness before us we plunged. Sometimes through the darkness +came the sullen roar and dash of waves against the rocky isles or +dangerous shore near at hand, reminding us of the risks we were running, +and what need there was of the greatest care. + +Our camp bed had been spread on some boards in the hinder part of our +little boat; and here Mrs Young, who for a time had enjoyed the +exciting voyage, was now fast asleep. I remained up with "Big Tom" +until after midnight; and then, having exhausted my stock of Indian +words in conversation with him, and becoming weary, I wrapped a blanket +around myself and lay down to rest. Hardly had I reached the land of +dreams, when I was suddenly awakened by being most unceremoniously +thrown, with wife, bedding, bales, boxes, and some drowsy Indians, on +one side of the boat. We scrambled up as well as we could, and +endeavoured to take in our situation. The darkness was intense, but we +could easily make out the fact that our boat was stuck fast. The wind +whistled around us, and bore with such power upon our big sail that the +wonder was that it did not snap the mast or ropes. The sail was quickly +lowered, a lantern was lit, but its flickering light showed no land in +view. + +We had run upon a submerged rock, and there we were held fast. In vain +the Indians, using their big oars as poles, endeavoured to push the boat +back into deep water. Finding this impossible, some of them sprang out +into the water which threatened to engulf them; but, with the precarious +footing the submerged rock gave them, they pushed and shouted, when, +being aided by a giant wave, the boat at last was pushed over into the +deep water beyond. At considerable risk and thoroughly drenched, the +brave fellows scrambled on board; the sail was again hoisted, and away +we sped through the gloom and darkness. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +ARRIVAL AT NORWAY HOUSE--OUR NEW HOME--REVEREND CHARLES STRINGFELLOW-- +THUNDERSTORM--REVEREND JAMES EVANS--SYLLABIC CHARACTERS INVENTED-- +DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME--HELP FROM ENGLISH WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY-- +EXTENSIVE USE OF THE SYLLABIC CHARACTERS--OUR PEOPLE, CHRISTIAN AND +PAGAN--LEARNING LESSONS BY DEAR EXPERIENCE--THE HUNGRY WOMAN--THE MAN +WITH THE TWO DUCKS--THE FIRST SABBATH IN OUR NEW FIELD--SUNDAY SCHOOL +AND SABBATH SERVICES--FAMILY ALTARS. + +We reached Norway House on the afternoon of the 29th of July, 1868, and +received a very cordial welcome from James Stewart, Esquire, the +gentleman in charge of this Hudson's Bay post. This is one of the most +important establishments of this wealthy fur-trading Company. For many +years it was the capital, at which the different officers and other +officials from the different districts of this vast country were in the +habit of meeting annually for the purpose of arranging the various +matters in connection with their prosecution of the fur trade. Here Sir +George Simpson, for many years the energetic and despotic Governor, used +to come to meet these officials, travelling by birch canoe, manned by +his matchless crew of Iroquois Indians, all the way from Montreal, a +distance of several thousand miles. Here immense quantities of furs +were collected from the different trading posts, and then shipped to +England by way of Hudson's Bay. + +The sight of this well-kept establishment, and the courtesy and cordial +welcome extended to us, were very pleasing after our long toilsome +voyage up Lake Winnipeg. But still we were two miles and a half from +our Indian Mission, and so we were full of anxiety to reach the end of +our journey. Mr Stewart, however, insisted on our remaining to tea +with him, and then took us over to the Indian village in his own row- +boat, manned by four sturdy Highlanders. Ere we reached the shore, +sweet sounds of melody fell upon our ears. The Wednesday evening +service was being held, and songs of praise were being sung by the +Indian congregation, the notes of which reached us as we neared the +margin and landed upon the rocky beach. We welcomed this as a pleasing +omen, and rejoiced at it as one of the grand evidences of the Gospel's +power to change. Not many years ago the horrid yells of the conjurer, +and the whoops of the savage Indians, were here the only familiar +sounds. Now the sweet songs of Zion are heard, and God's praises are +sung by a people whose lives attest the genuineness of the work +accomplished. + +We were cordially welcomed by Mrs Stringfellow in the Mission house, +and were soon afterwards joined by her husband, who had been conducting +the religious services in the church. Very thankful were we that after +our long and adventurous journeyings for two months and eighteen days, +by land and water, through the good providence of God we had reached our +field of toil among the Cree Indians, where for years we were to be +permitted to labour. + +Mr and Mrs Stringfellow remained with us for a few days ere they set +out on their return trip to the province of Ontario. We took sweet +counsel together, and I received a great deal of valuable information in +reference to the prosecution of our work among these Red men. For +eleven years the missionary and his wife had toiled and suffered in this +northern land. A goodly degree of success had attended their efforts, +and we were much pleased with the state in which we found everything +connected with the Mission. + +While we were at family prayers the first evening after our arrival, +there came up one of the most terrific thunderstorms we ever +experienced. The heavy Mission house, although built of logs, and well +mudded and clap-boarded, shook so much while we were on our knees that +several large pictures fell from the walls; one of which, tumbling on +Brother Stringfellow's head, put a very sudden termination to his +evening devotions. + +Rossville Mission, Norway House, was commenced by the Reverend James +Evans in the year 1840. It has been, and still is, one of the most +successful Indian Missions in America. Here Mr Evans invented the +syllabic characters, by which an intelligent Indian can learn to read +the Word of God in ten days or two weeks. Earnestly desirous to devise +some method by which the wandering Indians could acquire the art of +reading in a more expeditious manner than by the use of the English +alphabet, he invented these characters, each of which stands for a +syllable. He carved his first type with his pocket-knife, and procured +the lead for the purpose from the tea-chests of the Hudson's Bay +Company's post. His first ink he made out of the soot from the chimney, +and his first paper was birch bark. Great was the excitement among the +Indians when he had perfected his invention, and had begun printing in +their own language. The conjurers, and other pagan Indians, were very +much alarmed, when, as they expressed it, they found the "bark of the +tree was beginning to talk." + +The English Wesleyan Missionary Society was early impressed with the +advantage of this wonderful invention, and the great help it would be in +carrying on the blessed work. At great expense they sent out a printing +press, with a large quantity of type, which they had had specially cast. +Abundance of paper, and everything else essential, were furnished. For +years portions of the Word of God, and a goodly number of hymns +translated into the Cree language, were printed, and incalculable good +resulted. + +Other missionary organisations at work in the country quickly saw the +advantage of using these syllabic characters, and were not slow to avail +themselves of them. While all lovers of Missions rejoice at this, it is +to be regretted that some, from whom better things might have been +expected, were anxious to take the credit of the invention, instead of +giving it to its rightful claimant, the Reverend James Evans. It is a +remarkable fact, that so perfectly did Mr Evans do his work, that no +improvement has been made as regards the use of these characters among +the Cree Indians. + +Other missionaries have introduced them among other tribes, with +additions to meet the sounds used in those tribes which are not found +among the Crees. They have even been successfully utilised by the +Moravians among the Esquimaux. + +On our arrival at Rossville the Indians crowded in to see the new +missionary and his wife, and were very cordial in their greetings. Even +some pagan Indians, dressed up in their wild picturesque costumes, came +to see us, and were very friendly. + +As quickly as possible we settled down to our work, and tried to grasp +its possibilities. We saw many pleasing evidences of what had been +accomplished by faithful predecessors, and were soon convinced of the +greatness of the work yet to be done. For, while from our church, and +the houses of our Christian people, the songs of Zion were heard, our +eyes were saluted by the shouts and yells of old Indian conjurers and +medicine-men, added to the monotonous sounds of their drums, which came +to us nightly from almost every point in the compass, from islands and +headlands not far away. + +Our first Sabbath was naturally a very interesting day. Our own +curiosity to see our people was doubtless equalled by that of the people +to see their new missionary. Pagans flocked in with Christians, until +the church was crowded. We were very much pleased with their respectful +demeanour in the house of God. There was no laughing or frivolity in +the sanctuary. With their moccasined feet and cat-like tread, several +hundred Indians did not make one quarter the noise often heard in +Christian lands, made by audiences one-tenth the size. We were much +delighted with their singing. There is a peculiar plaintive sweetness +about Indian singing that has for me a special attractiveness. Scores +of them brought their Bibles to the church. When I announced the +lessons for the day, the quickness with which they found the places +showed their familiarity with the sacred volume. During prayers they +were old-fashioned Methodists enough to kneel down while the Sovereign +of the universe was being addressed. They sincerely and literally +entered into the spirit of the Psalmist when he said: "O come, let us +worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." + +I was fortunate in securing for my interpreter a thoroughly good Indian +by the name of Timothy Bear. He was of an emotional nature, and +rendered good service to the cause of Christ. Sometimes, when +interpreting for me the blessed truths of the Gospel, his heart would +get fired up, and he would become so absorbed in his theme that he would +in a most eloquent way beseech and plead with the people to accept this +wonderful salvation. + +As the days rolled by, and we went in and out among them, and contrasted +the pagan with the Christian Indian, we saw many evidences that the +Gospel is still the power of God unto salvation, and that, whenever +accepted in its fulness, it brings not only peace and joy to the heart, +but is attended by the secondary blessings of civilisation. The +Christian Indians could easily be picked out by the improved appearance +of their homes, as well as by the marvellous change in their lives and +actions. + +We found out, before we had been there many days, that we had much to +learn about Indian customs and habits and modes of thought. For +example: the day after Mr and Mrs Stringfellow had left us, a poor +woman came in, and by the sign language let Mrs Young know that she was +very hungry. On the table were a large loaf of bread, a large piece of +corned beef, and a dish of vegetables, left over from our boat supplies. +My good wife's sympathies were aroused at the poor woman's story, and, +cutting off a generous supply of meat and bread, and adding thereto a +large quantity of the vegetables and a quart of tea, she seated the +woman at the table before the hearty meal. Without any trouble the +guest disposed of the whole, and then, to our amazement, began pulling +up the skirt of her dress at the side till she had formed a capacious +pocket. Reaching over, she seized the meat, and put it in this large +receptacle, the loaf of bread quickly followed, and lastly, the dish of +vegetables. Then, getting up from her chair, she turned towards us, +saying, "Na-nas-koo-moo-wi-nah," which is the Cree for thanksgiving. +She gracefully backed out of the dining-room, holding carefully onto her +supplies. Mrs Young and I looked in astonishment, but said nothing +till she had gone out. We could not help laughing at the queer sight, +although the food which had disappeared in this unexpected way was what +was to have been our principal support for two or three days, until our +supplies should have arrived. Afterwards, when expressing our +astonishment at what looked like the greediness of this woman, we +learned that she had only complied with the strict etiquette of her +tribe. It seems it is their habit, when they make a feast for anybody, +or give them a dinner, if fortunate enough to have abundance of food, to +put a large quantity before them. The invited guest is expected to eat +all he can, and then to carry the rest away. This was exactly what the +poor woman did. From this lesson of experience we learnt just to place +before them what we felt our limited abilities enabled us to give at the +time. + +One day a fine-looking Indian came in with a couple of fat ducks. As +our supplies were low, we were glad to see them; and in taking them I +asked him what I should give him for them. His answer was, "O, nothing; +they are a _present_ for the missionary and his wife." Of course I was +delighted at this exhibition of generosity on the part of this entire +stranger to us so soon after our arrival in this wild land. The Indian +at once made himself at home with us, and kept us busy answering +questions and explaining to him everything that excited his curiosity. +Mrs Young had to leave her work to play for his edification on the +little melodeon. He remained to dinner, and ate one of the ducks, while +Mrs Young and I had the other. He hung around all the afternoon, and +did ample justice to a supper out of our supplies. He tarried with us +until near the hour for retiring, when I gently hinted to him that I +thought it was about time he went to see if his wigwam was where he left +it. + +"O," he exclaimed, "I am only waiting." + +"Waiting?" I said; "for what are you waiting?" + +"I am waiting for the _present_ you are going to give me for the +_present_ I gave you." + +I at once took in the situation, and went off and got him something +worth half-a-dozen times as much as his ducks, and he went off very +happy. + +When he was gone, my good wife and I sat down, and we said, "Here is +lesson number _two_. Perhaps, after we have been here a while, we shall +know something about the Indians." + +After that we accepted of no presents from them, but insisted on paying +a reasonable price for everything we needed which they had to sell. + +Our Sunday's work began with the Sunday School at nine o'clock. All the +boys and girls attended, and often there were present many of the +adults. The children were attentive and respectful, and many of them +were able to repeat large portions of Scripture from memory. A goodly +number studied the Catechism translated into their own Language. They +sang the hymns sweetly, and joined with us in repeating the Lord's +Prayer. + +The public service followed at half-past ten o'clock. This morning +service was always in English, although the hymns, lessons, and text +would be announced in the two languages. The Hudson's Bay officials who +might be at the Fort two miles away, and all their _employes_, regularly +attended this morning service. Then, as many of the Indians understood +English, and our object was ever to get them all to know more and more +about it, this service usually was largely attended by the people. The +great Indian service was held in the afternoon. It was all their own, +and was very much prized by them. At the morning service they were very +dignified and reserved; at the afternoon they sang with an enthusiasm +that was delightful, and were not afraid, if their hearts prompted them +to it, to come out with a glad "Amen!" + +They bring with them to the sanctuary their Bibles, and very sweet to my +ears was the rustle of many leaves as they rapidly turned to the Lessons +of the day in the Old or New Testament. Sermons were never considered +too long. Very quietly and reverently did the people come into the +house of God, and with equal respect for the place, and for Him Whom +there they had worshipped, did they depart. Dr Taylor, one of our +missionary secretaries, when visiting us, said at the close of one of +these hallowed afternoon services, "Mr Young, if the good people who +help us to support Missions and missionaries could see what my eyes have +beheld to-day, they would most cheerfully and gladly give us ten +thousand dollars a year more for our Indian Missions." + +Every Sunday evening I went over to the Fort, by canoe in summer, and +dog-train in winter, and held service there. A little chapel had been +specially fitted up for these evening services. Another service was +also held in the church at the Mission by the Indians themselves. There +were among them several who could preach very acceptable sermons, and +others who, with a burning eloquence, could tell, like Paul, the story +of their own conversion, and beseech others to be likewise reconciled to +God. + +We were surprised at times by seeing companies of pagan Indians stalk +into the church during the services, not always acting in a way becoming +to the house or day. At first it was a matter of surprise to me that +our Christian Indians put up with some of these irregularities. I was +very much astounded one day by the entrance of an old Indian called +Tapastonum, who, rattling his ornaments, and crying, "Ho! Ho!" came +into the church in a sort of trot, and gravely kissed several of the men +and women. As my Christian Indians seemed to stand the interruption, I +felt that I could. Soon he sat down, at the invitation of Big Tom, and +listened to me. He was grotesquely dressed, and had a good-sized +looking-glass hanging on his breast, kept in its place by a string hung +around his neck. To aid himself in listening, he lit his big pipe and +smoked through the rest of the service. When I spoke to the people +afterwards about the conduct of this man, so opposite to their quiet, +respectful demeanour in the house of God, their expressive, charitable +answer was: "Such were we once, as ignorant as Tapastonum is now. Let +us have patience with him, and perhaps he, too, will soon decide to give +his heart to God. Let him come; he will get quiet when he gets the +light." + +The week evenings were nearly all filled up with services of one kind or +another, and were well attended, or otherwise, according as the Indians +might be present at the village, or away hunting, or fishing, or +"tripping" for the Hudson's Bay Company. What pleased us very much was +the fact that in the homes of the people there were so many family +altars. It was very delightful to take a quiet walk in the gloaming +through the village, and hear from so many little homes the voice of the +head of the family reading the precious volume, or the sounds of prayer +and praise. Those were times when in every professed Christian home in +the village there was a family altar. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +CONSTANT PROGRESS--WOMAN'S SAD CONDITION IN PAGANISM--ILLUSTRATIONS-- +WONDROUS CHANGES PRODUCED BY CHRISTIANITY--ILLUSTRATIONS--NEW YEAR'S DAY +CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL--THE AGED AND FEEBLE ONES FIRST REMEMBERED--CLOSING +THANKSGIVING SERVICES. + +We found ourselves in a Christian village surrounded by paganism. The +contrast between the two classes was very evident. + +Our Christians, as fast as they were able to build, were living in +comfortable houses, and earnestly endeavouring to lift themselves up in +the social circle. Their personal appearance was better, and +cleanliness was accepted as next to godliness. On the Sabbaths they +were well dressed, and presented such a respectable and devout +appearance in the sanctuary as to win the admiration of all who visited +us. The great majority of those who made a profession of faith lived +honest, sober, and consistent lives, and thus showed the genuineness of +the change wrought in them by the glorious Gospel of the Son of God. + +One of the most delightful and tangible evidences of the thoroughness +and genuineness of the change was seen in the improvement in the family +life. Such a thing as genuine home life, with mutual love and sympathy +existing among the different members of the family, was unknown in their +pagan state. The men, and even boys, considered it a sign of courage +and manliness to despise and shamefully treat their mothers, wives, or +sisters. Christianity changed all this; and we were constant witnesses +of the genuineness of the change wrought in the hearts and lives of this +people by the preaching of the Gospel, by seeing how woman was uplifted +from her degraded position to her true place in the household. + +My heart was often pained at what I saw among some of the wild savage +bands around us. When, by canoe in summer, or dog-train in winter, I +have visited these wild men, I have seen the proud, lazy hunter come +stalking into the camp with his gun on his shoulder, and in loud, +imperative tones shout out to his poor wife, who was busily engaged in +cutting wood, "Get up there, you dog, my squaw, and go back on my tracks +in the woods, and bring in the deer I have shot; and hurry, for I want +my food!" To quicken her steps, although she was hurrying as rapidly as +possible, a stick was thrown at her, which fortunately she was able to +dodge. + +Seizing the long carrying strap, which is a piece of leather several +feet in length, and wide at the middle, where it rests against the +forehead when in use, she rapidly glides away on the trail made by her +husband's snow-shoes, it may be for miles, to the spot where lies the +deer he has shot. Fastening one end of the strap to the haunches of the +deer, and the other around its neck, after a good deal of effort and +ingenuity, she succeeds at length in getting the animal, which may weigh +from a hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds, upon her back, supported +by the strap across her forehead. Panting with fatigue, she comes in +with her heavy burden, and as she throws it down she is met with a sharp +stern command from the lips of the despot called her husband, who has +thought it beneath his dignity to carry in the deer himself, but who +imagines it to be a sign of his being a great brave thus to treat his +wife. The gun was enough for him to carry. Without giving the poor +tired creature a moment's rest, he shouts out again for her to hurry up +and be quick; he is hungry, and wants his dinner. + +The poor woman, although almost exhausted, knows full well, by the +bitter experiences of the past, that to delay an instant would bring +upon herself severe punishment, and so she quickly seizes the scalping +knife and deftly skins the animal, and fills a pot with the savoury +venison, which is soon boiled and placed before his highness. While he, +and the men and boys whom he may choose to invite to eat with him, are +rapidly devouring the venison, the poor woman has her first moments of +rest. She goes and seats herself down where women and girls and dogs +are congregated, and there women and dogs struggle for the half-picked +bones which the men, with derisive laughter, throw among them! + +This was one of the sad aspects of paganism which I often had to witness +as I travelled among those bands that had not, up to that time, accepted +the Gospel. When these poor women get old and feeble, very sad and +deplorable is their condition. When able to toil and slave, they are +tolerated as necessary evils. When aged and weak, they are shamefully +neglected, and, often, put out of existence. + +One of the missionaries, on visiting a pagan band, preached from those +blessed words of the Saviour: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are +heavy laden, and I will give you rest." In his sermon he spoke about +life's toils and burdens, and how all men had to work and labour. The +men of the congregation were very angry at him; and at an indignation +meeting which they held, they said, "Let him go to the squaws with that +kind of talk. They have to carry all the heavy burdens, and do the hard +work. Such stuff as that is not for us men, but for the women." So +they were offended at him. + +At a small Indian settlement on the north-eastern shores of Lake +Winnipeg lived a chief by the name of Moo-koo-woo-soo, who deliberately +strangled his mother, and then burnt her body to ashes. When questioned +about the horrid deed, he coolly and heartlessly said that as she had +become too old to snare rabbits or catch fish, he was not going to be +bothered with keeping her, and so he deliberately put her to death. +Such instances could be multiplied many times. Truly "the tender +mercies of the wicked are cruel." + +In delightful contrast to these sad sights among the degraded savages +around us, were the kindly ways and happy homes of our converted +Indians. Among them a woman occupied her true position, and was well +and lovingly treated. The aged and infirm, who but for the Gospel would +have been dealt with as Moo-koo-woo-soo dealt with his mother, had the +warmest place in the little home and the daintiest morsel on the table. +I have seen the sexton of the church throw wide open the door of the +sanctuary, that two stalwart young men might easily enter, carrying in +their arms their invalid mother, who had expressed a desire to come to +the house of God. Tenderly they supported her until the service ended, +and then they lovingly carried her home again. But for the Gospel's +blessed influences on their haughty natures they would have died ere +doing such a thing for a woman, even though she were their own mother. + +Life for the women was not now all slavery. They had their happy hours, +and knew well how to enjoy them. Nothing, however, seemed so to delight +them as to be gliding about in the glorious summer time in their light +canoes. And sometimes, combining pleasure with profit, many a duck was +shot by these young Indian maidens. + +This changed feeling towards the aged and afflicted ones we have seen +manifested in a very expressive and blessed way at the great annual New +Year's Feast. It was customary for the Indians, long before they became +Christians, to have a great feast at the beginning of the New Year. In +the old times, the principal article of food at these horrid feasts was +dogs, the eating of which was accompanied by many revolting ceremonies. +The missionaries, instead of abolishing the feast, turned it into a +religious festival. I carried out the methods of my worthy predecessors +at Norway House, and so we had a feast every New Year's Day. + +The Crees call this day "Ooche-me-gou Kesigow," which literally means +"the kissing day," as on this day the men claim the right to kiss every +woman they meet; and, strange to say, every woman expects to be kissed. +It used to amuse me very much to see thirty or forty Indians, dressed up +in their finest apparel, come quietly marching into the Mission House, +and gravely kiss Mrs Young on her cheek. When I used to rally her over +this strange phase of unexpected missionary experience, she would +laughingly retort, "O, you need not laugh at me. See that crowd of +women out there in the yard, expecting you to go out and kiss them!" It +was surprising how much work that day kept me shut in my study; or if +that expedient would not avail, I used to select a dear old sweet-faced, +white-haired grandma, the mother of the chief, and say, "Now I am going +to kiss grandma; and as I kiss her you must all consider yourselves +kissed." This institution is more ancient among them than shaking +hands, about which they knew nothing until it was introduced by the +whites. + +For weeks before New Year's Day great preparations were made for the +feast. A council would be called, and the men would have recorded what +they were willing to give towards it. Some, who were good deer-hunters, +promised venison. Others promised so many beavers. Perhaps there were +those who knew where bears had made their winter dens, and they agreed +to go and kill them for the feast. Others, who were good fur-hunters, +stated their willingness to exchange some of the furs they would catch +for flour and tea and sugar at the trading post. + +Thus the business went on, until enough was promised, with the liberal +supplies given by the Hudson's Bay Company's officials and the +missionary, to make the affair a great success. An outbuilding of the +Mission, called "the fish house," was the place where all these various +things, as they were obtained, were stored. Months were sometimes +consumed in collecting the meat. But Jack Frost is a good preservative, +and so nothing spoiled. A few days before the feast, Mrs Young would +select several of the Indian women, and under her superintendency the +various supplies would be cooked. Very clever were these willing +helpers; and in a short time a quantity of food would be piled up, +sufficient for all, although it is well known that Indians have good +appetites. + +When the great day arrived, the men quickly removed the seats out of the +church, and there put up long tables. Great boilers of tea were made +ready, and every preparation was completed for a good time. But, before +a mouthful was eaten by any of the eight hundred or thousand persons +present, the chief used to ask me for a pencil and a piece of writing +paper; and then, standing up on a box or bench, he would shout out, "How +many of our people are aged, or sick, or afflicted, and cannot be with +us to-day!" As one name after another was mentioned, he rapidly wrote +them down. Then he read over the list, and said, "Let us not forget any +one." Somebody shouted out, "There is an old woman ten miles up the +river towards the old Fort." Somebody else said, "Have you the name of +that boy who was accidentally shot in the leg?" Their names were both +put down. Then somebody says, "There are two or three left behind in +the tent of the pagans, while the rest have come to the feast." "Let us +feed those who have come, and send something with our kind greetings to +the others," is the unanimous response. + +When it was certain that none had been overlooked, request was made to +me for all the old newspapers and packing paper I could give them, and +soon loving hands were busily engaged in cutting off large pieces of +different kinds of meat and arranging them with the large flat cakes in +generous bundles. To these were added little packages of tea and sugar. +In this way as many large bundles--each containing an assortment of +everything at the feast--would be made up as there were names on the +paper. Then the chief would call in, from where the young men were +busily engaged in playing football, as many of the fleet runners as +there were bundles, and giving each his load, would indicate the person +to whom he was to give it, and also would add, "Give them our New Year's +greetings and sympathy, and tell them we are sorry they cannot be with +us to-day." + +Very delightful were these sights to us. Such things paid us a +thousandfold for our hardships and sufferings. Here, before a mouthful +was eaten by the healthy and vigorous ones, large generous bundles, that +would last for days, were sent off to the aged and infirm or wounded +ones, who in all probability, but for the blessed influences of the +Gospel, if not quickly and cruelly put out of existence, would have been +allowed to linger on in neglect and wretchedness. + +Even the young runners seemed to consider that it was an honour to be +permitted to carry these bundles, with the loving messages, to the +distant homes or wigwams where the afflicted ones were. It was quite +amusing to watch them tighten up their belts and dash off like deers. +Some of them had several miles to go; but what cared they on this glad +day? + +According to seniority the tables were filled, and the feast began as +soon as the "Grace before Meat" had been sung. Mrs Young had her own +long table, and to it she invited not only the Hudson's Bay Company's +people, but as many of the aged and worthy from among the poor Indians +as we wished specially to honour. Sometimes we filled one table with +wild pagans who had come in from some distant forest home, attracted by +the reports of the coming great feast. Through their stomachs we +sometimes reached their hearts, and won them to Christ. + +Thus for hours the feast continued, until all had been supplied. None +were neglected, and everybody was happy. Then with a glad heart they +sang: + + "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow." + +When all the guests were satisfied, what was left was carried off by the +needy ones, among whom it was generously divided; the tables were +quickly taken down by the men, and the church was speedily swept clean +by some active women. The seats and pews were replaced, and every +arrangement was made for the great annual New Year's Meeting. The +church was lit up; and when the audience had gathered, a chairman was +appointed, and, after singing and prayer, speeches were made by several +of the Indians. + +Many pleasant and many sensible things were said. Some of the sober- +minded ones reviewed the year just gone, with all its blessings and +mercies, and expressed the hope that the one on which they had entered +would be crowned with blessings. Some of the speeches referred to +Treaty matters with the Government, and others were in reference to +their huntings and fisheries. Some were bright and witty, and were +received with laughter and applause. Others were of a serious, +religious character, and were equally welcome, and touched responsive +hearts. With pleasure I noticed that in them all the most frequent word +was "Na-nas-koomoo-win-ah," which means "Thanksgiving," and for this my +heart rejoiced. Thus ended, with the Doxology and Benediction, these +happy days, in which we saw so many evidences that the preaching of the +Gospel had not been in vain. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +OXFORD HOUSE MISSION--VISITED BY CANOE--DESCRIPTION OF THIS USEFUL +CRAFT-INDIAN SKILL--OXFORD LAKE--DR. TAYLOR--EDWARD PAPANEKIS--STILL ON +THE TRAIL BY BIRCH CANOE--NARROW ESCAPE FROM BEING CRUSHED BY THE ICE-- +ON STORMY LAKE WINNIPEG--PIONEERING FARTHER NORTH--SUCCESSES--"SHOW US +THE FATHER, AND IT SUFFICETH US"--CHRIST ACCEPTED IN THE PLACE OF IDOLS. + +I had received instructions from the Missionary Secretaries to visit +Oxford Mission as soon as possible, and to do all I could for its +upbuilding. This Mission had had a good measure of success in years +gone by. A church and Mission house had been built at Jackson's Bay, +and many of the Indians had been converted. But the village was too far +from the Hudson's Bay Company's Post, where the Indians traded, and +where naturally they gathered. For several years the work had been left +in charge of a native teacher. The people regretted the absence of an +ordained Missionary, and the place suffered accordingly. Making all the +arrangements I could for the successful prosecution of the work in my +absence, I left Norway House in a small canoe, manned by two of my +Christian Indians, one of whom was my interpreter. With this wonderful +little boat I was now to make my first intimate acquaintance. For this +wild land of broad lakes and rapid rivers and winding creeks, the birch- +bark canoe is the boat of all others most admirably fitted. It is to +the Indian denizen here what the horse is to his more warlike red +brother on the great prairies, or what the camel is to those who live +and wander amidst Arabian deserts. The canoe is absolutely essential to +these natives in this land, where there are no other roads than the +intricate devious water routes. It is the frailest of all boats, yet it +can be loaded down to the water's edge, and, under the skilful guidance +of these Indians, who are unquestionably the finest canoe men in the +world, it can be made to respond to the sweep of their paddles, so that +it seems almost instinct with life and reason. What they can do in it, +and with it, appeared to me at times perfectly marvellous. Yet when we +remember that for about five months of every year some of the hunters +almost live in it, this may not seem so very wonderful. It carries them +by day, and in it, or under it, they often sleep by night. At the many +portages which have to be made in this land, where the rivers are so +full of falls and rapids, one man can easily carry it on his head to the +smooth water beyond. In it we have travelled thousands of miles, while +going from place to place with the blessed tidings of salvation to these +wandering bands scattered over my immense Circuit. Down the wild rapids +we have rushed for miles together, and then out into great Winnipeg, or +other lakes, so far from shore that the distant headlands were scarce +visible. Foam-crested waves have often seemed as though about to +overwhelm us, and treacherous gales to swamp us, yet my faithful, well- +trained canoe men were always equal to every emergency, and by the +accuracy of their judgment, and the quickness of their movements, +appeared ever to do exactly the right thing at the right moment. As the +result, I came at length to feel as much at home in a canoe as anywhere +else, and with God's blessing was permitted to make many long trips to +those who could not be reached in any other way, except by dog-trains in +winter. + +Good canoe-makers are not many, and so really good canoes are always in +demand. + +Frail and light as this Indian craft may be, there is a great deal of +skill and ingenuity required in its construction. + +Great care is requisite in taking the bark from the tree. A long +incision is first made longitudinally in the trunk of the tree. Then, +from this cut, the Indian begins, and with his keen knife gradually +peels off the whole of the bark, as high up as his incision went, in one +large piece or sheet. And even now that he has safely got it off the +tree, the greatest care is necessary in handling it, as it will split or +crack very easily. Cedar is preferred for the woodwork, and when it can +possibly be obtained, is always used. But in the section of the country +where I lived, as we were north of the cedar limit, the canoe-makers +used pieces of the spruce tree, split very thin, as the best substitute +for cedar that our country afforded. + +All the sewing of the pieces of birch bark together, and the fastening +of the whole to the outer frame, is done with the long slender roots of +the balsam or larch trees, which are soaked and rubbed until they are as +flexible as narrow strips of leather. When all the sewing is done, the +many narrow limber pieces of spruce are crowded into their places, +giving the whole canoe its requisite proportions and strength. Then the +seams and weak spots are well covered over with melted pitch, which the +Indians obtain from the spruce and balsam trees. + +Great care is taken to make the canoe watertight. To accomplish this, +the boat is often swung between trees and filled with water. Every +place where the slightest leak is discovered is marked, and, when the +canoe is emptied, is carefully attended to. + +Canoes vary in style and size. Each tribe using them has its own +patterns, and it was to me an ever interesting sight, to observe how +admirably suited to the character of the lakes and rivers were the +canoes of each tribe or district. + +The finest and largest canoes were those formerly made by the Lake +Superior Indians. Living on the shores of that great inland sea, they +required canoes of great size and strength. These "great north canoes," +as they were called, could easily carry from a dozen to a score of +paddlers, with a cargo of a couple of tons of goods. In the old days of +the rival fur-traders, these great canoes played a very prominent part. +Before steam or even large sailing vessels had penetrated into those +northern lakes, these canoes were extensively used, loaded with the rich +furs of those wild forests, they used to come down into the Ottawa, and +thence on down that great stream, often even as far as to Montreal. + +Sir George Simpson, the energetic but despotic and unprincipled governor +of the Hudson's Bay Company for many years, used to travel in one of +these birch canoes all the way from Montreal up the Ottawa on through +Lake Nipissing into Georgian Bay; from thence into Lake Superior, on to +Thunder Bay. From this place, with indomitable pluck, he pushed on back +into the interior, through the Lake of the Woods, down the tortuous +river Winnipeg into the lake of the same name. Along the whole length +of this lake he annually travelled, in spite of its treacherous storms +and annoying head winds, to preside over the Council and attend to the +business of the wealthiest fur-trading company that ever existed, over +which he watched with eagle eye, and in every department of which his +distinct personality was felt. His famous Iroquois crew are still +talked about, and marvellous are the stories in circulation about many a +northern camp fire of their endurance and skill. + +How rapid the changes which are taking place in this world of ours! It +seems almost incredible, in these days of mighty steamships going almost +everywhere on our great waters, to think that there are hundreds of +people still living who distinctly remember when the annual trips of a +great governor were made from Montreal to Winnipeg in a birch-bark +Canoe, manned by Indians. + +Of this light Indian craft Longfellow wrote:-- + + "Give me of your bark, O Birch tree! + Of your yellow bark, O Birch tree! + Growing by the rushing river, + Tall and stately in the valley! + I a light canoe will build me, + Build a swift canoe for sailing. + + "Thus the Birch canoe was builded + In the valley, by the river, + In the bosom of the forest; + All its mystery and its magic, + All the brightness of the birch tree, + All the toughness of the cedar, + All the larch trees supple sinews; + And it floated on the river + Like a yellow leaf in autumn, + Like a yellow water-lily." + +We left for Oxford Mission on the 8th of September. The distance is +over two hundred miles, through the wildest country imaginable. We did +not see a house--with the exception of those built by the beavers--from +the time we left our Mission home until we reached our destination. We +paddled through a bewildering variety of picturesque lakes, rivers, and +creeks. When no storms or fierce head-winds impeded us, we were able to +make fifty or sixty miles a day. When night overtook us, we camped on +the shore. Sometimes it was very pleasant and romantic. At other +times, when storms raged and we were drenched with the rain so +thoroughly that for days we had not a dry stitch upon us, it was not +quite so agreeable. + +We generally began our day's journey very early in the morning, if the +weather was at all favourable, and paddled on as rapidly as possible, +since we knew not when head-winds might arise and stop our progress. +The Oxford route is a very diversified one. There are lakes, large and +small, across which we had to paddle. In some of them, when the wind +was favourable, our Indians improvised a sail out of one of our +blankets. Lashing it to a couple of oars, they lifted it up in the +favouring wind, and thus very rapidly did we speed on our way. + +At times we were in broad beautiful rivers, and then paddling along in +little narrow creeks amidst the reeds and rushes. We passed over, or, +as they say in that country, "made" nine portages around picturesque +falls or rapids. In these portages one of the Indians carried the canoe +on his head. The other made a great load of the bedding and provisions, +all of which he carried on his back. My load consisted of the two guns, +ammunition, two kettles, the bag containing my changes of raiment, and a +package of books for the Indians we were to visit. How the Indians +could run so quickly through the portages was to me a marvel. Often the +path was but a narrow ledge of rock against the side of the great +granite cliff. At other times it was through the quaking bog or +treacherous muskeg. To them it seemed to make no difference. On they +went with their heavy loads at that swinging Indian stride which soon +left me far behind. On some of my canoe trips the portages were several +miles long, and through regions so wild that there was nothing to +indicate to me the right direction. When we were making them, I used to +follow on as long as I knew I was in the right way. When I lost the +trail, I at once stopped and patiently waited until one of my faithful +men, having carried his load safely to the end, would come back for me. +Quickly picking up my load, he would hurry off, and even then, +unencumbered as I was, it was often as much as I could do to keep up +with him. + +Oxford Lake is one of the most beautiful and picturesque lakes I ever +saw. It is between twenty and thirty miles long and several miles wide. +It is studded with islands of every imaginable variety. Its waters are +almost as transparent as the clear, fresh air above it. When no breath +ripples its surface, one can look down into its crystal depths and see, +many feet below, the great fish quietly moving about. + +To visit the Indians who fish in its waters, and hunt upon its shores, I +once brought one of our Missionary Secretaries, the eloquent Reverend +Lachlin Taylor, DD. The trip down had not been one of the most +pleasant. The rains had drenched him, and the mosquitoes had plagued +him with such persistency, that he loudly bemoaned his lot in being +found in a country that was cursed with such abominable animals. + +One night I heard him muttering between his efforts to get them out of +his tent, where he declared they were attacking him in battalions:-- + + "They throng the air, and darken heaven, + And curse this Western land." + +However, when we reached Oxford Lake, the mosquitoes left us for a time. +The sun came out in splendour, and we had some days of rarest beauty. +The good doctor regained his spirits, and laughed when I rallied him on +some of his strong expressions about the country, and told him that I +hoped, as the result of his experience, he, as all Missionary +Secretaries ought, would have a good deal of sympathy for the +Missionaries who live in such regions for years together. + +We camped for the night on one of the most picturesque points. We had +two canoes, and to man them four Indians from our Norway House Mission. +As the doctor was an enthusiastic fisherman, he decided that we must +stop there during the forenoon, while he tried his hand. His first haul +was a splendid pike over two feet long. Great was his excitement as his +success was assured. Eloquence poured from him; we were flooded with +it. The Indians looked on in amazement while he talked of the beauties +of the lake and islands, of the water and the sky. + +"Wait a moment, doctor," I said. "I can add to the wild beauty of the +place something that will please your artistic eye." + +I requested two fine-looking Indians to launch one of the canoes, and to +quietly paddle out to the edge of an island which abruptly rose from the +deep, clear waters before us, the top of which had on it a number of +splendid spruce and balsams, massed together in natural beauty. I +directed the men to drop over the side of the canoe a long fishing line, +and then, posing them in striking attitudes in harmony with the place, I +asked them to keep perfectly still until every ripple made by their +canoe had died away. + +I confess I was entranced by the loveliness of the sight. The +reflections of the canoe and men, and of the islands and rocks, were as +vivid as the actual realities. So clear and transparent was the water, +that where it and the air met there seemed but a narrow thread between +the two elements. Not a breath of air stirred, not a ripple moved. It +was one of those sights which come to us but seldom in a lifetime, where +everything is in perfect unison, and God gives us glimpses of what this +world, His footstool, must have been before sin entered. + +"Doctor," I said quietly, for my heart was full of the Doxology, "tell +me what you think of that vision." + +Standing up, with a great rock beneath his feet, in a voice of +suppressed emotion he began. Quietly at first he spoke, but soon he was +carried away with his own eloquence:-- + +"I know well the lochs of my own beloved Scotland, for in many of them I +have rowed and fished. I have visited all the famed lakes of Ireland, +and have rowed on those in the Lake counties of England. I have +travelled far and oft on our great American lakes, and have seen Tahoe, +in all its crystal beauty. I have rowed on the Bosphorus, and travelled +in a felucca on the Nile. I have lingered in the gondola on the canals +of Venice, and have traced Rob Roy's canoe in the Sea of Galilee, and on +the old historic Jordan. I have seen, in my wanderings in many lands, +places of rarest beauty, but the equal of this mine eyes have never +gazed upon." + +Never after did I see the lake as we saw it that day. + +On it we have had to battle against fierce storms, where the angry waves +seemed determined to engulf us. Once, in speeding along as well as we +could from island to island, keeping in the lee as much as possible, we +ran upon a sharp rock and stove a hole in our canoe. We had to use our +paddles desperately to reach the shore, and when we had done so, we +found our canoe half-full of water, in which our bedding and food were +soaked. We hurriedly built a fire, melted some pitch, and mended our +canoe, and hurried on. + +On this lake, which can give us such pictures of wondrous beauty, I have +encountered some of the greatest gales and tempests against which I have +ever had to contend, even in this land of storms and blizzards. Then in +winter, upon its frozen surface it used to seem to me that the Frost +King held high carnival. Terrible were the sufferings of both dogs and +men on some of those trips. One winter, in spite of all the wraps I +could put around me, making it possible for me to run--for riding was +out of the question, so intense was the cold--every part of my face +exposed to the pitiless blast was frozen. My nose, cheeks, eyebrows, +and even lips, were badly frozen, and for days after I suffered. Cuffy, +the best of my Newfoundland dogs, had all of her feet frozen, and even +Jack's were sore for many a day after. My loyal Indians suffered also, +and we all declared Oxford Lake to be a cold place in winter, and its +storms worse than the summer mosquitoes. + +The Indians of Oxford Lake were among the finest in all the great North- +West. It was ever a joy to meet them as I used to do once in summer by +canoe trip, and then again in winter by dog-train. God blessed my +visits to them. The old members were cheered and comforted as the +Gospel was preached to them, and the Sacraments administered. Some +pagans were induced to renounce their old lives, and the cause of +religion was more and more established. The Reverend Mr Brooking, and, +later, the studious and devoted Reverend Orrin German, did blessed +service in that lonely Mission. At the present time the Reverend Edward +Papanekis is the acceptable Missionary there. + +Long years ago I found Edward a careless, sinful young man. Once he +rushed into the Mission house under the influence of liquor, and +threatened to strike me. But the blessed truth reached his heart, and +it was my joy to see him a humble suppliant at the Cross. His heart's +desire was realised. God has blessedly led him on, and now he is +faithfully preaching that same blessed Gospel to his countrymen at +Oxford Mission. + +In responding to the many Macedonian cries my Circuit kept so enlarging +that I had to be "in journeyings often." My canoes were sometimes +launched in spring, ere the great floating ice-fields had disappeared, +and through tortuous open channels we carefully paddled our way, often +exposed to great danger. + +On one of these early trips we came to a place where for many miles the +moving ice fields stretched out before us. One narrow channel of open +water only was before us. Anxious to get on, we dashed into it, and +rapidly paddled ourselves along. I had two experienced Indians, and so +had no fear, but expected some novel adventures--and had them with +interest. + +Our hopes were that the wind would widen the channel, and thus let us +into open water. But, to our disappointment, when we had got along a +mile or so in this narrow open space, we found the ice was quietly but +surely closing in upon us. As it was from four to six feet thick, and +of vast extent, there was power enough in it to crush a good-sized ship; +so it seemed that our frail birch-bark canoe would have but a poor +chance. + +I saw there was a reasonable possibility that when the crash came we +could spring on to the floating ice. But what should we do then? was +the question, with canoe destroyed and us on floating ice far from land. + +However, as my Indians kept perfectly cool, I said nothing, but paddled +away and watched for the development of events. Nearer and nearer came +the ice; soon our channel was not fifty feet wide. Already behind us +the floes had met, and we could hear the ice grinding and breaking as +the enormous masses met in opposite directions. Now it was only about +twenty feet from side to side. Still the men paddled on, and I kept +paddling in unison with them. When the ice was so close that we could +easily touch it on either side with our paddles, one of the Indians +quietly said, "Missionary, will you please give me your paddle?" I +quickly handed it to him, when he immediately thrust it with his own +into the water, holding down the ends of them so low horizontally under +the canoe that the blade end was out of water on the other side of the +boat. The other Indian held his paddle in the same position, although +from the other side of the canoe. Almost immediately after the ice +crowded in upon us. But as the points of the paddles were higher than +the ice, of course they rested upon it for an instant. This was what my +cool-headed, clever men wanted. They had a fulcrum for their paddles, +and so they pulled carefully on the handle ends of them, and, the canoe +sliding up as the ice closed in and met with a crash under us, we found +ourselves seated in it on the top of the ice. The craft, although only +a frail birch-bark canoe, was not in the least injured. + +As we quickly sprang out of our canoe, and carried it away from where +the ice had met and was being ground into pieces by the momentum with +which it met, I could not but express my admiration to my men at the +clever feat. + +After some exciting work we reached the shore, and there patiently +waited until the wind and sun cleared away the ice, and we could venture +on. My plan was to spend at least a week in each Indian village or +encampment, preaching three times a day, and either holding school with +the children, or by personal entreaty beseeching men and women to be +reconciled to God. When returning from the visit, which was a very +successful one, we had to experience some of the inconveniences of +travelling in such a frail bark as a birch canoe on such a stormy lake +as Winnipeg. + +The weather had been very unsettled, and so we had cautiously paddled +from point to point. We had dinner at what the Indians call Montreal +Point, and then started for the long crossing to Old Norway House Point, +as it was then called. It is a very long open traverse, and as lowering +clouds threatened us we pulled on as rapidly as our three paddles could +propel us. When out a few miles from land the storm broke upon us, the +wind rose rapidly, and soon we were riding over great white-crested +billows. My men were very skilful, and we had no fear; but the most +skilful management was necessary to safely ride the waves, which soon in +size were rivalling those of the ocean. A canoe is a peculiar craft, +and requires an experienced hand in these great storms. + +We were getting on all right, and were successfully climbing the big +waves in quick succession, alert and watchful that no sudden erratic +move should catch us off our guard and overturn us. At length we met a +wave of unusual height, and succeeded in climbing up into its foaming +crest all right. Then down its side our little craft shot with the +apparent velocity of a sled down a toboggan slide. When we reached the +bottom of this trough of the sea, our canoe slapped so violently upon +the water that the birch bark on the bottom split from side to side. Of +course the water rushed in upon us with uncomfortable rapidity. The +more we paddled the worse the water entered, as the exertion strained +the boat and opened the rent. Quickly folding up a blanket, I carefully +placed it over the long rent, and kneeled down upon it to keep it in +place. The man in the front of the canoe put down his paddle, and, +taking up the kettle, baled as rapidly as he could, while the Indian in +the stern, and myself in the middle, plied our paddles for dear life. +We turned towards the Spider Islands, which were over a mile away, and +by vigorous work succeeded in reaching one of them, although our canoe +was half full of water. Then could we enter into David's words, as for +life we struggled, and our little craft was tossed on the cross sea in +our efforts to reach a place of safety: "They reel to and fro, and +stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry +unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their +distresses." + +We paddled up as far as we could on a smooth granite rock that came out +gradually in the water. Then out we sprang, and strong hands dragged +our little canoe up beyond the reach of the waves. We hastily pulled +out our dripping blankets and soaked food and other things, and then, +overturning the canoe, emptied it of water; and as we saw the large +break in the bottom, we realised as we had not before the danger we had +been in, and the providential escape which had been ours. So, with glad +hearts, we said, "We do `praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His +wonderful works to the children of men.'" + +We quickly built a fire, and melted some pitch, a quantity of which is +always carried ready for such emergencies. The long rent was covered +over with a piece of cloth well saturated in the boiling pitch, a +quantity more was poured over, and the whole was carefully smoothed out +over the weak place. Soon it cooled and hardened, and the work was +done. We ate a little food, and then launched our frail craft and +pushed on. No serious accidents again troubled us, and we ended this +long canoe trip, as we had done many others, thankful that we had such +blessed opportunities to go to the remote places as heralds of the +Cross, and doubly thankful when we were safe at home again. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +On one of my canoe trips, when looking after pagan bands in the remote +Nelson River District, I had some singular experiences, and learned some +important lessons about the craving of the pagan heart after God. + +We had been journeying on for ten or twelve days when one night we +camped on the shore of a lake-like river. While my men were busily +employed in gathering wood and cooking the supper, I wandered off and +ascended to the top of a well wooded hill which I saw in the distance. +Very great indeed was my surprise, when I reached the top, to find +myself in the presence of the most startling evidences of a degraded +paganism. + +The hill had once been densely covered with trees, but about every third +one had been cut down, and the stumps, which had been left from four to +ten feet high, had been carved into rude representations of the human +form. Scattered around were the dog-ovens, which were nothing but holes +dug in the ground and lined with stones, in which at certain seasons, as +part of their religious ceremonies, some of their favourite dogs--white +ones were always preferred--were roasted, and then devoured by the +excited crowd. Here and there were the tents of the old conjurers and +medicine men, who, combining some knowledge of disease and medicine with +a great deal of superstitious abominations, held despotic sway over the +people. The power of these old conjurers over the deluded Indians was +very great. They were generally lazy old fellows, but succeeded +nevertheless in getting the best that was going, as they held other +Indians in such terror of their power, that gifts in the shape of fish +and game were constantly flowing in upon them. They have the secret art +among themselves of concocting some poisons so deadly that a little put +in the food of a person who has excited their displeasure will cause +death almost as soon as a dose of strychnine. They have other poisons +which, while not immediately causing death to the unfortunate victims, +yet so affect and disfigure them that, until death releases them, their +sufferings are intense and their appearance frightful. + +Here on this hill top were all these sad evidences of the degraded +condition of the people. I wandered around and examined the idols, most +of which had in front of them, and in some instances on their flat +heads, offerings of tobacco, food, red cotton, and other things. My +heart was sad at these evidences of such degrading idolatry, and I was +deeply impressed with my need of wisdom and aid from on high, so that +when I met the people who here worshipped these idols I might so preach +Christ and Him crucified that they would be constrained to accept Him as +their all-sufficient Saviour. + +While there I lingered, and mused, and prayed, the shadows of the night +fell on me, and I was shrouded in gloom. Then the full moon rose up in +the East, and as her silvery beams shone through the trees and lit up +these grotesque idols, the scene presented a strange weird appearance. +My faithful Indians, becoming alarmed at my long absence--for the +country was infested by wild animals--were on the search for me, when I +returned to the camp fire. We ate our evening meal, sang a hymn, and +bowed in prayer. Then we wrapped ourselves up in our blankets, and lay +down on the granite rocks to rest. Although our bed was hard and there +was no roof above us, we slept sweetly, for the day had been one of hard +work and strange adventure. + +After paddling about forty miles the next day we reached the Indians of +that section of the country, and remained several weeks among them. +With the exception of the old conjurers, they all received me very +cordially. These old conjurers had the same feelings toward me as those +who made silver shrines for Diana of Ephesus had toward the first +preachers of Christianity in their city. They trembled for their +occupation. They well knew that if I succeeded in inducing the people +to become Christians their occupation would be gone, and they would have +to settle down to work for their own living, like other people, or +starve. I visited them as I did the rest of the encampment, but they +had enmity in their hearts toward me. Of all their efforts to injure or +destroy me of course I knew not. That their threats were many I well +understood; but He Who had said, "Lo, I am with you alway," mercifully +watched over me and shielded me from their evil deeds. My two Indian +attendants also watched as well as prayed, with a vigilance that seemed +untiring. Very pleasant, indeed, are my memories of my faithful Indian +comrades on those long journeys. Their loyalty and devotion could not +be excelled. Everything that they could do for my safety and happiness +was cheerfully done. + +We held three religious services every day, and between these services +taught the people to read in the Syllabic characters. One day, in +conversing with an old fine-looking Indian, I said to him, "What is your +religion? If you have any clear idea of a religion, tell me in what you +believe." + +His answer was; "We believe in a good Spirit and in a bad spirit." + +"Why, then," I said, "do you not worship the good Spirit? I came +through your sacred grounds, and I saw where you had cut down some +trees. Part you had used as fuel with which to cook your bear or deer +meat; out of the rest you had made an idol, which you worship. How is +one part more sacred than the other? Why do you make and worship +idols?" + +I can never forget his answer, or the impressive and almost passionate +way in which the old man replied:-- + +"Missionary, the Indian's mind is dark, and he cannot grasp the unseen. +He hears the great Spirit's voice in the thunder and storms. He sees +the evidences of His existence all around, but neither he nor his +fathers have ever seen the great Spirit, or any one who has; and so he +does not know what He looks like. But man is the highest creature that +he knows of, and so he makes his idols like a man, and calls it his +`Manito.' We only worship them because we do not know what the great +Spirit looks like, but these we can understand." + +Suddenly there flashed into my mind the request of Philip to the Lord +Jesus: "Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us;" and the wonderful +answer: "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known +Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest +thou then, Show us the Father?" + +I opened my Indian Bible at that wonderful chapter of disinterested +love, the fourteenth of John, and preached unto them Jesus, in His two +natures, Divine and human. While emphasising the redemptive work of the +Son of God, I referred to His various offices and purposes of love and +compassion, His willingness to meet us and to save us from perplexity +and doubt, as well as from sin. I spoke about Him as our elder Brother, +so intimately allied to us, and still retaining His human form as He +pleads for us at the throne of God. I dwelt upon these delightful +truths, and showed how Christ's love had so brought him to us, that with +the eye of faith we could see Him, and in Him all of God for which our +hearts craved. "Whom having not seen, we love; in Whom, though now we +see Him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of +glory." + +For many days I needed no other themes. They listened attentively, and +the holy Spirit applied these truths to their hearts and consciences so +effectively that they gladly received them. A few more visits +effectually settled them in the truth. They have cut down their idols, +filled up the dog-ovens, torn away the conjurers' tents, cleared the +forest, and banished every vestige of the old life. And there, at what +is called "the Meeting of the Three Rivers," on that very spot where +idols were worshipped amidst horrid orgies, and where the yells, +rattles, and drums of the old conjurers and medicine men were heard +continuously for days and nights, there is now a little church, where +these same Indians, transformed by the glorious Gospel of the Son of +God, are "clothed and in their right mind, sitting at the feet of +Jesus." + +My visits to Nelson River so impressed me with the fact of the necessity +of some zealous missionary going down there and living among the people, +that, in response to appeals made, the Reverend John Semmens, whose +heart God had filled with missionary zeal, and who had come out to +assist me at Norway House, nobly resolved to undertake the work. He was +admirably fitted for the arduous and responsible task. But no language +of mine can describe what he had to suffer. His record is on high. The +Master has it all, and He will reward. Great were his successes, and +signal his triumphs. + +At that place, where I found the stumps carved into idols, which Brother +Semmens has so graphically described, the church, mainly through his +instrumentality and personal efforts, has been erected. In the last +letter which I have received from that land, the writer says: "The +Indians now all profess themselves to be Christians. Scores of them by +their lives and testimonies assure us of the blessed consciousness that +the Lord Jesus is indeed their own loving Saviour. Every conjuring drum +has ceased. All vestiges of the old heathenish life are gone, we +believe for ever." + +"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the +desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." + +Grandly has this prophecy been fulfilled, and dwarfs into insignificance +all the sufferings and hardships endured in the pioneer work which I had +in beginning this Mission. With a glad heart I rejoice that "unto me, +who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I +should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +THE WILD NORTH LAND--THE TWO METHODS OF TRAVEL, BY CANOE AND DOG-TRAIN-- +THE NATIVE DOGS--ST. BERNARD AND NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS--THE DOG SLEDS--THE +GUIDE--THE DOG DRIVERS--THE LONG JOURNEYS--NIGHT TRAVELLING--WONDROUS +VISIONS OF THE NIGHT. + +So destitute are these wild north lands of roads that there are really +no distinct words in the languages of these northern tribes to represent +land vehicles. In translating such words as "waggon" or "chariot" into +the Cree language, a word similar to that for "dog-sled" had to be used. + +No surveyor, up to the years about which I am writing, had visited those +regions, and there were literally no roads as understood in civilised +lands. + +So numerous are the lakes and rivers that roads are unnecessary to the +Indian in the summer time. With his light birch canoe he can go almost +everywhere he desires. If obstructions block up his passage, all he has +to do is to put his little canoe on his head, and a short run will take +him across the portage, or around the cataracts or falls, or over the +height of land to some other lake or stream, where he quickly embarks +and continues his journey. + +All summer travelling is done along the water routes. Naturally the +various trading posts and Indian villages or encampments are located on +the edges of the lakes or rivers, or very near them, so as to be most +conveniently reached in this way. So short are the summers that there +are only about five months of open water to be depended upon in these +high latitudes. During the other seven months the dog sled is the only +conveyance for purposes of travelling. So rough and wild is the country +that we know of no vehicle that could take its place, and no animals +that could do the work of the dogs. + +As the years of toil rolled on, my Mission field or Circuit so enlarged +that it extended irregularly north and south over five hundred miles, +with a width in some places of over three hundred. In summer I +travelled over it in a birch canoe, and in winter with my dog-trains. + +At first it seemed very novel, and almost like child's play, to be +dragged along by dogs, and there was almost a feeling of rebellion +against what seemed such frivolous work. But we soon found out that we +had travelled in worse conveyances and with poorer steeds than in a good +dog sled, when whirled along by a train of first-class dogs. + +The dogs generally used are of the Esquimaux breed, although in many +places they have become so mixed up with other varieties as to be almost +unrecognisable. The pure Esquimaux sled dogs are well-built, compact +animals, weighing from eighty to a hundred and twenty pounds. They are +of various colours, and have a close, warm, furry coat of hair. They +have sharp-pointed ears and very bushy, curly tails. They are the most +notorious thieves. I never could completely break an Esquimaux dog of +this propensity. It seemed ingrained in their very natures. I have +purchased young puppies of this breed from the natives, have fed them +well, and have faithfully endeavoured to bring them up in the way in +which they ought to go, but I never could get them to stay there. Steal +they would, and did, whenever they had an opportunity. + +This serious defect may have been the result of the constant and +unremitting neglect with which Indians generally treat their dogs. They +are fond of them in a way, and are unwilling to part with them, except +at a good price; yet, except when working them, they very seldom feed +them. The dogs are generally left to steal their living, and some of +them become very clever at it, as more than once I found to my sorrow. +When the fisheries are successful, or many deer have been killed, the +dogs, like their owners, are fat and flourishing. When food is scarce, +the dogs' allowance is the first cut off. We could always tell at a +glance, when a band of wild, wandering pagan Indians came in to visit +our village from their distant hunting grounds, how they had prospered. +If they and their dogs were fat and good-natured, they had had abundance +of food. If, while the people looked fairly well, the dogs were thin +and wolfish, we knew they had fared but moderately. If the dogs were +all gone and the people looked gaunt and famine-stricken, we knew they +had had hard times, and, as a last resort, had eaten their poor dogs to +keep themselves alive. + +Some of the Indians who make a pretence to feed their dogs in winter +never think of doing so in summer. The result is that, as they have to +steal, hunt, or starve, they become adepts in one or the other. +Everything that is eatable, and many things apparently uneatable, are +devoured by them. They fairly howled with delight when they found +access to such things as old leather moccasins, dog harness, whips, fur +caps, mitts, and similar things. They greedily devoured all they could, +and then most cunningly buried the rest. Many of them go off in summer- +time on long fishing excursions. I once, when away on a canoe trip, met +a pack of them up a great river over a hundred miles from their home. +When we first saw them at a long distance, we mistook them for wolves, +and began to prepare for battle. The quick eyes of my Indian canoe men +soon saw what they were, and putting down our guns, we spent a little +time in watching them. To my great surprise I found out that they were +fishing on their own account. This was something new to me, and so I +watched them with much interest. + +On the side of the river on which they were was a shallow, reedy marsh, +where the water was from a few inches to a foot in depth. In these +shallow waters, at certain seasons of the year, different varieties of +fish are to be found. The principal is the Jack fish, or pike, some of +which are over three feet long. As they crowd along in these shallows, +often with their back fins out of the water, they are observed by the +dogs, who quietly wade out, often to a distance of many yards, and seize +them with such a grip that, in spite of their struggles, they are +carried in triumph to the shore, and there speedily devoured. Sometimes +the dogs will remain away for weeks together on these fishing +excursions, and will return in much better condition than when they +left. + +During the winter of the first Riel Rebellion, when all our supplies had +been cut off, my good wife and I got tired of dining twenty-one times a +week on fish diet, varied only by a pot of boiled musk rats, or a roast +hind-quarter of a wild cat. To improve our bill of fare, the next +summer, when I went into the Red River Settlement, I bought a sheep, +which I carefully took out with me in a little open boat. I succeeded +in getting it safely home, and put it in a yard that had a heavy +stockade fence twelve feet high around it. In some way the dogs got in +and devoured my sheep. + +The next summer, I took out a couple of pigs, and put them into a little +log stable with a two-inch spruce plank door. To my great disgust, one +night the dogs ate a hole through the door and devoured my pigs. + +There seemed to be a good deal of the wolf in their nature. Many of +them never manifested much affection for their masters, and never could +be fully depended upon. Still I always found that even with Esquimaux +dogs patience and kindness went farther than anything else in teaching +them to know what was required of them, and in inducing them to accept +the situation. Some of them are naturally lazy, and some of them are +incorrigible shirks; and so there is in dog-driving a capital +opportunity for the exercise of the cardinal virtue of patience. + +As my Mission increased in size, and new appointments were taken up, I +found I should have to be on the move nearly all the winter if those who +longed for the Word of Life were to be visited. Do the best I could, +there were some bands so remote that I could only visit them twice a +year. In summer I went by canoe, and in winter by dog-train. After a +few wretched experiences with native dogs, where I suffered most +intensely, as much on account of their inferior powers as anything else, +I began to think of the many splendid St. Bernard and Newfoundland dogs +I had seen in civilised lands, doing nothing in return for the care and +affection lavished upon them. These thoughts, which came to me while +far from home, were promptly followed by action as soon as that terrible +trip was ended, in which every part of my face exposed to the intense +cold had been frozen, even to my eyebrows and lips. + +Missionary Secretaries were amused at the requisition for dogs, and had +their laugh at what they called "my unique request," and wrote me to +that effect. Thanks, however, to the kindness of such men as the +Honourable Mr Sanford, of Hamilton, the Honourable Mr Ferrier, of +Montreal, and other friends, I had in my possession some splendid dogs +before the next season opened, and then the work went on with increasing +interest and satisfaction. With splendid, well-trained dogs, I could so +shorten the time of the three hundred miles' trip, that, instead of +shivering seven or eight nights in a hole dug in the snow, we could +reduce the number to four or five. + +Those who have experienced the sufferings and hardships of camping out +in the forest with the temperature ranging from thirty to sixty degrees +below zero, will agree that to escape two or three nights of it meant a +good deal. + +I found by years of experience that the St. Bernard and Newfoundland +dogs had all the good qualities, and none of the defects, of the +Esquimaux. By kindness and firmness they were easily broken in, and +then a whip was only an ornamental appendage of the driver's picturesque +costume. Of these splendid dogs I often had in my possession, counting +old and young, as many as twenty at a time. The largest and best of +them all was Jack, a noble St. Bernard. He was black as jet, and stood +over thirty-three inches high at his fore shoulder. When in good +working trim, he weighed about a hundred and sixty pounds. He had no +equal in all that northern land. Several times he saved my life, as we +shall see further on. No whip ever ruffled his glossy coat; no danger +ever deterred him from his work, when he with his marvellous +intelligence once got to know what was expected of him. No blizzard +storm, no matter how fickle and changeful, could lead him off from the +desired camping place, even if the courage of other dogs failed them, +and even though the guides gave up in despair. + +The distance we could travel with dogs depended of course very much on +the character of the trail or route. On the frozen surface of Lake +Winnipeg, when no blinding gales opposed us, and our dogs were good and +loads not too heavy, we have made from seventy to ninety miles a day. +One winter I accomplished the journey from Fort Garry to Norway House in +five days and a half--a distance of nearly four hundred miles. When we +were toiling along in the dense forests, where the snow lay deep and the +obstructions were many, and the country was broken with hills and +ravines, we often did not make more than a third of that distance, and +then suffered much more than when we had made much greater journeys +under more favourable auspices. + +The dog sleds are made of two oak or birch boards, about twelve feet +long, eight or nine inches wide, and from half an inch to an inch thick. +These two boards are fastened securely together, edge to edge, by +crossbars. Then one of the ends is planed down thin, and so thoroughly +steamed or soaked in hot water that it can easily be bent or curved up +to form what is called the head of the sled. It is then planed smooth, +and fitted out with side loops. The front ones are those to which the +traces of the dogs are attached, and the others along the sides are used +to fasten the load securely. When finished, allowing two or three feet +for the curled-up head, a good dog sled is nine or ten feet long, and +from sixteen to eighteen inches wide. + +Sometimes they are fitted with parchment sides and a comfortable back. +Then they are called carioles. When the dogs were strong enough, or the +trail was a well beaten one, or we were travelling on the great frozen +lakes, I was able to ride the greater part of the time. Then it was not +unpleasant or toilsome work. But as many of my winter trails led me +through the primeval forests, where the snow was often very deep, and +the hills were steep, and the fallen trees many, and the standing ones +thickly clustered together, on such journeys there was but little +riding. One had to strap on his snow shoes, and help his faithful +Indians to tramp down the deep snow in the trail, that the poor dogs +might drag the heavily loaded sleds along. + +Four dogs constitute a train. They are harnessed in tandem style, as +all this vast country north of the fertile prairies is a region of +forests. The Esquimaux style of giving each dog a separate trace, thus +letting them spread out in a fan-like form, would never do in this land +of trees and dense under-bush. + +The harness, which is made of moose skin, is often decorated with +ribbons and little musical bells. Singular as it may appear, the dogs +were very fond of the bells, and always seemed to travel better and be +in greater spirits when they could dash along in unison with their +tinkling. Some dogs could not be more severely punished than by taking +the bells off their harness. + +The head dog of the train is called "the leader." Upon him depends a +great deal of the comfort and success, and at times the safety, of the +whole party. A really good leader is a very valuable animal. Some of +them are so intelligent that they do not require a guide to run ahead of +them, except in the most dense and unbeaten forest trails. I had a +long-legged white dog, of mixed breed, that ever seemed to consider a +guide a nuisance, when once he had got into his big head an idea of what +I wanted him to do. Outside of his harness Old Voyager, as we called +him, was a morose, sullen, unsociable brute. So hard to approach was he +that generally a rope about sixty feet long, with one end fastened +around his neck, trailed out behind him. When we wanted to catch him, +we generally had to start off in the opposite direction from him, for he +was as cunning as a fox, and ever objected to being caught. In zigzag +ways we moved about until he was thrown off his guard, and then by-and- +by it was possible to come near enough to get hold of the long rope and +haul him in. When once the collar was on his neck, and he had taken his +place at the head of the party, he was the unrivalled leader. No matter +how many trains might happen to be travelling together, no one thought +of taking first place while Old Voyager was at hand. + +Lake Winnipeg is very much indented with deep, wide bays. The headlands +are from five to thirty miles apart. When dog-travelling on that great +lake in winter, the general plan is to travel from headland to headland. +When leaving one where perhaps we had slept or dined, all we had to do +was to turn Old Voyager's head in the right direction, and show him the +distant point to which we wished to go; and although it might be many +miles away, a surveyor's line could not be much straighter than the +trail our sleds would make under his unerring guidance. + +I have gone into these details about this mode of travelling, because +there is so little known about it in the outside world. Doubtless it +will soon become a thing of the past, as the Indians are settling down +in their Reservations, and, each tribe or band having a resident +Missionary, these long, toilsome journeys will not be essential. + +The companions of my long trips were the far-famed Indian runners of the +north. The principal one of our party was called "the guide." To him +was committed the responsibility of leading us by the quickest and +safest route to the band of Indians we wished to visit with the good +news of a Saviour's love. His place was in front of the dogs, unless +the way happened to lead us for a time over frozen lakes or well-beaten +trails, where the dogs were able to go on alone, cheered by the voice of +their drivers behind. When the trail was of this description, the guide +generally strode along in company with one of the drivers. + +As the greater part of my work was in the wild forest regions, there +were many trips when the guide was always at the front. Marvellously +gifted were some of these men. The reader must bear in mind the fact +that there were no roads or vestiges of a path. Often the whole +distance we wished to go was through the dense unbroken forest. The +snow, some winters, was from two to four feet deep. Often the trees +were clustered so closely together that it was at times difficult to +find them standing far enough apart to get our sleds, narrow as they +were, between them. In many places the under-brush was so dense that it +was laborious work to force our way through it. Yet the guide on his +large snowshoes was expected to push on through all obstructions, and +open the way where it was possible for the dog-sleds to follow. His +chief work was to mark out the trail, along which the rest of us +travelled as rapidly as our loaded sleds, or wearied limbs, and often +bleeding feet, would allow. + +Wonderfully clever and active were these guides in this difficult and +trying work. To them it made but little difference whether the sun +shone brightly, or clouds obscured the sky. On and on they pushed +without hesitancy or delay. There were times when the sun's rays were +reflected with such splendour from the snowy wastes, that our eyes +became so affected by the glare, that it was impossible to travel by +sunlight. The black eyes of the Indians seemed very susceptible to this +disease, which they call "snow blindness." It is very painful, as I +know by sad experience. The sensation is like that of having red-hot +sand thrown on the eyeballs. Often my faithful dog-drivers used to +suffer so from it that, stoical as they naturally are, I have known them +to groan and almost cry out like children in the camp. + +Once, in travelling near Oxford Lake, we came across a couple of Indians +who were stone-blind from this disease. Fortunately they had been able +to reach the woods and make a camp and get some food ready ere total +blindness came upon them. We went out of our course to guide them to +their friends. + +To guard against the attack of this disease, which seldom occurs except +in the months of March and April, when the increasing brightness of the +sun, in those lengthening days, makes its rays so powerful, we often +travelled only during the night-time, and rested in the sheltered camps +during the hours of sunshine. On some of our long trips we have +travelled eight nights continuously in this way. We generally left our +camp about sundown. At midnight we groped about as well as we could, +aided by the light of the stars or the brilliant auroras, and found some +dry wood and birch bark, with which we made a fire and cooked a midnight +dinner. Then on we went until the morning light came. Then a regular +camp was prepared, and breakfast cooked and eaten, and the dogs were +fed, instead of at night. Prayers said, and ourselves wrapped up in our +blankets and robes, we slept until the hours of brilliant sunshine were +over, when on we went. + +It always seemed to me that the work of the guides would be much more +difficult at night than during the daytime. They, however, did not +think so. With unerring accuracy they pushed on. It made no matter to +them whether the stars shone out in all the beauty and brilliancy of the +Arctic sky, or whether clouds arose and obscured them all. On the guide +pushed through tangled underwood or dense gloomy forest, where there +were not to be seen, for days, or rather nights, together, any other +tracks than those made by the wild beasts of the forest. + +Sometimes the wondrous auroras blazed out, flashing and scintillating +with a splendour indescribable. At times the whole heavens seemed aglow +with their fickle, inconstant beauty, and then various portions of the +sky were illumined in succession by their ever-changing bars, or columns +of coloured light. Man's mightiest pyrotechnic displays dwarfed into +insignificance in the presence of these celestial visions. For hours at +a time have I been entranced amidst their glories. So bewildering were +they at times to me that I have lost all ideas of location, and knew not +which was north or south. + +But to the experienced guide, although, like many of the Indians, he had +a keen appreciation of the beauties of nature, so intent was he on his +duties that these changing auroras made no difference, and caused him no +bewilderment in his work. This, to me, was often a matter of surprise. +They are very susceptible in their natures, and their souls are full of +poetry, as many of their expressive and beautiful names indicate. To +them, in their pagan state, those scintillating bars of coloured light +were the spirits of their forefathers, rank after rank, rushing out to +battle. Yet, while on our long trips I have had Indians as guides who +became intensely interested in these wondrous visions of the night, I +never knew them to lose the trail or become confused as to the proper +route. + +Very pleasant are my memories of different guides and dog-drivers. With +very few exceptions they served me loyally and well. Most of them were +devoted Christian men. With me they rejoiced to go on these long +journeys to their countrymen who were still groping in the darkness, but +most of them longing for the light. Many of them were capable of giving +exhortations or addresses; and if not able to do this, they could, Paul- +like, tell the story of their conversion, and how they had found the +Saviour. + +My heart warms to those faithful men, my companions in many a storm, my +bed-fellows in many a cold wintry camp. Memory brings up many incidents +where they risked their lives for me, and where, when food was about +exhausted, and the possibilities of obtaining additional supplies for +days were very poor, they quietly and unostentatiously put themselves on +quarter rations, for days together, that their beloved missionary might +not starve. + +Some of them have finished their course. Up the shining trail, +following the unerring Guide, they have gone beyond the auroras and +beyond the stars right to the throne of God. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +ON THE TRAIL WITH THE DOGS, TO FIELDS RIPE FOR THE REAPER--THE PLACE-- +THE TRIP--THE WINTER CAMP--THE BITTER COLD--ENDURING HARDNESS--DEATH +SHAKING HANDS WITH US--MANY DAYS ON THE TRAIL. + +In January, 1869, I started on my first winter trip to Nelson River, to +visit a band of Indians there, who had never yet seen a missionary or +heard the glad tidings of salvation. Their principal gatherings were at +the little trading post on the Burntwood River. Their hunting grounds +extended so very far north that they bordered on those of the Esquimaux, +with whom, however, the Indians have no dealings. Between these two +races, the Indian and the Esquimaux, there is no affinity whatever. +They differ very materially in appearance, language, customs, and +beliefs. Though they will seldom engage in open hostilities, yet they +are very rarely at peace with each other, and generally strive to keep +as far apart as possible. + +The weather was bitterly cold, as the temperature ranged from thirty- +five to fifty-five below zero. Our course was due north all the way. +The road we made, for there was none ahead of the snow-shoe tracks of +our guide, was a rugged, unbroken forest path. As the country through +which we passed is rich in fur-bearing animals, we saw many evidences of +their presence, and occasionally crossed a hunter's trail. We passed +over twenty little lakes, averaging from one to thirty miles in +diameter. Over these our dogs drew us very fast, and we could indulge +in the luxury of a ride; but in the portages and wood-roads our progress +was very slow, and generally all of us, with our snow-shoes on, and at +times with axes in hand, had to tramp on ahead and pack the deep snow +down, and occasionally cut out an obstructing log, that our dogs might +be able to drag our heavily laden sleds along. Sometimes the trees were +so thickly clustered together that it was almost impossible to get our +sleds through them. At times we were testing our agility by climbing +over fallen trees, and then on our hands and knees had to crawl under +reclining ones. Our faces were often bleeding, and our feet bruised. +There were times when the strap of my snowshoes so frayed and lacerated +my feet that the blood soaked through the moccasins and webbing of the +snowshoes, and occasionally the trail was marked with blood. We always +travelled in Indian file. At the head ran or walked the guide, as the +roads would permit. On these trips, when I got to understand dog- +driving, I generally followed next; and behind me were three other dog- +trains, each with an Indian driver. + +Sometimes the snow was so deep that the four dog-drivers went ahead of +the dogs, immediately behind the guide, and, keeping in line with him, +industriously packed down the snow, that the dogs might the more easily +drag the heavy sleds along. The reason why our loads were so heavy was +this. We were not in a country where, when night overtook us, we could +find some hospitable home to welcome us. Neither were we where there +were hotels or houses in which for money we could secure lodgings. We +were in one of the most desolate and thinly inhabited parts of the +world, where those who travel long distances see no human beings, except +the Indian hunters, and these but rarely. Hence, in spite of all our +efforts to make our loads as light as possible, they would be heavy, +although we were only carrying what was considered absolutely essential. +We had to take our provisions, fish for our dogs, kettles, tin dishes, +axes, bedding, guns, extra clothing, and various other things, to meet +emergencies that might arise. + +The heaviest item on our sleds was the fish for the dogs. Each dog was +fed once a day, and then received two good white fishes, each weighing +from four to six pounds. So that if the daily allowance for each dog +averaged five pounds, the fish alone on each sled would weigh one +hundred and twenty pounds, when we began a trip of a week's duration. +Then the bitter cold and the vigorous exercise gave both the drivers and +the missionary good appetites, and so the food provided for them was of +no insignificant weight. + +We generally stopped about half an hour before sundown in order to have +time, ere darkness enshrouded us, to prepare our camp. As we journeyed +on we had observed that the guide who had been running along in front +had been, for the last half hour or so, carefully scanning the forest to +the right and left. At length he stopped, and as we came up to him we +said, "Well, Tom, what is the matter?" + +His answer is, "Here is a capital place for our camp." + +"Why do you think so?" we ask. + +He replies, "Do you see those balsams? They will furnish us with a bed, +and this cluster of dry, dead small trees will give us the wood we need +for our fire." So we quickly set to work to prepare for our all-night +stay in the woods. + +The dogs were soon unharnessed, and seemed thankful to get their heads +out of their collars. They were never tied up, neither did they ever +desert us, or take the back track for home. Some of the younger ones +often organised a rabbit hunt on their own responsibility, and had some +sport. The older and wiser ones looked around for the most cosy and +sheltered spots, and there began to prepare their resting-places for the +night. They would carefully scrape away the snow until they came to the +ground, and there, with teeth and paws, would make the spot as smooth +and even as possible. They would then curl themselves up, and patiently +wait until they were called to supper. After unharnessing our dogs, our +next work was with our axes, and there was a good sharp one for the +Missionary, to cut down some of the green balsams and dry dead trees. +Then using our snowshoes as shovels, from the place selected for our +camp we soon scraped away the snow, piling it up as well as we could to +the right, left, and in rear of where we were to sleep. On the ground +thus cleared of snow we spread out a layer of the balsam boughs, and in +front, where the wind would blow the smoke from us, we made up a large +fire with the small dry trees which we had cut down. + +On this blazing log fire we put our two kettles, which we had filled +with snow. When it melted down, we refilled the kettles, until enough +water was secured. In the large kettle we boiled a piece of fat meat, +of goodly size, and in the other we made our tea. + +On my first trip I carried with me a tin basin, a towel, and a cake of +soap. At our first camp-fire, when the snow had been melted in our +kettle, I asked the guide to give me a little of the water in my basin. +Suspecting the purpose for which I wanted it, he said, "What are you +going to do with it?" + +"Wash my face and hands," I replied. + +Very earnestly he answered, "Please, Missionary, do not do so." + +I was longing for a good wash, for I felt like a chimney-sweep. We had +been travelling for hours through a region of country where, in the +previous summer, great forest fires had raged, leaving many of the +trunks of the trees charred and black. Against some of them we had +often rubbed, and to some of them, or their branches, we had had to +cling as we went dashing down some of the ravines. The result of these +weary hours of toil amidst charred trunks was very visible, and I +rejoiced that an opportunity had arrived when I could wash off the sooty +stuff. Great indeed was my surprise to hear this strong protest on the +part of my guide against my doing anything of the kind. + +"Why should I not wash?" I said, holding up my blackened hands. + +"You must not let water touch you out in the open air, when it is so +very cold as it is to-day," was his answer. + +I was very inexperienced then, and not willing to lose my wash, which I +so much needed, I did not heed the warning. Having a blazing fire +before me and a good dry towel, I ventured to take the wash, and for a +minute or two after felt much better. Soon, however, there were strange +prickling sensations on the tops of my hands, and then they began to +chap and bleed, and they became very sore, and did not get well for +weeks. The one experiment of washing in the open air with the +temperature in the fifties below zero was quite enough. In the +following years I left the soap at home and only carried the towel. +When very much in need of a wash, I had to be content with a dry rub +with the towel. Mrs Young used to say, when I returned from some of +these trips, that I looked like old mahogany. The bath was then +considered a much-needed luxury. + +For our food, when travelling in such cold weather, we preferred the +fattest meat we could obtain. From personal experience I can endorse +the statements of Arctic explorers about the value of fat or oil and +blubber as articles of food, and the natural craving of the system for +them. Nothing else seemed to supply the same amount of internal heat. +As the result of experience, we carried the fattest kind of meat. + +As soon as the snow was melted down in the larger of our kettles, meat +sufficient for our party was soon put on and boiled. While it was +cooking, we thawed out the frozen fish for our dogs. Such is the effect +of the frost that they were as hard as stone, and it would have been +cruel to have given them in that state to the noble animals that served +us so well. Our plan was to put down a small log in front of the fire, +so close to it that when the fish were placed against it, the intensity +of the heat would soon thaw them out. The hungry dogs were ever sharp +enough to know when their supper was being prepared; and as it was the +only meal of the day for them, they crowded around us and were impatient +at times, and had to be restrained. + +Sometimes, in their eagerness and anxiety for their food--for it often +required a long time for the fire to thaw the fishes sufficiently for us +to bend them--the dogs in crowding one before the other would get into a +fight, and then there would be trouble. Two dogs of the same train very +seldom fought with each other. Yoke-fellows in toil, they were too wise +to try to injure each other in needless conflict. So, when a battle +began, the dogs quickly ranged themselves on the sides of their own +comrades, and soon it was a conflict of train against train. At first I +thought it cruel not to feed them more frequently, but I found, as all +experienced dog-drivers had told me, that one good meal a day was the +best for them. So great were my sympathies for them that sometimes I +would give them a good breakfast in the morning; but it did not turn out +to be of any real benefit. The additional meal made them sluggish and +short-winded, and they did not seem to thrive so well. Good white fish +was the best food we could give them, and on this diet they could thrive +and work as on no other. + +A goodly number of _dog-shoes_ were very necessary on these wild, rough +trips. Dogs' feet are tender, and are liable to injury from various +causes. On the smooth glare ice the pads of the feet would sometimes +wear so thin that they bled a good deal. Then on the rough roads there +was always the danger of their breaking off a claw or running a sliver +through the webbing between the toes. Many of the wise old dogs that +had become accustomed to these shoes, and thus knew their value, would +suddenly stop the whole train, and by holding up an injured foot very +eloquently, if mutely, tell the reason why they had done so. + +The dog-shoes are like heavy woollen mits without the thumbs, made in +different sizes. When a foot is injured, the mit is drawn on and +securely tied with a piece of soft deer-skin. Then the grateful dog, +which perhaps had refused to move before, springs to his work, often +giving out his joyous barks of gratitude. So fond do some of the dogs +become of these warm woollen shoes that instances are known where they +have come into the camp from their cold resting-places in the snow, and +would not be content until the men got up and put shoes on all of their +feet. Then, with every demonstration of gratitude, they have gone back +to their holes in the snow. + +Our dogs having been fed, we next make our simple arrangements for our +own supper. + +A number of balsam boughs are spread over the spot near the fires, from +which the snow has been scraped away by our snowshoes. On these is laid +our table-cloth, which was generally an empty flour bag, cut down the +side. Our dishes, all of tin, are placed in order, and around we gather +with vigorous appetites. It is fortunate that they are so good, as +otherwise our homely fare would not be much prized. The large piece of +fat meat is served up in a tin pan, and our pint cups are filled up with +hot tea. If we are fortunate enough to have some bread, which was far +from being always the case, we thaw it out and eat it with our meat. +Vegetables were unknown on these trips. Our great staple was fat meat, +and the fatter the better; morning, noon, and night, and often between +times did we stop and eat fat meat. If we did vary the _menu_, it would +be by making a raid on the dogs' supply, and in the evening camp cooking +ourselves a good kettle of fish. + +As we dared not wash our hands or faces, of course such a thing as +washing dishes was unknown. When supper was in progress, Jack Frost +made us busy in keeping ourselves and provisions warm. I have seen the +large piece of meat put back into the pot three times during the one +meal, to warm it up. I have seen the ice gather on the top of the cup +of tea that a few minutes before was boiling vigorously in the kettle. + +After supper wood was cut, to be in readiness for the morning's fire; +and every break in clothes or harness was repaired, that there might be +no delay in making a good start. Then the guide, who always had charge +of all these things, when satisfied that all was arranged, would say, +"Missionary, we are ready for prayers." The Bible and Hymn-book were +brought out, and the Indians gathered round me, and there together we +offered up our evening devotions. Would that our readers could have +seen us! The background is of dense balsam trees, whose great drooping +branches, partially covered with snow, sweep the ground. Above us are +the bright stars, and, it may be, the flashing auroras. In front of us +is the blazing fire, and scattered around us, in picturesque confusion, +are our dog-sleds, snow-shoes, harness, and the other essentials of our +outfit. A few of the dogs generally insisted on remaining up until +their masters had retired, and they were now to be seen in various +postures around us. With uncovered heads, no matter how intense the +cold, my Christian Indians listened reverently, while in their own +language I read from the precious volume which they have learned to love +so well. Then together we sang a hymn. Frequently it would be the +Evening Hymn, the first verse of which in their beautiful Cree language +is as follows:-- + + "Ne mahmechemon ne muntome + Kahke wastanahmahweyan, + Kah nah way yemin Kechabyah + Ah kwah-nahtahtah-kwahnaoon." + +After singing we bow in prayer. There is there, as there should be +everywhere, a consciousness of our dependence upon the great Helper for +protection and support, and so the prayer we sang:-- + + "Keep me, O keep me, King of Kings, + Beneath Thine own Almighty wings." + +is indeed our heart's desire. + +Sometimes we are a hundred and fifty miles from the nearest human +habitation. We are camping out in the woods in a hole dug in the snow. +We have no walls around us but the snow thrown out of the place in which +we are huddled, with perhaps the addition of some balsam boughs. We +have no roof above us but the stars. There in that place we are going +to lie down and try to sleep during that bitter cold night. The light +fire will soon go out. A foot of snow may fall upon us, and its coming +will be welcomed, as its warmth will lessen our shivering. Prowling +grey wolves may come near us, but the terrible Frost King is more to be +feared than they. + +Does anybody, who knows the efficacy of prayer, wonder that, as we draw +near to God, "by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving," we crave +the assurance of His favour and smile, and that He, Who never slumbers +or sleeps, will be our Guardian and our Friend? + +After prayers we soon _retire to rest_. The guide's familiar words soon +after prayers used to be, "Now, Missionary, I will make your bed." This +was his work, and he was an adept at it. He first spread out a layer of +evergreen boughs, and then on these he laid a large buffalo robe, and +upon this a heavy blanket. Then, placing my pillow so that my head +would be farthest away from the fire, he would say to me, "Now, if you +will get into bed, I will cover you up and tuck you in." + +Such a thing as disrobing out there in a wintry camp is unknown, unless, +as the result of the violent exercise of running all day, a person's +underclothing has become very damp by perspiration, and it is not safe +to sleep in it in that condition. + +Some travellers sleep in a fur bag, in which they manage to insert +themselves, and then have it tightened around their necks. Then a large +fur hood over the usual head-gear completes their sleeping apparel. I +used to wrap myself up in a heavy overcoat over my usual apparel, and +then putting on long buffalo-skin boots, fur mits, cap, cape, and big +mufflers, considered myself rigged up for retiring. When thus wrapped, +I used to have some difficulty in getting down into the bed, although it +was only on the ground. When in position, the guide would throw over me +another heavy blanket and fur robe. Then very skilfully, and in a way +most motherly, he would begin at my feet and carefully tuck me in. +Rapidly and deftly did he proceed with his work, and almost before I was +aware of what he was doing, he had reached my head, which he began to +cover completely up with the heavy robe which he seemed to be crowding +down under my back and shoulders. + +The first time he packed me in in this manner I was only able to stand +it for a minute or two, as I thought I should be smothered. So I very +suddenly threw up my arms and sent the whole upper covering off in a +hurry. + +"Do you wish to smother me, man?" I said. "I cannot live with my head +covered up like that!" + +Without any annoyance at my having so quickly undone his work, he +replied very kindly, "I know it must be hard work for you white people +to sleep with your heads completely covered up, but you will have to do +it here, or you will freeze to death. You must be very careful, for +this seems to be a very cold night indeed." Then he called my attention +to the distant thunder-like sounds which we had been hearing +occasionally during the evening. That, he told me, was the ice, from +four to six feet thick, on the great lake, cracking in the bitter cold. +"Look at the smoke," he added. "See how it keeps very near the ground. +It does that in the bitter cold nights." + +From the trees around us we heard occasionally a sharp pistol-like +report, loud enough at times to make a nervous person fancy that lurking +enemies were firing at us. + +The observant Indians say these loud reports are burstings in the trees +caused by the freezing of the sap. + +Admiring his cleverness and kindness, I told him that I had been taught +that every person requires so many cubic feet of fresh air; and, cold or +no cold, how did he think I could get my share with my head covered up +as he desired? "You must do with less out here," he said, as he +proceeded to cover me up again, while I tried to arrange myself so that +I could at least have a small portion of air. Kindly and patiently he +humoured me, and then, when he had finished tucking me in, he said, +"Now, Missionary, good-night; but don't stir. If you do, you may +disarrange your coverings while you sleep, and you may freeze to death +without waking up." + +"Don't stir!" What a command, I thought, to give a tired traveller +whose bones ache from his long snow-shoe tramping in the woods, whose +nerves and muscles are unstrung, and who, like others when thus +fatigued, has even found it helpful to his rest and comfort to turn +occasionally and stretch his limbs! + +In this frame of mind, and under this order, which, after all, I felt +must be obeyed for fear of the dire results that might follow, I at +length managed to fall asleep, for I was very weary. After a while I +woke up to a state of semi-consciousness, and found myself tugging and +pulling at what I thought in my dreamy condition was the end of an axe +handle. The vague impression on my mind was, that some careless Indian +had left his axe just behind my head, and in the night the handle had +fallen across my face, and I had now got hold of the end of it. +Fortunately for me, I very quickly after this woke fully up, and then +found out that what I had imagined to be the end of an axe handle was my +own nose; and a badly frozen one it was, and both of my ears were about +in the same condition. + +With the guide's last orders in my ears, I think I must have gone to +sleep all right, but I suppose, from the unusual smothering sensation, +unconsciously I must have pushed down the robes from my face, and +uncovered my head and my hand, and then gradually returned to +consciousness with the above results. However, after a few nights of +this severe kind of discipline, I at length became as able to sleep with +my head covered up as an Indian. + +When a foot or eighteen inches of snow fell upon us, we rejoiced, for it +added to our comfort, and caused us to sleep the better. Under this +additional covering we generally rested a couple of hours longer than +usual, often to make up for the loss of sleep of the previous nights, +when we had found it impossible, or had considered it dangerous, to go +to sleep. + +The hardest work and the most disagreeable is the getting up from such a +bed in such a place. Often, in spite of the intense cold, we are in a +kind of a clammy perspiration, on account of the many wraps and +coverings about us. As we throw off these outer garments, and spring up +in our camp, Jack Frost instantly assails us in a way that makes us +shiver, and often some are almost compelled to cry out in bitter +anguish. + +Fortunately the wood is always prepared the night before, and so, as +quickly as possible, a great roaring fire is built up, and our breakfast +of strong tea and fat meat is prepared and eaten with all speed. + +There were times when the morning outlook was gloomy indeed, and our +position was not an enviable one. On one of my trips, of only a hundred +and eighty miles, in order to save expense, I only took with me one +companion, and he was a young Indian lad of about sixteen years of age. +We each had our own train of dogs, and as Old Voyager was leader we +guided him by voice alone, and he did not disappoint us. One morning, +when we sprang up from our wintry camp-bed, we found that several inches +of snow had fallen upon us during the night. As soon as possible we +arranged our wood in order and endeavoured to kindle our fire. We had +been late the previous evening in reaching this camping place, and so +had to grope around in the rapidly increasing darkness for our wood. It +was of very inferior quality, but as we had succeeded in cooking our +suppers with part of it, we had not anticipated any trouble with the +rest. The snow which had fallen upon it had not improved it, and so, as +we lighted match after match, we were at first disgusted, and then +alarmed, at finding that the poor stuff persistently refused to ignite. +Of course we had to take our hands out of our big fur mits when trying +to light the matches. Before we had succeeded in our attempts to start +the fire our hands began to chill, and soon they were so powerless that +we were not able to hold a match in our fingers. Very naturally we +became alarmed, but we persevered as long as possible. I remember that, +taking one of the matches between my teeth and holding up an axe before +me, I tried to jerk my head quick enough to light it in that way, but +the experiment was not a success. + +Suddenly there came the consciousness that we were not far from +perishing if we could not make a fire. I quickly turned to my young +comrade, and saw by the look in his face that he also grasped the +situation, and was terrified at the outlook. + +"Alec," I said, "this is a serious thing for us." + +"Yes, Missionary," said he. "I am afraid we die here. If we can make +no fire and have no breakfast, I am afraid we will freeze to death." + +"Not so bad as that yet, Alec," I said. "God is our refuge and help. +He has given us other ways by which we can get warm. As quickly as +possible get on your snow-shoes, and up with your hood and on with your +mits, and I will do likewise, and now see if you can catch me." + +In much less time than I have taken to describe it, we were rigged up +for rapid snow-shoe running, and were off. Away I rushed through the +woods as rapidly as I could on my snow-shoes. The lad followed me, and +thus we ran chasing and catching each other alternately as though we +were a couple of boisterous schoolboys instead of a Missionary and his +Indian companion striving to save themselves from freezing to death. + +After about half an hour of this most vigorous exercise, we felt the +warmth coming back to our bodies, and then the hot blood began working +its way out to our benumbed hands, and by-and-by we could bend our +fingers again. When we felt the comfortable glow of warmth over our +whole bodies, we rushed back again to the camp, and, gathering a +quantity of birch bark which we found loosely hanging from the trees, +and which is very inflammable, we soon had a good fire and then our hot +breakfast. At our morning devotions which followed there was a good +deal of thanksgiving, and the grateful spirit continued in our hearts as +we packed up our loads, harnessed up our dogs, and sped on our way. It +was a very narrow escape. The King of Terrors looked us both in the +face that cold morning, and very nearly chilled us into death by the icy +fingers of the Frost King. + +As the hours of daylight in the winter months in these high latitudes +are so few, we generally roused ourselves up several hours before +daylight. Often my kind-hearted men endeavoured to get up first, and +have a rousing fire made and breakfast cooked, before I would awake. +This, however, did not occur very often, as such a bed was not conducive +to sleep; so, generally, after about four or five hours in such a state +of suffocation, I was thankful to get up the instant I heard any one +stirring. I would rather freeze to death than be suffocated. + +There were times not a few when I was the first to get up, and kindle +the fire and cook the breakfast before I called my faithful wearied +companions, who, long accustomed to such hardships, could sleep on +soundly, where for me it was an absolute impossibility. Sometimes my +men, when thus aroused, would look up at the stars and say "Assam +weputch," _i.e._, "Very early." All I had to do was to look gravely at +my watch, and this satisfied them that it was all right. The breakfast +was quickly eaten, our prayers were said, our sleds loaded, dogs +captured and harnessed--with the Esquimaux ones this was not always an +easy task--and we were ready to start. + +Before starting we generally threw the evergreen brush on which we had +slept on the fire, and by its ruddy, cheerful light began our day's +journey. When some mornings we made from twenty-five to forty miles +before sunrise, the Indians began to think the stars were about right +after all, and the Missionary's watch very fast. However, they were +just as willing to get on rapidly as I was, and so did not find fault +with the way in which I endeavoured to hurry our party along. I paid +them extra whenever the record of a trip was broken, and we could lessen +the number of nights in those open-air camps in the snow. + +We were six days in making our first winter trip to Nelson River. In +after years we reduced it to four days. The trail is through one of the +finest fur-producing regions of the North-West. Here the wandering +Indian hunters make their living by trapping such animals as the black +and silver foxes, as well as the more common varieties of that animal. +Here are to be found otters, minks, martens, beavers, ermines, bears, +wolves, and many other kinds of the fur-bearing animals. Here the black +bears are very numerous. On one canoe trip one summer we saw no less +than seven of them, one of which we shot and lived on for several days. + +Here come the adventurous fur traders to purchase these valuable skins, +and great fortunes have been made in the business. If, merely to make +money and get rich, men are willing to come and put up with the +hardships and privations of the country, what a disgrace to us if, for +their souls' sake, we are afraid to follow in these hunters' trail, or, +if need be, show them the way, that we may go with the glad story of a +Saviour's love! + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +NELSON RIVER--A DEMONSTRATIVE WELCOME--FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICE--A FOUR +HOURS' SERMON--THE CHIEF'S ELOQUENT REPLY--THE OLD MAN WITH +GRANDCHILDREN IN HIS WIGWAM--"OUR FATHER"--"THEN WE ARE +BROTHERS"--"YES"--"THEN WHY IS THE WHITE BROTHER SO LONG TIME IN COMING +WITH THE GOSPEL TO HIS RED BROTHER?"--GLORIOUS SUCCESSES. + +It was at my second visit to Nelson River that the work really +commenced. Through some unforeseen difficulty at the first visit, many +of the natives were away. Hunting is even at the best a precarious mode +of obtaining a livelihood. Then, as the movements of the herds of deer, +upon the flesh of which many of these Indians subsist for the greater +part of the year, are very erratic, it is often difficult to arrange for +a place of meeting, where food can be obtained in sufficient abundance +while the religious services are being held. + +It used to be very discouraging, after having travelled for several days +together, either by canoe in summer, or dog-trains in winter, to reach a +certain place which had been arranged for meeting, and find very few +present. The deer, and other animals on which they had expected to +live, had gone in another direction, and the Indians had been obliged to +follow them. + +Everything, however, favoured us on our second visit. We found over +fifty families camped at the place of meeting, and full of curiosity to +see the Missionary. They had all sorts of strange notions in their +minds. When Mr Rundle, of the English Wesleyan Church, first went +among some of the wild tribes of the great Saskatchewan country, with +his open Bible, preaching the wonderful Gospel truths, great was the +excitement of the people to know where this strange man had come from. +So a great council was summoned, and the conjurers were ordered to find +out all about it. After a great deal of drumming and dreaming and +conjuring, they gravely reported that this strange man with his +wonderful book had been wrapped up in an envelope, and had come down +from the Great Spirit on a rainbow! + +The Nelson River Indians welcomed me very cordially, and were much more +demonstrative in their greetings than were any of the other tribes I had +visited, although I had had my share of strange welcomes. Here the +custom of handshaking was but little known, but the more ancient one of +kissing prevailed. Great indeed was my amazement when I found myself +surrounded by two hundred and fifty or three hundred wild Indians, men, +women, and children, whose faces seemed in blissful ignorance of soap +and water, but all waiting to kiss me. I felt unable to stand the +ordeal, and so I managed to put them off with a shake of the hand, and a +kind word or two. + +At eight o'clock the next morning we called the Indians together for the +first public religious service which most of them had ever attended. +They were intensely interested. My Christian Indians from Norway House +aided me in the opening services, and, being sweet singers, added very +much to the interest. We sang several hymns, read a couple of lessons +from the Bible, and engaged in prayer. At about nine o'clock I read as +my text those sublime words: "For God so loved the world, that He gave +His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not +perish, but have everlasting life." + +They listened with the most enrapt attention, while for four hours I +talked to them of some of the truths of this glorious verse. They had +never heard a sermon before; they were ignorant of the simplest truths +of our blessed Christianity; and so I had to make everything plain and +clear as I went along. I could not take anything for granted with that +audience. So I had to take them back to the Creation and Fall. Then I +spoke of God's love in providence and grace; and of His greatest act of +love, the gift of His only begotten beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, +Who died that we might live. I dwelt on the benefits which come to us +from the personal acceptance of this Saviour. I tried hard to show how +we, who had wandered so far away, were invited back to actual adoption +into God's great family, as a conscious reality. I spoke of the +universality and impartiality of God's love; of His willingness to +receive all, to fill our hearts with joy and peace, to comfort us all +through life, to sustain us in death, and then to take us to everlasting +life in a world of light and glory. + +The ever-blessed Spirit most graciously applied the truth, as I tried, +in the simplest and plainest way, to bring it down to their +comprehension. The attention they gave showed that my words were being +understood. Their bright eyes glistened and at times were suffused with +tears, and as I closed the long-pent-up silence gave place to loud +exclamations of delight. + +Then we translated into their language and sang part of the good old +hymn:-- + + "O for a thousand tongues to sing + My great Redeemer's praise, + The glories of my God and King, + The triumphs of His grace!" + +Again we bowed in prayer, and, at my request, they repeated after me all +the petitions which in short easy sentences we offered up to Him Who is +the Hearer and Answerer of prayer. A spirit of awe and solemnity seemed +to rest upon us. It was the first time the great majority had ever +attempted to pray in the Name of Jesus, and I felt a sweet assurance +that those simple petitions, from the hearts and lips of those poor +Indians, were not despised by Him Whose great heart of love beats so +true to all. After prayer I requested them all to again seat themselves +on the ground, as I wished to hear from them about these great truths +which I had come so far to tell them of. I wanted to know what were +their wishes and determinations about becoming Christians. When I had +finished, every eye turned towards the principal chief, as these +Indians, like the other tribes, have their unwritten laws of precedence. +He rose up from his place among his people, and, coming near me on my +right hand, he made one of the most thrilling addresses I ever heard. +Years have passed away since that hour, and yet the memory of that tall, +straight, impassioned Indian is as vivid as ever. His actions were +many, but all were graceful. His voice was particularly fine and full +of pathos, for he spoke from his heart. Here is the bare outline of his +speech, as, with my interpreter to aid me, I shortly afterwards wrote it +down. + +"Missionary, I have long lost faith in our old paganism." Then pointing +down to the outer edge of the audience, where some old conjurers and +medicine men were seated, he said, "They know I have not cared for our +old religion. I have neglected it. And I will tell you, Missionary, +why I have not believed in our old paganism for a long time. I hear God +in the thunder, in the tempest, and in the storm; I see His power in the +lightning that shivers the tree into kindling wood; I see His goodness +in giving us the moose, the reindeer, the beaver, and the bear; I see +His loving-kindness in giving us, when the south winds blow, the ducks +and geese; and when the snow and ice melt away, and our lakes and rivers +are open again, I see how He fills them with fish. I have watched these +things for years, and I see how during every moon of the year He gives +us something; and so He has arranged it, that if we are only industrious +and careful, we can always have something to eat. So thinking about +these things which I had observed, I made up my mind years ago, that +this Great Spirit, so kind and so watchful and so loving, did not care +for the beating of the conjurer's drum, or the shaking of the rattle of +the medicine man. So I for years have had no religion." + +Then turning towards me and looking me in the face, he said, in tones +that thrilled me, "Missionary, what you have said to-day fills up my +heart and satisfies all its longings. It is just what I have been +expecting to hear about the Great Spirit. I am so glad you have come +with this wonderful story. Stay as long as you can; and when you have +to go away, do not forget us, but come again as soon as you can." + +Loud expressions of approval greeted these words of the chief. When he +had finished, I said, "I want to hear from others, and I want your own +views on these important things." Many responded to my request, and, +with the exception of an old conjurer or two, who feared for their +occupation, all spoke in the same strain as did the head chief. The +last to speak was an old man with grizzly hair, and wild, excited +movements. He was a queer, savage-looking man, and came from the rear +of the company to the front with strange springy movements. His hair +was braided, and reached to his knees. Threading his way through the +audience, he came up close to me, and then, pushing his fingers into his +hair as far as its braided condition would allow, he exclaimed in a tone +full of earnestness, "Missionary, once my hair was as black as a crow's +wing, now it is getting white. Grey hairs here, and grandchildren in +the wigwam, tell me that I am getting to be an old man; and yet I never +before heard such things as you have told us to-day. I am so glad I did +not die before I heard this wonderful story. Yet I am getting old. +Grey hairs here, and grandchildren yonder, tell the story. Stay as long +as you can, Missionary, tell us much of these things, and when you have +to go away, come back soon, for I have grandchildren, and I have grey +hairs, and may not live many winters more. Do come back soon." + +He turned as though he would go back to his place and sit down; but he +only went a step or two ere he turned round and faced me, and said, +"Missionary, may I say more?" + +"Talk on," I said. "I am here now to listen." + +"You said just now, `Notawenan.'" ("Our Father.") + +"Yes," I said, "I did say, `Our Father.'" + +"That is very new and sweet to us," he said. "We never thought of the +Great Spirit as Father: we heard Him in the thunder, and saw Him in the +lightning, and tempest; and blizzard, and we were afraid. So, when you +tell us of the Great Spirit as Father, that is very beautiful to us." + +Hesitating a moment, he stood there, a wild, picturesque Indian, yet my +heart had strangely gone out in loving interest and sympathy to him. + +Lifting up his eyes to mine, again he said, "May I say more?" + +"Yes," I answered, "say on." + +"You say, `Notawenan'." ("_Our_ Father"). "He is your Father?" + +"Yes, He is my Father." + +Then he said, while his eyes and voice yearned for the answer, "Does it +mean He is my Father--poor Indian's Father?" + +"Yes, O yes!" I exclaimed. "He is your Father too." + +"Your Father--missionary's Father, and Indian's Father, too!" he +repeated. + +"Yes, that is true," I answered. + +"Then we are brothers?" he almost shouted out. + +"Yes, we are brothers," I replied. The excitement in the audience had +become something wonderful. When our conversation with the old man had +reached this point, and in such an unexpected, and yet dramatic manner, +had so clearly brought out, not only the Fatherhood of God, but the +oneness of the human family, the people could hardly restrain their +expressions of delight. The old man, however, had not yet finished, and +so, quietly restraining the most demonstrative ones, he again turned to +me, and said,-- + +"May I say more?" + +"Yes, say on; say all that is in your heart." + +Never can I forget his answer. + +"Well, I do not want to be rude, but it does seem to me that you, my +white brother, have been a long time in coming with that great Book and +its wonderful story, to tell it to your red brothers in the woods." + +This question thrilled me, and I found it hard to answer. This is the +question that millions of weary, longing, waiting souls, dissatisfied +with their false religions, and craving for that soul rest which only +can be found in the hearty acceptance of the glorious Gospel of the Son +of God, are asking. I tried to apologise for the slowness of the +advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the apathy of those who, +while acknowledging the brotherhood of humanity, so often forget that +they are their brother's keeper. + +We closed the service for a brief period, and then, as soon as a hurried +dinner had been eaten, we all assembled again for the afternoon service. +This second service lasted for five hours. After singing and prayer, I +read the beautiful story of the Ethiopian eunuch, and the Baptismal +Service. I endeavoured to explain what we meant by becoming Christians, +and stated that I was willing to baptize all who would renounce their +paganism, with its polygamy, conjuring, gambling, and other vices, and +from that time begin to worship the true God. Polygamy was the greatest +stumbling-block among them, as some of them had three or four wives. +Intemperance here is but little known, on account perhaps of the great +difficulty of importing liquor into a region so remote from +civilisation. + +After I had spent a long time in making clear the doctrines or the +blessed Book, and had answered many questions, I invited all who were +willing to comply with these conditions, and desired baptism, to come to +the front of the audience, where I was standing. + +About forty men and women immediately responded, and came forward and +seated themselves at my feet. Some were trembling, others were weeping: +all seemed deeply moved. Then I read the beautiful Scripture lessons in +connection with the baptismal service for children, and dwelt upon the +love of Jesus for children, and His willingness to receive them. I +invited the parents to consecrate their children to God, even if they +themselves were as yet undecided. We had a solemn and impressive time. + +All desired new names, and for the great majority I had to make the +selection. While baptizing them and selecting Christian names as +additions to their generally poetic and expressive Indian names, my +constant prayer was, that they might "see His face, and His name" be +Written "in their foreheads." + +Still there was some opposition. Satan would not thus easily be +dispossessed or driven out. Old conjurers and medicine men, faithful +followers of the enemy, quickly began their opposition. Their selfish +natures were aroused. They were shrewd enough to see that if I +succeeded, as I was likely to do, they, like Demetrius, the shrine-maker +of Diana, would soon be without an occupation. So at this afternoon +gathering they were there to oppose. But they were in such a helpless +minority that they dared do no worse than storm and threaten. One +savage old conjurer rushed up to me, just as I was about to baptize his +wife, who, with many others, had come for this sign and seal of her +acceptance of Christ. Before I had perceived his purpose, or had power +to stop him, he seized and shook her roughly, and, looking at me, in his +impotent wrath, said in an insulting manner,-- + +"Call her Atim," ("dog"). + +"No," I said, looking kindly at the poor trembling woman, "I will do +nothing of the kind; but I will give her the sweetest name ever borne by +woman, for it was the name of the mother of Jesus." + +So I baptized her Mary. + +We spent several days in giving lessons in the Syllabic characters +between the religious services, three of which we endeavoured to hold +each day. Sometimes we assembled all the people together, and, with +these characters marked on the side of a rock with a burnt stick, we +taught them as best we could. At other times we went from tent to tent, +and gave them lessons, and had religious conversation and prayer. + +It was on one of these rounds of wigwam visitations that I came across +Pe-pe-qua-na-pua, or Sandy Harte, the story of whose life and conversion +has been so widely circulated. Several acquired such a knowledge of +these characters that, by persevering for a few weeks, they were able to +read very nicely in the blessed Book. + +I left with them several dozen copies of the New Testament, Hymn-books, +and Catechisms, in their own language. + +So great was their anxiety for religious instruction, that many of them +remained for three days after they had eaten all of their provisions. +When I first heard this, I could hardly credit it, but found out by +personal investigation that it was the actual fact. With tears in their +eyes they bade me farewell, and said, that on account of their famishing +children they must start off for their fishing and hunting grounds. But +they added, "What we have heard from you will make us glad and thankful +all the time." + +With my faithful travelling companions, I made a trip out from Nelson +River to another small band about thirty miles away. We spent the +Sabbath in a miserable wigwam, where the snow and sleet dashed in upon +us, making us shiver in spite of all we could do. Still, as the poor +Indians were anxious to hear the Gospel, we soon forgot our physical +discomforts in the joy of preaching this great salvation. Nineteen of +them accepted Christ as their Saviour, and were baptized. We held a +meeting for the purpose of hearing them tell of their wishes as to this +blessed religion. Many very interesting things were said. We here +record only one. + +A fine-looking man said, "What has fully decided me to endeavour to be a +good Christian all my days is this. The Missionary has told us many +reasons, all sufficient to decide us; but the one that came very near to +my heart was, that all the little children who have died have been taken +to that better land, and there they are with the loving Saviour in +heaven. My little ones have passed away, leaving my heart sore and +bleeding. I yearn after them; I long to meet them again. So I want so +to live that when I die Jesus will permit me to embrace them, and never +be separated from them again." + +On this trip, we found at another small encampment a young girl, about +twelve years of age, dying of consumption. I talked to her of Jesus and +heaven, and prayed with her several times. When the closing scene drew +near, she said to her sorrowing mother, "I am glad the praying man has +told me such words of comfort. I have lost that dread of death I had. +I believe that dear Jesus will take me to that better land; but, mother, +when you come, will you look for me until you find me? for I do wish to +see you again." + +Is it any wonder that I became deeply attached to these Nelson River +Indians? I visited them twice a year, and by pen and voice pleaded for +them until my heart's desire was obtained, and a brother beloved +volunteered to go and live among them. Of him with joy I write. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +A WELCOME ACCESSION--THE REVEREND JOHN SEMMENS--A DEVOTED YOUNG +MISSIONARY--FIRST TO RESIDE AT NELSON RIVER--IN LABOURS AND IN PERILS +OFT--IN JOURNEYINGS OFT BY DOG-TRAINS TOGETHER--THE CENTENARIAN OLD +CHRISTIAN--WILLIAM PAPANEKIS--HIS GODLY LIFE AND WONDROUS TRANSLATION. + +One cold wintry morning we were gladdened by the arrival of a dear +brother and colleague in the work, the Reverend John Semmens, who had +left a comfortable charge in Ontario, and had come out to help me in the +prosecution of the blessed work. Brother Semmens had to taste, early in +his missionary work among the Indians, some of the dangers incident to +such a life. He came to us at Norway House in the depth of the winter, +and suffered much from the intense cold and blizzard storms. One night, +while trying to rest in the camp in the woods on his way out, a fierce +storm blew down a large tree, which fell very close to him. +Providentially no one was hurt. + +He soon became very popular among the Indians, for whom he subsequently +gave many years of successful, self-denying toil. His presence with us +in our home was a great joy. None but those who have been deprived of +the pleasure of the society and fellowship of kindred spirits can +realise what a benediction this sweet-spirited and devoted young brother +was in our home. With one great object before us, that of doing the +greatest possible good we could to the Indians among whom we were called +to labour, and fortunately seeing "eye to eye" as to the methods of our +work, we spent some months and broken years in harmony in doing what we +could. + +Brother Semmens' name will ever be associated with the Nelson River +Mission, as he was the first missionary to go and live in that region of +country and among those wandering Aborigines, who had received me with +such expressions of joy when on my visits, so few, alas! and far +between. Very many indeed were Mr Semmens' hardships. Their wandering +life made his work slow and at times discouraging. He had not at first +a knowledge of their language, and could not always get an interpreter. +However, as the love of Christ was the constraining motive, he +persevered, and great indeed was his success among them. + +We will not here insert any of the many thrilling incidents of his +romantic pioneer work among them. We hope that from his fluent pen will +come his own record, which will be a very valuable addition to +missionary literature. Often did we, like the early ones sent out by +the Master in pairs, go together on some long and difficult exploring +tours. At many a camp-fire and in many a wigwam have we talked and +pleaded with the wandering Indians, and have besought them to be +reconciled to God. Hundreds of miles have we tramped on together, until +our limbs were cramped and our feet were bleeding; and then, in the cold +camp after supper and prayers, have we crowded in close together under +the same robes and tried to sleep. Will either of us ever forget the +trip in to District Meeting at Winnipeg, where on the great Lake we got +separated from the rest of our party, but by rapid travelling reached +the comfortable home and cordial welcome of our beloved Chairman, the +Reverend George Young, thus escaping the terrible blizzard in which so +many suffered? Then the return trip was equally exciting and perilous. +We left Winnipeg on the Saturday afternoon with our heavily loaded dog +sleds. At Mr Sifton's, near Selkirk, we were cordially welcomed, and +here we remained in quiet rest and joyous worship during the Sabbath +day. When the clock struck the hour of midnight, we exchanged our black +clothes for our leather suits. We harnessed up our dogs, and then, +after eating a midnight meal, we bade our host and hostess farewell, and +pushed out under the stars on our long journey to the far North. Mr +Semmens' journey would not be finished until he was six or seven hundred +miles nearer the North Pole. + +Mr Sifton told me in after years, that they could only sit there and +weep as they thought of our starting off in the bitter cold and gloom of +that midnight hour on such a journey. Missionary work to them from that +hour took on itself additional interest, and ever after much greater, if +possible, was their love for those who for His sake were willing to +endure hardness in extending the knowledge of His Name. + +Ere the sun rose, we were near the Willow Islands, and there we had our +breakfast. It was getting late in the winter season, and so the +reflection of the brilliant rays of the sun on the dazzlingly white +snowy waste of Winnipeg gave us both a touch of snow-blindness. Still, +as we could see a little, we only stopped when it was necessary, and +rapidly hurried on. When about twenty miles from Beren's River night +came down upon us; but I could not bear the idea of having again to +sleep in a miserable camp when home was so near, for at this time I was +in charge of the new work among the Saulteaux. So I said to Brother +Semmens, and to our two well-disciplined dog-drivers, "Courage, men, a +little longer; let us not stop here in the bitter cold when our homes +are so near." The Indians responded with a will, and rejoiced that we +were to go on. But my beloved Brother Semmens was completely tired out, +and my heart was filled with sorrow as I saw how utterly exhausted he +was. Throwing himself down on the cold, icy surface of the lake, he +said, "Throw me out a blanket and a piece of pemmican, and leave me +here. I cannot go a step further. The rest of you have wives and +children to lure you on to your homes; I have none. I can go no +farther. My feet are bleeding from the straps of my snowshoes. I will +stay here. Never mind me." + +Thus the dear fellow talked, for he was exhausted and discouraged. I +did not feel much better, but I tried to put a bold face on the matter, +and I said, "No, indeed, we will not leave you here. We are going on, +and we are going to take you with us; and a good supper under a roof, +and then a warm bed, are to be yours before morning comes." + +One of my dogs, called Muff, a magnificent but over-ambitious St. +Bernard, the gift of Mrs Andrew Allen, of Montreal, had broken her +collar-bone during this trip. The plan generally adopted, when such an +accident happens to one of the dogs, was to kill it at once, and then +push on with the diminished train. However, as Muff was such a valuable +dog, and there was a possibility of her recovering, I decided to carry +her home, although we were a long distance from it. I so arranged my +sled that she could ride upon it, and she soon became quite reconciled +to her place. But it meant a good deal of hard running for me. Before +the accident occurred, I could ride a great part of the time, although +we had over six hundred pounds weight upon the sled. However, as Jack +was one of the train, I was able to ride when the ice was good. Now, +however, with one dog less in the train, and that one as so much +additional weight on the sled, it meant the end of my riding for that +trip. + +Very quickly did I decide how to act in order to help my dear companion +in tribulation. With our axes my Indians and myself chopped a hole in +the solidly packed snow and ice near the shore of the lake. In this we +spread out a buffalo robe, and on it we placed the injured dog. Then +around her we placed the greater part of the load of the dog-sled, and +then covered all up as well as we could with the large deer-skin sleigh +wrapper. Giving the dog orders to guard well the supplies from prowling +wild animals, and making a large number of tracks as an additional +precaution, we left Muff there with her goods. + +Then we drove the dogs over to the spot where Mr Semmens lay, and, +wrapping him well up in robes and putting a little pillow under his +head, we tied him on the sled, and started off on the last stage of our +journey. We were all so weary that we made but slow progress, and it +was after midnight ere the welcome Mission House was reached, and we +were within the walls of home. + +Mr Semmens had fortunately slept most of the way. A good supper, after +a warm bath, and then a long, sweet, dreamless sleep, that lasted until +nearly noon of the next day, wonderfully refreshed his spirits, and as +he came down and greeted us, his first words were, "O Egerton, I am so +glad you did not leave me there to perish on the ice!" + +Still in his prime, with a noble wife and precious children around him, +he is in that land doing good service for the Master. From him we yet +expect to hear good tidings, for in physical strength and mental +equipment and thorough consecration to his work he is the peer of any +who there toil. + +THE CENTENARIAN. + +One of the first Indians to attract our attention at Norway House was a +venerable-looking old man of more than usual height. His appearance was +quite patriarchal. His welcome had been most cordial, and his words +seemed to us like a loving benediction. He called us his children, and +welcomed us to our home and work in the name of the Lord Jesus. + +As he was very aged, and had to come a long distance from his home to +the Sunday morning service, we invited him, on the first Sunday after +our arrival at the Mission, to dine with us. He was very grateful, and +said this would enable him to remain for the afternoon native service, +which he dearly prized. He was not only a blessed Christian, but a +natural gentleman. We were so drawn towards him that we invited him to +dine with us, and then rest awhile, each Sabbath between the services. + +Like all the old Indians, his age was unknown, but it must have been +over a century, as men above fifty said he was called an old man when +they were boys. The fact that his name had been on the Hudson's Bay +Company's book for eighty years, as a skilful hunter, makes it quite +safe to class him as a centenarian. + +His testimony to the blessedness of the Gospel was very clear and +delightful. He "knew Whom he had believed," and ever rejoiced in the +blessed assurance that he would have grace given to keep him to the end. +He was one of the first converts of the early Missionaries, and had +remained true and steadfast. He had been a successful Class Leader for +many years, and faithfully and well did he attend to his duties. If any +of his members were not at the meeting, he knew the reason why before +the next evening, if they were within five or six miles of his home. + +As he lived a couple of years after we reached the Mission, we got to be +very well acquainted, and it was ever a blessing to talk to him of +spiritual things. I had a very convincing evidence one day of the +thoroughness with which he had renounced his old pagan life and its +sinful practices. We had been talking on various subjects, and the +matter of different kinds of beliefs came up. As he had a very +retentive memory, and I had been told that he was the best authority on +old Indian religions and superstitions, I took out of my pocket a note- +book and pencil, and said, "Mismis" (English, "Grandfather"), "I want +you to tell me some things about your old conjurings and religions. I +may want to write a book some time, and put some of these things in it." + +The dear old man's face became clouded, and he shook his head and +remained silent. + +I urged my request, saying I felt certain he, from his great age, must +have much to talk about. For his answer, he sat down in his chair, and, +putting his elbows on his knees, buried his face in his hands, and +seemed lost in a kind of reverie. + +I waited for a few minutes, for all was hushed and still. His family +had heard my question, and they had become intensely interested. The +silence became almost painful, and so I said in a cheery strain, "Come, +grandfather, I am waiting to write down what you have to say." + +Suddenly he sprang up in a way that startled us all, and, stretching out +his hand like an orator, he began:-- + +"Missionary! the old wicked life is like a nightmare, like a bad dream, +like a terrible sickness that made us cry out with pain. I am trying to +banish it, to forget it, to wipe it out of my memory. Please do not ask +me to talk about it, or to bring it up. I could not sleep; I should be +miserable." + +Of course I put up my book and pencil, and did not further trouble the +dear old man, who seemed so loth to talk about his old belief. + +The next Sunday after this interview we had a Fellowship Meeting in the +church. One of the first to speak was this venerable grandfather. He +said, "The Missionary wanted me to talk to him about my old religion. I +could not do it. It was my enemy. It only made me miserable. The more +I followed it, the more unhappy I was. So I have cast it out of my +life, and from my heart. Would that I could wash it out of my memory!" +Then he added, "But perhaps the memory of it helps to make me love my +Saviour better, as I can remember from what He has saved me. I was so +far from him, and so dark and sinful He reached down His strong arm and +lifted me out of the dark place, and put me into the light. O, I am so +thankful Jesus saves me, and I love to talk about it." + +And he did talk about it, and our hearts rejoiced with him. + +Of him it could be truthfully said, "What he once loved he now hates, +and does it so thoroughly that he does not even wish to talk about it." + +While writing these pleasant memories, perhaps I cannot do better than +here record the remarkable closing scenes of the life of this venerable +old man, the patriarch of the village. His family was a large one. He +had several sons. Worthy, excellent men they were. About some of them +we shall have interesting things to say. The youngest, Edward, it was +my joy to lead into the sweet assurance that his sins were all forgiven. +In July, 1889, he was ordained, in Winnipeg, to the office and work of +the Christian ministry. + +Martin, another of his sons, was one of my most loved and trusted +guides, and my companion, for thousands of miles, in birch canoe by +summer, and dog-trains by winter. We have looked death in the face +together many times, but I never knew him to flinch or play a coward's +part. Supplies might fail, and storms and head-winds delay us, until +starvation stared us in the face, and even the Missionary himself began +to question the wisdom of taking these wild journeys where the chances +were largely against our return, when from Martin, or one of the others, +would come the apt quotation from the Sacred Word, or from their musical +voices the cheering hymn which said,-- + + "Give to the winds thy fears; + Hope, and be undismayed: + God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears, + God shall lift up thy head. + + "Through waves and clouds and storms + He gently clears thy way: + Wait thou His time, so shall this night + Soon end in joyous day." + +Very precious and very real were many of the blessed promises, and their +fulfilment, to us in those times of peril and danger, when death seemed +to be so near, and we so helpless and dependent upon the Almighty arm. + +Another son of this old saint was Samuel, the courageous guide and +modest, unassuming Christian. He was the one who guided his well-loaded +brigade up the mighty Saskatchewan river to the rescue of the whites +there, and having safely and grandly done his work, "holding on to God," +went up the shining way so triumphantly that there lingered behind on +his once pallid face some radiance of the glory like that into which he +had entered; and some seeing it were smitten with a longing to have it +as their portion, and so, then and there, they gave themselves to God. +Of him we shall hear more farther on. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +One day when the venerable father met his class, he told his members +that his work was nearly done, and very soon indeed he expected to pass +over to the better land. Although as well as he had been for months, +yet he had a premonition that the end of his life was near. Very +lovingly and faithfully did he talk to them, and exhorted them to be +faithful to the end. + +The next day he sent for me, and requested me to appoint one of his sons +as leader of his class, if I thought him worthy of the place. + +I said, "We do not want to lose you. Your class members all love you. +Why resign your position?" + +A strange look in his face told me that he had set his heart on joining +another company, and that it seemed as though he were only postponing +his departure until his little affairs on earth were set in order. + +"I am going very soon now, and I want to have everything settled before +I go; and I shall be so glad to see my son William leader of my class, +if you think it best." + +As the son was a most excellent man the appointment was made, much to +the aged father's delight. + +The next day he had assembled all the old members who had renounced +paganism and become Christians at the same time as he did, over thirty +years before. There were enough of them to fill his house, and all came +who possibly could. They sang and prayed together, and then he stood up +before them and addressed them in loving and affectionate words. + +As I sat there and looked upon the scene, while, for about an hour, he +was reviewing the past, and talking of God's goodness in bringing them +out of paganism, and conferring so many blessings upon them, I thought +of Joshua's memorable gathering of the elder people at Shechem to hear +his dying charge. At his request I administered to them all, and those +of his many relations who were worthy, the sacrament of the Lord's +Supper. It was a most impressive time. He Whose dying we celebrated +seemed in Spirit very blessedly near. + +Then perhaps another hour was spent, at his desire, in singing his +favourite hymns and in prayer. He entered with great spirit into the +devotions, and many said afterwards, "Heaven seemed very near." I shook +hands with him and said, "Goodbye," and returned to my home. With the +exception of a little weariness on account of the exciting services +through which he had passed, I saw no change in him. His voice was just +as cheery, his eye as bright, his grip as firm as usual, and I saw no +reason why he should not live a good while yet. + +About an hour after, while talking the matter over with Mrs Young, and +giving her some of the specially interesting incidents of the memorable +services with our dear old friend, there was a sudden call for me by an +Indian, who, rushing in without any ceremony, exclaimed, "Come quickly; +grandfather is dead!" I hurriedly returned with him, and found that the +aged patriarch had indeed passed away. + +They told me that after I had left them he continued for a time to speak +loving words of counsel and advice to them. Then, as had been his +habit, he lay down on his bed, and drew his blanket around him, as +though prepared for rest. As they knew he must be weary, they kept very +still, so as not to disturb him. Not hearing him breathe, one of them +touched him, and found that he had fallen into that sleep which here +knows no waking. He was not, for God had taken him. + +It was a remarkable death. The great difficulty among us seemed to be, +to realise the presence of death at all. He suffered from no disease, +and never complained of pain. His mind was unclouded till the last. In +his humble position he had done his work, and done it well; and so now, +with all the confidence of a loving child resting in the arms of a +mother, he laid his head down on the bosom of his Lord. + +With rejoicings, rather than weepings, we laid in the little graveyard +all that was mortal of William Papanekis. We missed him very much, for +his presence was like the sunshine, and his prayers were benedictions +upon us all. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +REVEREND JAMES EVANS, THE PEERLESS MISSIONARY--HIS JOURNEYS BY CANOE AND +DOG-TRAIN--THE CREE SYLLABIC CHARACTERS, HIS INVENTION--LORD DUFFERIN'S +WORDS CONCERNING HIM--HIS SUCCESSES--HIS TRIALS--ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING OF +HIS INTERPRETER--SURRENDERING HIMSELF TO THE AVENGERS--ADOPTED INTO A +PAGAN FAMILY--VISIT TO ENGLAND--SUDDEN DEATH. + +Without any question, the Reverend James Evans was the grandest and most +successful of all our Indian Missionaries. Of him it can be said most +emphatically, "While others have done well, he excelled them all." + +In burning zeal, in heroic efforts, in journeyings oft, in tact that +never failed in many a trying hour, in success most marvellous, in a +vivacity and sprightliness that never succumbed to discouragement, in a +faith that never faltered, and in a solicitude for the spread of our +blessed Christianity that never grew less, James Evans stands among us +without a peer. + +If full accounts of his long journeys in the wilds of the great North- +West could be written, they would equal in thrilling interest anything +of the kind known in modern missionary annals. There is hardly an +Indian Mission of any prominence to-day in the whole of the vast North- +West, whether belonging to the Church of England, the Roman Catholic, or +the Methodist Church, that James Evans did not commence; and the reason +why the Methodist Church to-day does not hold them all is, because the +apathetic Church did not respond to his thrilling appeals, and send in +men to take possession and hold the fields as fast as they were +successfully opened up by him. + +From the northern shores of Lake Superior away to the _ultima Thule_ +that lies beyond the waters of Athabasca and Slave Lakes, where the +Aurora Borealis holds high carnival; from the beautiful prairies of the +Bow and Saskatchewan Rivers to the muskegs and sterile regions of +Hudson's Bay; from the fair and fertile domains of Red and Assinaboia +Rivers, to the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains, enduring footprints of +James Evans may still be seen. + +At many a camp-fire, and in many a lonely wigwam, old Indians yet +linger, whose eyes brighten and whose tongues wax eloquent as they +recall that man whose deeds live on, and whose converts from a degrading +paganism are still to be counted by scores. Many a weary hour has been +charmed away, as I have listened to Papanekis the elder, or Henry Budd, +or some other old Indian guide or dog-driver, or canoe-man, while they +rehearsed the thrilling adventures, the narrow escapes, the wonderful +deliverances, and also some of the tragic events, through which they +passed in company with the "Nistum Ayumeaookemou," the "first +Missionary." + +The dog-drivers loved to talk about Mr Evans' wonderful train of half +dogs, half wolves, with which for years he travelled. With great +enthusiasm they would talk of their marvellous speed and endurance, of +their fierceness and sagacity; of how, when the nights in the wintry +camps were unusually cold--say fifty or sixty degrees below zero--these +fierce animals would crowd into the camp, and, lying on their backs, +would hold up both their fore and hind feet, and thus mutely beg for +some one to have compassion upon them and put on the warm woollen dog- +shoes. + +His canoe trips were often of many weeks' duration, and extended for +thousands of miles. No river seemed too rapid, and no lake too stormy, +to deter him in his untiring zeal to find out the Indian in his +solitudes, and preach to him the ever-blessed Gospel. Ever on the look- +out for improvements to aid him in more rapid transit through the +country, Mr Evans constructed a canoe out of sheet tin. This the +Indians called the "Island of light," on account of its flashing back +the sun's rays as it glided along propelled by the strong paddles in the +hands of the well trained crew. With them they carried in this novel +craft solder and soldering-iron, and when they had the misfortune to run +upon a rock they went ashore and quickly repaired the injured place. + +Mr Evans had been for years a Minister and Missionary in the Canadian +Methodist Church. With the Reverend William Case he had been very +successfully employed among the Indians in the Province of Ontario. +When the English Wesleyan Society decided to begin work among the +neglected tribes in the Hudson's Bay Territories, the Reverend James +Evans was the man appointed to be the leader of the devoted band. In +order to reach Norway House, which was to be his first principal +Mission, his household effects had to be shipped from Toronto to +England, and thence reshipped to York Factory on the Hudson Bay. From +this place they had to be taken up by boats to Norway House in the +interior, a distance of five hundred miles. Seventy times had they to +be lifted out of these inland boats and carried along the portages +around falls and cataracts ere they reached their destination. + +Mr Evans himself went by boat from Toronto. The trip from Thunder Bay +in Lake Superior to Norway House was performed in a birch bark canoe. +Hundreds of Indians listened to his burning messages, and great good was +done by him and his faithful companions in arms, among them being the +heroic Mr Barnley, and Mr Rundle, of the English Wesleyan Church. + +The great work of Mr Evans' life, and that with which his name will be +ever associated, was undoubtedly the invention and perfecting of what is +now so widely known as the Cree Syllabic Characters. What first led him +to this invention was the difficulty he and others had in teaching the +Indians to read in the ordinary way. They are hunters, and so are very +much on the move, like the animals they seek. To-day their tents are +pitched where there is good fishing, and perhaps in two weeks they are +far away in the deep forests, where roam the reindeer, or on the banks +of streams where the beavers build their wonderful dams and curious +homes. The constant thought in this master Missionary's mind was, "Can +I possibly devise a plan by which these wandering people can learn to +read more easily?" + +The principle of the characters which he adopted is phonetic. There are +no silent letters. Each character represents a syllable; hence no +spelling is required. As soon as the alphabet is mastered, and a few +additional secondary signs, some of which represent consonants, and some +aspirates, and some partially change the sound of the main character, +the Indian student, be he a man or woman of eighty, or a child of six +years, can commence at the first chapter of Genesis and read on, slowly +of course at first, but in a few days with surprising ease and accuracy. + +Many were Mr Evans' difficulties in perfecting this invention and +putting it in practical use, even after he had got the scheme clear and +distinct in his own mind. He was hundreds of miles away from +civilisation. Very little indeed had he with which to work. Yet with +him there was no such word as failure. Obtaining, as a great favour, +the thin sheets of lead that were around the tea-chests of the fur +traders, he melted these down into little bars, and from them cut out +his first types. His ink was made out of the soot of the chimneys, and +his first paper was birch bark. After a good deal of effort, and the +exercise of much ingenuity, he made a press, and then the work began. + +Great indeed was the amazement and delight of the Indians. The fact +that the bark could "talk" was to them most wonderful. Portions of the +Gospels were first printed, and then some of the beautiful hymns. The +story of this invention reached the Wesleyan Home Society. Generous +help was afforded. A good supply of these types was cast in London, +and, with a good press and all the essential requisites, including a +large quantity of paper, was sent out to that Mission, and for years it +was the great point from which considerable portions of the Word of God +were scattered among the wandering tribes, conferring unnumbered +blessings upon them. In later years the noble British and Foreign Bible +Society has taken charge of the work; and now, thanks to their +generosity, the Indians have the blessed Word scattered among them, and +thousands can read its glorious truths. + +All the Churches having Missions in that great land have availed +themselves, more or less, of Mr Evans' invention. To suit other tribes +speaking different languages, the characters have been modified or have +had additions to them, to correspond with sounds in those languages +which were not in the Cree. Even in Greenland the Moravian Missionaries +are now using Evans' Syllabic Characters with great success among the +Esquimaux. + +When Lord Dufferin was Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada, +hearing that a couple of Missionaries from the Indian tribes were in +Ottawa, where he resided, he sent a courteous request for us to call +upon him. With two or three friends, Mr Crosby, our successful and +energetic Missionary from British Columbia, and I, obeyed the summons. + +The interview was a very pleasant and profitable one. Lord Dufferin +questioned Mr Crosby about British Columbia and his work, and was +pleased to hear of his great success. After a bright and earnest +conversation with me in reference to the Indians of the North-West +Territories, in which his Excellency expressed his solicitude for the +welfare and happiness of the aboriginal tribes of red men, he made some +inquiries in reference to missionary work among them, and seemed much +pleased with the answers I was able to give. In mentioning the help I +had in my work, I showed him my Cree Indian Testament printed in Evans' +Syllabic Characters, and explained the invention to him. At once his +curiosity was excited, and, jumping up, he hurried off for pen and ink, +and got me to write out the whole alphabet for him; and then, with that +glee and vivacity for which his lordship was so noted, he constituted me +his teacher, and commenced at once to master them. + +As their simplicity, and yet wonderful adaptation for their designed +work, became evident to him--for in a short time he was able to read a +portion of the Lord's Prayer--Lord Dufferin was much excited, and, +getting up from his chair and holding up the Testament in his hand, +exclaimed, "Why, Mr Young, what a blessing to humanity the man was who +invented that alphabet!" Then he added, "I profess to be a kind of a +literary man myself, and try to keep posted up in my reading of what is +going on, but I never heard of this before. The fact is, the nation has +given many a man a title, and a pension, and then a resting-place and a +monument in Westminster Abbey, who never did half so much for his +fellow-creatures." + +Then again he asked, "Who did you say was the author or inventor of +these characters?" + +"The Reverend James Evans," I replied. + +"Well, why is it I never heard of him before, I wonder?" + +My reply was, "My lord, perhaps the reason why you never heard of him +before was because he was a humble, modest Methodist preacher." + +With a laugh he replied, "That may have been it," and then the +conversation changed. + +Mr Evans was ever anxious that the Indian converts should at once be +made to understand all the duties and responsibilities of the new life +on which they were entering, he was a fearless man, and boldly declared +unto them the whole counsel of God. Knowing the blighting, destroying +influences of the "fire water" upon the poor Indian race, he made the +Church a total abstinence society, and, as all missionaries should, he +set them the example of his own life. Then, as regards the keeping of +the Sabbath, he took his stand on the Word of God, and preached the +absolute necessity of the one day's rest in seven. In after years we +saw the good results of the scriptural lessons which he and his worthy +successors taught in reference to the holy day. + +Many and severe were the trials, and mysterious some of the +persecutions, which this glorious man had to bear. Because of his +unswerving loyalty to truth, and his conscientious and fearless teaching +of all the commandments of God's Word, some in high authority, who at +first were supposed to be friendly, turned against him, and became his +unprincipled foes. The trouble first seemed to begin when Mr Evans +taught the Indians to "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." At +his request, they, when hunting or fishing or tripping in the months of +open water, rested on the Lord's day. Short-sighted employers, +unconscious of the fact, so often demonstrated, that they who rest the +one day in seven can do more work in the other six, opposed this +teaching, and, when they could not stop it, assailed the Missionary in a +way that must have caused a jubilee in hell. I shall not go into +particulars. Most of the principal actors are in the presence of the +Judge of all the earth. He Who suffered for a time the name of this +devoted servant of His to be so shamefully clouded has cleared all the +mists away; and like the silver refined by the furnace, so has it been +in this case. + +But persecutions, and even these bitter assaults upon his character, +could not turn him from the most intense activity in his blessed life- +work. Like an Apostle Paul in primitive times, or like a Coke or Asbury +in the early years of this century, so travelled James Evans. When we +say he travelled thousands of miles each year on his almost semi- +continental journeys, we must remember that these were not performed by +coach or railroad, or even with horse and carriage, or in the saddle or +sailing vessel, but by canoe and dog-train. How much of hardship and +suffering that means, we are thankful but few of our readers will ever +know. There are a few of us who do know something of these things, and +this fellowship of his suffering knits our hearts in loving memory to +him who excelled us all, and the fragrance of whose name and unselfish +devotion to his work met us almost everywhere, although years had passed +away since James Evans had entered into his rest. "He being dead yet +speaketh." To write about him and his work is a labour of love. Would +that the pen of some ready writer might give us a biography of this +Missionary of such versatility of gifts, and such marvellous success in +his work! + +Room only have I here, in addition to what has already been written, to +give some account of the sad event of his life, the accidental shooting +of his interpreter, Joseph Hasselton, and the after consequences. + +Word reached Mr Evans one year, that the priests were endeavouring to +crowd up into the Athabasca and Mackenzie River country, and get a +foothold among some very interesting Indians whom Mr Evans had visited +and found very anxious for the truth. Desirous that they should not be +led away from the simplicity of the Gospel, he felt that the best plan +was for him to hurry up by light canoe and get into that country and +among his Indians before the priests arrived. They had gone the usual +route up the Saskatchewan, and from thence were to go over the height of +land, and then by boat down the streams which from those regions run +towards the Arctic Ocean. + +Mr Evans' plan was to take what is called "the back route," that was, +to go partly down the Nelson River, and then, turning westward through +an almost endless succession of lakes and rivers and portages, arrive +before the other parties, although several weeks of severest toil would +be passed in making the long journey. With his beloved interpreter, who +was one of the most remarkable Indians of his day, a man who could talk +almost every Indian language spoken by the natives of the land, and, +what was better, a devoted Christian, full of zeal and enthusiasm for +the work, and with another reliable native from whom I received my +information as to what occurred, the long journey was commenced. For +several days they made good progress, and were rejoicing at the prospect +of success. One morning, very early, while they were paddling along in +the great Nelson River, Hasselton, the interpreter, who was in the front +of the canoe, said, "I see some ducks in those reeds near the shore. +Hand me the gun." In these small canoes the guns are generally kept in +the stern with the muzzles pointing back, so as to prevent accidents. +The man who was in the stern quickly picked up the gun, and foolishly +drew back the trigger. With the muzzle pointing forward he passed the +gun to Mr Evans, who did not turn his head, as he was earnestly looking +if he also could see the ducks. As Mr Evans took the gun passed to him +he unfortunately let the trigger, which had no guard around it, strike +against the thaft of the canoe. Instantly it went off, and the contents +were discharged into the head of the poor man in front. He turned his +dying eyes upon Mr Evans, and then fell over, a corpse. It was an +awful accident, and doubly painful on account of the unfortunate +surroundings. Here the two survivors were, about two hundred miles from +any habitation. They could not take the body back with them. For days +they would meet none to whom they could tell their story. They went +ashore, and, when their first paroxysm of grief was over, they had to +dig, as best they could, a grave in the wilderness, and there bury their +dead. + +They turned their faces homeward, and very sorrowful indeed was the +journey. Great was the grief at the village, and greater still the +consternation when it was discovered what Mr Evans had resolved to do. +His interpreter was the only Christian among his relatives. The rest of +them were wild pagans with bad records. Life for life was their motto, +and many had been their deeds of cruelty and bloodshed in seeking that +revenge which occupies so large a place in the savage Indian's heart. +They lived several hundred miles away, and Mr Evans resolved to go and +surrender himself to them, tell them what he had done, and take all the +consequences. Many friends, knowing how quick the Indian is to act when +aroused by the news of the death of a relative--for often before he +hears all the circumstances does he strike the fatal blow--urged him not +to go himself, but to send a mediator. + +To this suggestion he turned a deaf ear, and, having made his will and +left all instructions as to the work if he should never return, and +bidden farewell to his stricken family, who never expected to see him +alive again, he started off on his strange and perilous journey. + +Reaching the distant village, he walked into the tent of the parents of +his interpreter, and told them that his heart was broken, and why. +Angry words were uttered, and tomahawks and guns were freely handled, +while he described the tragic scene. Feeling so utterly miserable that +he little cared whether they killed him or let him live, there he sat +down on the ground in their midst, and awaited their decision. Some of +the hot-headed spirits were for killing him at once; but wiser counsels +prevailed, and it was decided that he must be adopted into the family +from which he had shot the son, and be all to them, as far as possible, +that their son had been. This had been a good deal. Becoming a +Christian had made him kind and loving, and so all that he could spare +of his wages, earned while interpreting for Mr Evans, had been +faithfully sent to his parents. The ceremony of adoption lasted several +days. Mr Evans assumed as his Indian name that of this family, and a +good son indeed they found in him. + +When he left to return to his Mission they kissed him, and acted towards +him with as much affection as such people can show. Many were the gifts +which were sent them by their adopted son, who took good care of them as +long as he lived. + +But while this difficulty was thus tided over, the memory of it never +faded away from Mr Evans. He was never the same man after. Yet he did +not allow it to deter him from the most vigorous prosecution of his +work: indeed, it seemed to his people as though he tried to bury his +sorrow in incessant toil, and labours so abundant, that but few even of +the Indians "in journeyings oft" could equal him. + +To aid the further prosecution of his labours, and to excite greater +interest in the well-being of the Red Indians of British North America, +Mr Evans went to England to speak about his work and its needs. His +story of marvellous incidents and varied experiences in this land of +which so little was known, produced a deep impression, and great crowds +came out to hear him, and insisted on his continuing at great length his +wonderful descriptions of travelling by canoe and dog-train, and the +longing desire there was in the hearts of the Indians for the Gospel. + +On November 23rd, 1846, after having spoken at Keelby in Lincolnshire, +he returned with his wife, who was in every respect a devoted helpmate +for such a work, to the home of the gentleman and lady with whom they +were stopping. While chatting on various subjects, Mrs Evans turned to +her husband, who was comfortably seated in a large arm-chair, and said, +"My dear, I have had such a strange presentiment--that we shall never +see Norway House and our faithful Indians again." He turned to her and +said, with something of his old enthusiasm, "Why should that thought +trouble you, my dear? Heaven is just as near from England as from +America." + +The two ladies said, "Good night!" and retired, leaving Mr Evans and +the gentleman of the house to chat together a little longer. Shortly +after, the gentleman said something to Mr Evans, and, receiving no +answer, he turned from the fire and looked at him. At first he thought +he had fallen asleep, but this was only for an instant. Springing up +and going to him, he found that the immortal spirit had so quietly and +gently flitted away, that there had not been the slightest sob or cry. +The noble Indian Missionary was dead. The eloquent tongue was hushed +for ever. For his return hundreds of anxious weeping Indians in those +northern wilds would long and wait, but wait in vain. He had been +conveyed by angel bands to that innumerable company of redeemed, blood- +washed saints around the throne of God, which even then had received +many happy converted Indians, who, brought to God by his +instrumentality, had finished their course with joy, and before him had +entered in through the gates into the city, and were there to welcome +him. + +Hundreds, since then, of his spiritual children have had the "abundant +entrance ministered unto" them, and they have joined him in that rapidly +increasing throng. And although many years have passed away since he +preached to them his last sermon, at many a camp-fire, and in many a +wigwam, still linger old men, and women too, whose eyes glisten, and +then become bedimmed with tears, as they think of him who so long ago +went on before. But while they weep, they also rejoice that that +salvation, which, as the result of his preaching, they accepted, is +still their solace and their joy, and, clinging to it and its great +Author, they shall by-and-by meet their Missionary and loved ones who +have finished their course and gained the eternal shores. + +On the previous page are the Syllabic Characters, as invented by Mr +Evans; and on this we give the Lord's Prayer in Cree, as printed in +them. + +Perhaps the following explanations will help the student who may have a +wish to master this wonderful invention. + +In the Alphabet the first line of characters, the equilateral triangle +in four positions, reads as follows, a e oo ah. + +The addition of the little dot, as seen in the second line, adds to any +character after which it is placed the sound of w. So this second line +reads wa, we, woo, wah. + +The following lines read thus: pa pe poo pah; ta te too tah; ka ke koo +kah; cha che choo chah; ma mee moo mah; na ne noo nah; sa se soo sah; ya +ye yoo yah. + +With a little patience the Lord's Prayer can be read even without a +teacher. + +I have gone to a pagan band far away in the northern wilderness, and +after they have become willing to receive the truth, I have commenced to +teach them to read the Word of God. Very limited indeed were our +appliances, for we were hundreds of miles from the nearest school house. +But from the camp-fire, where we had cooked our bear's meat or beaver, +I would take a burnt stick, and with it make these Syllabic Characters +on the side of a rock, and then patiently repeat them over and over +again with my school of often three generations of Indians together, +until they had some idea of them. Then I would give them the copies of +the Bible I had brought, and at the first verse of Genesis we would +begin. It paid for the hardships of the trip a thousandfold to see the +looks of joy and delight on their faces as they themselves were able to +read that wonderful verse. + +By Canoe and Dog-Train--by Egerton Ryerson Young + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +SOWING AND REAPING--BEAUTIFUL INCIDENT--"HELP ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN!"-- +THIRTY YEARS BETWEEN THE SOWING AND THE REAPING--SORROWING, YET +STUBBORN, INDIANS INDUCED TO YIELD BY THE EXPRESSION, "I KNOW WHERE YOUR +CHILDREN ARE!" + +While in our every-day missionary life there were dark hours, and times +when our faith was severely tried, there was, on the other hand, much to +encourage us to persevere in the blessed work among these Cree Indians. + +An incident that occurred to us brought up very forcibly to our minds +the couplet: + + "Whate'er may die and be forgot, + Work done for God, it dieth not." + +I was sitting, one pleasant day in June, in my study at Norway House, +absorbed in my work, when I was startled by a loud "Ahem!" behind me. I +quickly sprang up, and, turning round, discovered that the man who had +thus suddenly interrupted me in my thoughts was a big, stalwart Indian. +He had come into the room in that catlike way in which nearly all of the +Indians move. Their moccasined feet make no sound, and so it is quite +possible for even scores of them to come into the house unheard. Then, +as Indians have a great dislike to knocking, they generally omit it +altogether, and unceremoniously enter, as this man had done, and as +quietly as possible. + +My first glance at him told me that he was an entire stranger, although +I had by this time become acquainted with some hundreds of the natives. +I shook hands with him and said a few commonplace things to him, to +which I thought he paid but little heed. + +I pointed to a chair, and asked him to be seated; but, instead of doing +so, he came up close to me and said with great earnestness: "Missionary, +will you help me to be a Christian?" + +Surprised and pleased by this abrupt question, I replied, "Certainly I +will; that is my business here." + +"Will you help my wife and children also to become Christians?" he added +with equal emphasis. + +"Of course I will," I answered again. "It was for just such work as +that my good wife and I came from our far-away home to live in this +land." + +Naturally I had already become very much interested in this big, bronzed +Indian; and so I said to him, "Tell me who you are, and from what place +you have come." + +I made him sit down before me, and he told me the following remarkable +story. I wish I could put into the narrative his pathos and his +dramatic action. He did not keep his seat very long after he began +talking, but moved around, and at times was very much excited. He +said,-- + +"Many years ago, when I was a little boy, I was kindly cared for by the +first Missionary, Mr Evans. I was a poor orphan. My father and mother +had died, leaving none to care for me; so the good Missionary took me to +his own house and was very kind to me. 'Tis true I had some relatives, +but they were not Christians and so there was not much love in their +hearts towards a poor orphan boy. So Mr Evans took me to his house, +and was very kind to me. He gave me clothes and food, and a home. He +taught me to read the new letters he had made for our people, and told +me much about the Great Spirit and His Son Jesus. He taught me and +other children to pray to God, and he often talked to us about Him, and +how kind and good He was. He kept me with him two or three years, and I +was very well off indeed in having such a home and such a friend, if I +had only known it. + +"One summer, among the many Indians who came to trade their furs at the +Company's store, was one family who lived very far away. They seemed to +take a liking to me, and often would talk to me. They had no little +boy, they said, in their wigwam, and they told me a lot of foolish stuff +about how much happier I would be, if I lived with them, than I was +here, where I had to obey the white man. Like the foolish child that I +was, I listened to this nonsense, and one night, when they had got +everything ready to start, I slipped quietly out of the house and joined +them. We paddled hard most of the night, for we felt that we had done +wrong, and did not know but we should be followed. + +"After travelling many days we reached their hunting grounds and +wigwams. I did not find it as pleasant as they had told me it would be. +Often they were very cruel to me, and sometimes we did not have much to +eat. But I dared not run away, for there was no place to which I could +go, except to other wicked Indians; and they would only make things +worse. They were all very bad Indians, and very much afraid of the +medicine men. All the worship they did was to the bad spirit. They +were afraid of him, and so they worshipped him, so that he might not do +them much harm. I became as bad as any of them. I tried to forget all +that the good Missionary had told me. I tried to wipe all his teachings +and prayers from my memory. All he had told me about the Good Spirit +and His Son I tried to forget. + +"I grew up to be a man. I had become a wicked pagan; but I was a good +hunter, and one of the men sold me one of his daughters to be my wife. +We have quite a family. Because I had seen, when I was a little boy, +how Christian Indian men treat the women better than the pagan Indians +treat theirs, I treated my wife and children well. I was never cruel to +them. I love my wife and children. + +"Last winter, you remember, the snow was very deep. I had taken my +family and gone out into the region of deer and other animals, and there +had made my hunting lodge for the winter. There we set our traps for +the fur-bearing animals. We took a good many of the smaller animals +that have got furs, but the larger ones, that are good for food, were +very few. We had a hard time, as food was very scarce. I could not +find any deer to shoot, and we had come far from the great lakes and +rivers, and so had no fish. + +"At length it seemed as though we must starve. I tried hard to get +something, but I seemed to fail every time. Sometimes, when I did +manage to get within range of the moose or reindeer, and I fired, my +gun, which is only a flintlock, would only flash the powder in the pan, +and so the charge would not go off. The noise, however, had so +frightened the deer that he had rushed away before I could get ready to +fire again. + +"At length it got so bad with us that I became completely discouraged, +and I said, `I will only try once more; and if I do not succeed in +shooting a deer, I will shoot myself.' So I took up my gun and hurried +into the forest away from my half-starved family. I cautiously tramped +along on my snowshoes all the first day, and did not see even a track. +I made a little camp and lay down cold and hungry. I hunted all the +next day and only got a rabbit. This I ate in the little camp I made +the second night in the snow. On the third day I hunted until about +noon. Then feeling very weak and hungry, I got so discouraged that I +said, as I sat down on a log covered with snow, `I will die here. I am +weak with hunger, I can go no further.' I was cross and angry, and I +said, as I talked to myself, `No use trying any more.' Then I loaded my +gun with a heavy charge of powder and two bullets, and, drawing back the +trigger, my plan was to put the muzzle of the gun against the side of my +head, and then press on the trigger with my big toe, which, you know, +moves easily in the moccasin. Just as I was getting ready thus to kill +myself, something seemed to speak to me, `William!' I pushed the gun +away, for I was frightened. I looked all around, but could not see +anybody. Then I found that the voice was in me, and it began to talk to +me out of my heart; and as I listened it seemed to say, `William, do you +not remember what the Missionary told you long ago about the Great +Spirit? He said He was kind and forgiving, and that even if we did +wander far away from him, if we became sorry and would come back, He +would forgive. Do you not remember, William, he said that if we ever +got into great trouble, the Great Spirit was the best Friend to Whom to +go to help us out? You are in great trouble, William. Don't you think +you had better come back to him?' + +"But I trembled and hesitated, for I was ashamed to come. I thought +over my life, how I had run away from the kind Missionary who had taken +me, a poor orphan boy, into his home, and fed and clothed me, and taught +me so much about the true way. Then I remembered so well how I had +tried to wipe out from my memory all I had learned about the Great +Spirit and His Son, and the good Book. I had denied to the pagan people +that I knew anything about the white man's religion. I had been very +bad, and had got very far away; how could I come back? Still all the +answer I got was, `You had better come back.' + +"There I sat and trembled, and I felt I was too mean to come back. But +all the answer I got was, `It is meaner to stay away, if what the +Missionary said is true.' While I was hesitating what to do, and all +trembling in the cold, I seemed to hear my wife and children in the +wigwam far away crying for food. This decided me. So I turned round, +and kneeled down in the snow by the log, and began to pray. I hardly +know what I said, but I do remember I asked the Great Spirit to forgive +the poor Indian who had got so far away from Him, and had been so +wicked, and had tried to wipe Him out of his memory. I told him I was +sorry, and wanted to do better; and there in the snow I promised, if He +would forgive and help me in my trouble, and give something for my wife +and children to eat, I would, just as soon as the snow and ice left the +rivers and lakes, go and find the Missionary, and ask him to help me to +be a Christian. + +"While I prayed I felt better; I seemed to feel in my heart that help +was coming. I got up from my knees, and it seemed as though that prayer +had strengthened me like food. I forgot I was cold and hungry. I took +up my gun with a glad heart, and away I started; and I had not gone far +before a large reindeer came dashing along. I fired and killed him. I +was very glad. I quickly skinned him, and I soon made a fire and cooked +some of the meat. Then I pulled down a small tree, and fastened part of +the meat into the top of it, and let it swing up again, so as to keep it +from the wolves and wolverines. Then I took the rest on my back and +hurried home to my hungry wife and children. Soon after I went back for +the rest of the venison, and found it all right. + +"Since that hour we have always had something. I have hunted hard, and +have had success. None of us have been hungry since. The Great Spirit +has been all that the Missionary said He would be to us. He has cared +for us, and given us all that we have needed. + +"I have not forgotten my promise made while kneeling in the snow beside +the log in the woods. The snow has gone, and the ice has left the lakes +and rivers. I have launched my canoe, and have come with my wife and +children to ask you to help us to be Christians." + +We were very much pleased to hear such a wonderful experience, which was +thus leading him back to God; and we told him so. When we learned that +all this time he had been talking, his wife and children were patiently +sitting in the canoe outside at the shore, we hurried out with him and +brought them into the Mission House. + +Mrs Young, and one or two others, attracted by William's earnest words, +had come into my study, and had heard most of his story, and of course +were also deeply interested. Out of our scant supplies we gave the +whole family a good hearty meal, and we both did what we could by words +and actions to make them feel that we were their friends, and would do +all we could to help them to be Christians. We were delighted to find +that since that memorable day when at the snow-covered log in the forest +William had bowed in prayer, he had been diligent in teaching his family +all that he could remember of the blessed truths of the Gospel. They +had gladly received it and were eager for more. + +I called together some of the head men of the village, and told them the +story of this family, and what William had said about his early life. A +few of the older people remembered the circumstance of his adoption by +Mr Evans after the death of his parents, whom they remembered well. +Happy Christians themselves, and anxious that others should enjoy the +same blessedness, they rejoiced at William's return, and especially with +such a desire in his heart. So they at once gave the exile a place +among themselves, and some needed help. Thorough and genuine were the +changes wrought in the hearts of that family by Divine grace, and they +have remained firm and true. In their house was a family altar, and +from the church services they were never absent, unless far off in +distant hunting grounds. + +Various were the arguments which the Good Spirit gave us to use in +persuading men and women to be reconciled to God. Here is a beautiful +illustration:-- + +"WHERE ARE OUR CHILDREN?" + +On the banks of a wild river, about sixty miles from Beaver Lake, I +visited a band of pagan Indians, who seemed determined to resist every +appeal or entreaty I could make to induce them to listen to my words. +They were so dead and indifferent that I was for a time quite +disheartened. The journey to reach them had taken about eight days from +home through the dreary wilderness, where we had not met a single human +being. My two faithful canoemen and I had suffered much from the +character of the route, and the absence of game, which had caused us +more than once to wrap ourselves up in our blankets and lie down +supperless upon the granite rocks, and try to sleep. The rain had +fallen upon us so persistently that for days the water had been dripping +from us, and we had longed for the sunshine that we might get dry again. + +We had met with some strange adventures, and I had had another +opportunity for observing the intelligence and shrewdness of my men, and +their quickness in arriving at right conclusions from very little data. +Many think of the Indians as savages and uncivilised, yet in some +respects they are highly educated, and are gifted with a quickness of +perception not excelled by any other people in the world. We had the +following illustration of it on this trip. + +As most of the Indians had gone away in the brigades to York Factory, to +carry down the furs and to freight up the goods for the next winter's +trade, I could not find any canoemen who were acquainted with the route +to the pagan band which I wished to visit. The best I could do was to +secure the services of a man as a guide who had only been as far as +Beaver Lake. He was willing to go and run the risk of finding the +Indian band, if possible, although so far beyond the most northern point +he had ever gone before. As I could do no better I hired him and +another Indian, and away we went. + +After several days of hard work--for the portages around the falls and +rapids were many, and several times we had to wade through muskegs or +morasses up to our knees for miles together, carrying all our load on +our heads or backs--we at length reached Beaver Lake. Here we camped +for the night and talked over our future movements. We had come two +hundred and forty miles through these northern wilds, and yet had about +sixty miles to go ere we expected to see human beings, and were all +absolutely ignorant of the direction in which to go. + +We spent the night on the shore of the lake, and slept comfortably on +the smooth rocks. Early the next morning we began to look out for signs +to guide us on our way. There were several high hills in the vicinity, +and it was decided that we should each ascend one of these, and see if +from these elevated positions the curling smoke from some distant Indian +camp-fire, or other signs of human beings, could be observed. + +Seizing my rifle, I started off to ascend the high hill which had been +assigned me, while my Indians went off in other directions. This hill +was perhaps half a mile from our camp-fire, and I was soon at its foot, +ready to push my way up through the tangled underbrush that grew so +densely on its sides. To my surprise I came almost suddenly upon a +creek of rare crystal beauty, on the banks of which were many +impressions of hoofs, large and small, as though a herd of cattle had +there been drinking. Thoughtlessly, for I seemed to have forgotten +where we were, I came to the conclusion that as the herd of cattle had +there quenched their thirst, they and their owner must be near. So I +hurried back to the camp, and signalled to the men to return, and told +them what I had seen. There was an amused look on their faces, but they +were very polite and courteous men, and so they accompanied me to the +creek, where, with a good deal of pride, I pointed out to them the +footprints of cattle, and stated that I thought that they and their +owners could not be far off. They listened to me patiently, and then +made me feel extremely foolish by uttering the word "Moose." I had +mistaken the footprints of a herd of moose for a drove of cattle, much +to their quiet amusement. + +We looked around for a time, and, getting no clue, we embarked in our +canoe, and started to explore the different streams that flowed into or +out of this picturesque lake. After several hours of unsuccessful work +we entered into the mouth of quite a fine river, and began paddling up +it, keeping close to one of its sandy shores. Suddenly one of my +Indians sprang up in the canoe, and began carefully examining some small +tracks on the shore. A few hasty words were uttered by the men, and +then we landed. + +They closely inspected these little footprints, and then exclaimed, "We +have got it now, Missionary; we can take you soon to the Indians!" + +"What have you discovered?" I said. "I see nothing to tell me where +the Indians are." + +"We see it very plain," was the reply. "You sent word that you were +coming to meet them this moon. They have been scattered hunting, but +are gathering at the place appointed, and a canoe of them went up this +river yesterday, and the dog ran along the shore, and these are his +tracks." + +I examined these impressions in the sand, and said, "The country is full +of wild animals; these may be the tracks of a wolf or wolverine or some +other beast." + +They only laughed at me, and said, "We can see a great difference +between these tracks and those made by the wild animals." + +Our canoe was soon afloat again, and, using our paddles vigorously, we +sped rapidly along the river. With no other clue than those little +footprints in the sand my men confidently pushed along. After paddling +for about twenty miles we came to the camp-fire, still smouldering, +where the Indians had slept the night before. Here we cooked our +dinner, and then hurried on, still guided by the little tracks along the +shore. Towards evening we reached the encampment, just as my canoemen +had intimated we should. + +The welcome we received was not very cordial. The Indians were soured +and saddened by having lost many of their number, principally children, +by scarlet fever, which for the first time had visited their country, +and which had been undoubtedly brought into their land by some free- +traders the year before. With the exception of an old conjurer or two, +none openly opposed me, but the sullen apathy of the people made it very +discouraging work to try to preach or teach. However, we did the best +we could, and were resolved that, having come so far, and suffered so +many hardships to reach them, we would faithfully deliver the message, +and leave the results to Him Who had permitted us to be the first who +had ever visited that Land to tell the story of redeeming love. + +One cold, rainy day a large number of us were crowded into the largest +wigwam for a talk about the truths in the great Book. My two faithful +Christian companions aided me all they could by giving personal +testimony to the blessedness of this great salvation. But all seemed in +vain. There the people sat and smoked in sullen indifference. When +questioned as to their wishes and determinations, all I could get from +them was, "As our fathers lived and died, so will we." + +Tired out and sad of heart, I sat down in quiet communion with the +Blessed Spirit, and breathed up a prayer for guidance and help in this +hour of sore perplexity. In my extremity the needed assistance came so +consciously that I almost exulted in the assurance of coming victory. +Springing up, I shouted out, "I know where all your children are, who +are not among the living! I know, yes, I do know most certainly where +all the children are, whom Death has taken in his cold grasp from among +us, the children of the good and of the bad, of the whites and of the +Indians, I know where all the children are." + +Great indeed was the excitement among them. Some of them had had their +faces well shrouded in their blankets as they sat like upright mummies +in the crowded wigwam. But when I uttered these words, they quickly +uncovered their faces, and manifested the most intense interest. Seeing +that I had at length got their attention, I went on with my words: "Yes, +I know where all the children are. They have gone from your camp-fires +and wigwams. The hammocks are empty, and the little bows and arrows lie +idle. Many of your hearts are sad, as you mourn for those little ones +whose voices you hear not, and who come not at your call. I am so glad +that the Great Spirit gives me authority to tell you that you may meet +your children again, and be happy with them for ever. But you must +listen to His words, which I bring to you from His great Book, and give +Him your hearts, and love and serve Him. There is only one way to that +beautiful land, where Jesus, the Son of the Great Spirit, has gone, and +into which He takes all the children who have died; and now that you +have heard His message and seen His Book, you too must come this way, if +you would be happy and there enter in." + +While I was thus speaking, a big, stalwart man from the other side of +the tent sprang up, and rushed towards me. Beating on his breast, he +said, "Missionary, my heart is empty, and I mourn much, for none of my +children are left among the living; very lonely is my wigwam. I long to +see my children again, and to clasp them in my arms. Tell me, +Missionary, what must I do to please the Great Spirit, that I may get to +that beautiful land, that I may meet my children again?" Then he sank +at my feet upon the ground, his eyes suffused with tears, and was +quickly joined by others, who, like him, were broken down with grief, +and were anxious now for religious instruction. + +To the blessed Book we went, and after reading what Jesus had said about +little children, and giving them some glimpses of His great love for +them, we told them "the old, old story," as simply and lovingly as we +could. There was no more scoffing or indifference. Every word was +heard and pondered over, and from that hour a blessed work began, which +resulted in the great majority of them deciding to give their hearts to +God; and they have been true to their vows. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +ON THE TRAIL TO SANDY BAR--SLEEPING ON THE ICE--THIEVISH ESQUIMAUX +DOGS--NARROW ESCAPE OF JACK--JOYOUS WELCOME--SOCIETY FORMED--BENJAMIN +CAMERON, ONCE A CANNIBAL, NOW A LAY HELPER--PLUM-PUDDING--A STRIKING +INSTANCE OF HONESTY. + +In December, 1877, I made a journey to the Indians living at Sandy Bar. +As there were some experiences quite different from those of other +trips, they shall here be recorded. + +Sandy Bar, or White Mud, as some call it, is over a hundred miles south +of Beren's River, where we then resided. We made the usual preparations +for our journey, getting sleds loaded with supplies for ourselves and +fish for our dogs, with all the cooking arrangements necessary for a +month's absence from home. + +As the people among whom we were going were poor, we ever felt that, +Paul-like, for the furtherance of the Gospel, the wisest course among +those bands who had not fully accepted salvation was to keep ourselves +as far as possible from being burdensome unto them. So my good wife +cooked a generous supply of meat and buns, made as rich with fat as +possible. Fortunate indeed were we in having supplies sufficient for +this to be done. It was not always so. At this very Mission, all we +had one morning for breakfast was a hind-quarter of a wild cat! + +All our preparations were completed, and we were ready to start at one +o'clock in the morning. To our great regret a fierce storm arose, and +so we were obliged to wait until the day dawned, ere we could harness +our dogs and venture out. When we had gone about twenty miles, the +storm swept with such power over the great Lake Winnipeg, driving the +recently fallen snow before it, with such a stinging, blinding effect, +that we were forced to give up the struggle, and run into the forest and +camp. + +We cleared away the snow from a space about eight feet square. At one +side of this we built up our fire, and over the rest of the cleared +space we spread some evergreen boughs, on which we placed our beds. We +unharnessed our dogs, and thawed out for them some frozen fish. As this +was one of my short trips, I had with me but two dog-trains and two good +Indians. We melted snow in our kettles, and made tea, and cooked some +meat. This, with the bread, of which we were on this trip the happy +possessors, constituted our meals. About sundown we had prayers, and +then, as we had been up most of the previous night, we wrapped ourselves +in our robes and blankets, and went to sleep to the lullaby of the +howling tempest. + +About ten o'clock that night I woke up, and, uncovering my head, found +that the storm had ceased. I sprang up and kindled the fire, but my +fingers ached and my body shivered ere I succeeded in getting it to +blaze brightly. I filled the tea-kettle with snow, and while it was +melting I called up my two travelling companions, and also a couple of +young natives, who, with their dog-trains, had joined us. The Indians +can tell with marvellous accuracy the hour of the night by the position +of the Great Bear in the heavens. This is their night clock. I saw by +their puzzled looks, as they gazed at the stars, that they wanted to +tell me I had made a great mistake, if I thought it was near morning. +But I did not give them the opportunity, and only hurried up the +breakfast. After prayers we harnessed our dogs, tied up our loads of +bedding, food, kettles, and other things; and then, throwing the boughs +on which we had slept on the fire, by the light which it afforded us, we +wended our way out through the forest gloom to the frozen lake. + +Taking the lead with my own splendid dogs, we travelled at such a rate +that, ere the sun rose up to cheer us, over forty miles of Winnipeg's +icy expanse lay between us and the snowy bed where we had sought shelter +and slept during the raging storm. After stopping at Dog's Head, where +were a few Indians, under the eccentric chief, Thickfoot, onward we +travelled, crossing the lake to what is called Bull's Head, where we +camped for the night. The face of the cliff is here so steep that we +could not get our heavy loads up into the forest above, so we were +obliged to make our fire and bed in the snowdrift at the base of the +cliff. It was a poor place indeed. The snow, from the constant +drifting in from the lake, was very deep. There was no shelter or +screen from the fierce cold wind, which, changing during the night, blew +upon us. We tried to build up the fire, but, owing to our peculiar +position, could not change it. In the woods, at our camps, we build the +fire where the smoke will be driven from us. If the wind changes, we +change our fires. Here at the base of this cliff we could do nothing of +the kind; the result was, we were either shivering in the bitter cold, +or blinded by the smoke. + +While in this uncomfortable plight, and trying to arrange our camp beds +on the snow, for we could not get any balsam boughs here to put under +us, we were joined by several wild Indians, who, coming down the lake, +saw our camp-fire. They had a number of thin, wild, wolfish, half- +starved Esquimaux dogs with them. They made a great fuss over me, which +here meant so much tea and food. I treated them kindly, and, fearing +for our supplies, and even our dog harness, and the other things for +which the terrible Esquimaux dog has such an appetite, I politely +informed them that I thought they would be more comfortable if they +travelled on a little further. This hint was met with loud +protestations that they could not, under any circumstances, think of +denying themselves the pleasure of at least stopping one night in the +camp of the Missionary, about whom they had heard so much as the great +friend of the Indian. + +Of course I could not go back on my record, or resist such diplomacy; +but I saw trouble ahead, and I was not disappointed. In order to save +something, I gave to their wolfish dogs all the fish I had, which was +sufficient for my eight for several days. These the Esquimaux speedily +devoured. I made the men bring the dog harness into the camp, and with +the sleds, to save the straps and lashings, they built a little +barricade against the wind. + +In addition to the food supplies for the trip, I had a bag of meat, and +another of buns, for my use when I should reach the village, where I was +going to preach and to teach. I gathered a pile of clubs, which I cut +from the driftwood on the shore, from which we had also obtained that +for our fire. Then, putting the bag of meat, which was frozen hard, +under my pillow, and giving the bag of buns to one of my Indians, with +orders to guard it carefully, I lay down and tried to go to sleep. Vain +effort indeed was it for a long time. No sooner were we down than in +upon us swarmed the dogs. They fought for the honour of cleaning, in +dog fashion, our meat kettle, and then began seeking for something more. +Over us they walked, and soon, by their gathering around my head, I +knew they had scented the meat. Up I sprang, and, vigorously using my +clubs, a number of which I sent among them, I soon drove them out into +the darkness of the lake. Then under my robes again I got, but not to +sleep. In less than ten minutes there was an _encore_, which was +repeated several times. At length my supply of clubs gave out. My only +consolation was that the dogs had received so many of them that they +acted as though they were ready to cry quits and behave themselves. As +it looked as though they were settling down to rest, I gladly did the +same. Vain hope, indeed! I went to sleep very quickly, for I was very +weary, but I woke up in the morning to find that there was not an ounce +of meat left in the bag under my head, nor a single bun left in the bag +which the Indian had orders so carefully to guard. + +Our condition the next morning was not a very pleasant one. The outlook +was somewhat gloomy. Our camp was in an exposed snow-drift. We had no +roof over us. The fire was a poor one, as the drift-wood with which it +was made was wretched stuff, giving out more smoke than heat, which, +persisting in going the wrong way, often filled our eyes with blinding +tears. Our generous supply of meat, that we so much require in this +cold climate, and our rich buns, so highly prized, were devoured by the +dogs which, with the most innocent looks imaginable, sat around us in +the snow and watched our movements. Fortunately one of the Indians had +put a few plain biscuits in a small bag, which he was taking, as a great +gift, to a friend. These were brought out, and with our tea and sugar +were all we had, or could get, until we were sixty miles further south. +No time for grumbling, so we prepared ourselves for the race against the +march of hunger, which we well knew, by some bitter experiences, would, +after a few hours, rapidly gain upon us. + +After the light breakfast we knelt down in the snow and said our +prayers, and then hurried off. My gallant dogs responded to my call +upon them so nobly that ere that short wintry day in December had fled +away, and the lake was shrouded in darkness, the flying sparks from the +tops of the little cabins of the friendly Indians told us we had +conquered in the race, although not without some narrow escapes and +scars. + +While crossing a long traverse of at least twenty-five miles, my largest +dog, Jack, went through a crack in the ice up to his collar. These ice +cracks are dangerous things. The ice, which may be several feet thick, +often bursts open with a loud report, making a fissure which may be from +a few inches to several feet wide. Up this fissure the water rushes +until it is level with the top. Of course, as the cold is so intense, +it soon freezes over, but it is very dangerous for travellers to come +along soon after the fissure has been made. I have seen the guide get +in more than once, and have had some very narrow escapes myself. On +this occasion I was riding on the sled; the two foremost dogs of the +train got across the thinly frozen ice all right, but Jack, who was +third, broke though into the cold water below. The head dogs kept +pulling ahead, and the sled dog did his work admirably, and so we saved +the noble St. Bernard from drowning, and soon got him out. The cold was +so intense that in a few minutes his glossy black coat was covered with +a coat of icy mail. He seemed to know the danger he was in; and so, the +instant I got the sled across the ice crack, he started off direct for +the distant forest at such a rate that he seemed to drag the other dogs +as well as myself most of the time. We were about twelve miles from the +shore, but in a little more than an hour the land was reached, and as +there was abundance of dry wood here, a good fire was soon kindled, +before which, on a buffalo skin, I placed my ice-covered companion. He +turned himself around when necessary, and, ere the other sled arrived, +Jack was himself again. As two of the Indians behind us had fallen into +this same fissure, we were delayed for some time in getting them dry +again. + +We boiled our kettle and had some more tea, and then on we hurried. I +met with a very warm welcome from the people. The greater part of them +were Indians I had met in other years. Many were from Norway House. To +this place they had come, attracted by the stories of its valuable +fisheries and productive soil. So rapidly had the Mission at Norway +House increased that fish and game were beginning to fail. Hence a +large number emigrated to this and other places. + +To this place they had come late in the summer, and so the little houses +they had built were small and cold. Then, to make matters worse, the +fisheries had not proved to be what they had been represented. They +crowded round me as I drove into their village, and told me of their +"hungerings oft," and other hardships. As some sleds were ready to +start for Manitoba, I hurried into one of the little homes to pencil a +note to my Chairman, the Reverend George Young, but found it to be +almost an impossibility, as the four fingers of my right hand were +frozen. These, and a frozen nose, reminded me for several days of that +sixty miles' run on short rations. + +I found, in addition to the Christian Indians, quite a number of others +who had been attracted to this place. I spent eight days among them. +They had about a dozen little houses, in addition to a large number of +wigwams. For their supplies they were depending on their rabbit snares, +and their nets for fish, which were obtained in but limited quantities. +As my food had been stolen from me by the dogs, I had nothing but what +they gave me; but of their best they supplied me most cheerfully, and so +I breakfasted, dined, and supped on rabbit or fish, and fared well. + +I preached, as was my custom, three times a day, and kept school between +the services. I organised a class or society of thirty-five members, +ten of whom for the first time now decided for Christ, and resolved +henceforth to be His loyal followers. It was a great joy to be +gathering in those decided ones, as the result of the seed sown amidst +the discouragements of earlier years. I was very fortunate in securing +a good leader, or spiritual overseer, for this little flock in the +wilderness. Benjamin Cameron was his name. He had had a strange +career. He had been a cannibal in his day, but Divine Grace had gone +down into the depths of sin into which he had sunk, and had lifted him +out, and put his feet upon the Rock, and filled his lips with singing, +and his heart with praise. He was emphatically "a good man, and full of +the Holy Ghost." + +The hours I spent with the children were very pleasant and profitable. +I was pleased to hear the elder children read so well, and was +especially delighted with their knowledge of the Catechism in both Cree +and English. I distributed a fresh supply of books which I had brought +them, and also gave to the needy ones some warm, comfortable garments +sent by loving friends from Montreal. + +If the dear friends, into whose hearts the good desire to send these +very comfortable garments had been put, could only have seen how much +misery was relieved, and happiness conferred, they would have felt amply +rewarded for their gifts. + +In connection with one of the Sunday services I administered the +Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. We had a most solemn and impressive yet +delightful time. The Loving Saviour seemed very near, and fresh vows +and covenants were entered into by all, that to Him they would be true. + +I spent Christmas among them, and as one of them had succeeded in +getting some minks in his traps, and for the skins had obtained from +some passing "free-traders" some flour and plums, they got up, in honour +of my visit, a plum-pudding. It haunts me yet, and so I will not here +describe it. + +As beautiful weather favoured us on our return, we took the straight +route home, and arrived there in two days, rejoicing that the trip, as +regarded its spiritual aspects, had been a great success. + +One day an Indian came into my house and threw down a fine haunch of +venison upon the table. As we were poorly off for food, I was very much +pleased, and said to him, "What shall I give you for this meat?" + +"Nothing," he replied; "it belongs to you." + +"You must be mistaken," I said. "I never had any dealings with you." + +"But I had with you," he answered. "And so this meat is yours." + +Being unacquainted with the man, I asked him to tell me who he was, and +how he made it out that this meat belonged to me. + +Said he, "Did you not go to Nelson River with dogs and Indians about two +moons ago?" + +"Yes," I replied, "I did." + +"Well, I was out hunting deer, but I did not have much luck. The snow +was deep, the deer were very shy, and I had no success. One day, when +very hungry, for I had only taken a little dried rabbit meat with me +from my wigwam, I came across your trail, and I found where your Indians +had made a _cache_, that is, a big bundle of provisions and other things +had been tied up in a blanket, and then a small tree had been bent down +by your men, and the bundle fastened on the top, and let spring up again +to keep it from the wolves. I saw your bundle hanging there, and as I +was very hungry I thought, `Now if the kind-hearted Missionary only knew +the poor Indian hunter was here looking at his bundle of food, he would +say, "Help yourself;"' and that was what I did. I bent down the tree, +and found the large piece of pemmican. I cut off a piece big enough to +make me a good dinner, then I tied up the bundle again, and let it swing +up as you had it. And now I have brought you this venison in place of +what I took." + +I was pleased with his honesty, and had in the incident another example +of the Indian quickness to read much where the white man sees nothing. + +The reason why we had made the _cache_ which the Indian had discovered +was, that we had taken a large quantity of pemmican for our food, as the +people we wore going to see were poor, and we did not wish to be a +burden to them; but we had been caught in a terrible storm, and as the +snow was very deep, making the travelling heavy, we were obliged to +lighten our loads as soon as possible. So we left a portion, as the +Indian has described, on the way. + +When we returned to the _cache_, and my men pulled it down and opened +the bundle, one of them quickly cried out, "Somebody has been at our +_cache_." + +"Nonsense," I replied; "nobody would disturb it. And then there were no +tracks around when we reached here to-night." + +Looking at the largest piece of pemmican, the Indians said, "Missionary, +somebody has taken down our bundle and cut off a piece just here. That +there are no tracks, is because there have been so many snow-storms +lately. All tracks made a few days ago are covered up." + +As I knew they were so much quicker along these lines of education than +white men, I did not argue any more with them. The coming of the old +hunter with the venison was the proof of the cleverness of my men, and +also a very honourable act on his part. I kept the old man to dinner, +and among other things I asked him how he knew it was the Missionary's +party that passed that way. He quickly replied, "By your tracks in the +snow. Indians' toes turn in when they walk, white men's toes turn out." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +AN INDIAN LOVEFEAST--MANY WITNESSES--SWEET SONGS OF ZION--THE LORD'S +SUPPER--MEMOIR OF WILLIAM MEMOTAS, THE DEVOTED CHRISTIAN. + +Our Lovefeasts and sacramental services were always well attended, if it +were within the range of possibility for the Indians to be present. To +come in on Saturday from their distant hunting grounds sixty miles away, +that they might enjoy the services of the Lord's house on His own day, +was no unusual thing. Then on Monday morning we have seen them again +strap on their snowshoes, and with glad hearts and renewed zeal start +off to return to their lonely hunting camps in the distant forests. + +They are able to express themselves clearly, and often quite eloquently. +When their hearts are full of the love of God, and they are rejoicing +in the blessed assurance of the Divine favour, they are willing to speak +about it. + + "What they have felt and seen + With confidence they tell." + +Here are some of their testimonies. Those are the living words of men +and women who were once the slaves of a debasing paganism. But on their +hearts the blessed Spirit shone, and to His pleading voice they +responded, and now, happy in the consciousness that they are the +children of God, they love to talk about what wonderful things have been +done for them and wrought in them. Timothy Bear said: + +"It is such a joy to me, that I can tell you of great things done for +me. Great is the joy I have in my heart to-day. I rest in the +consciousness that He is my own reconciled Heavenly Father, and so I +feel it good to be here in the Lord's house, and with those that love +Him. The good Spirit gives me to see how good and kind my heavenly +Father is; and so I can say that the greatest anxiety of my heart and +life is to serve God better and better as I grow older. To do this I +have found out that I must have Divine help. But He is my Helper for +everything, and so I need not fail. So I am encouraged that I shall +love God more and more, and, with that, I want to love His cause and +people, and those who have not yet become His people, that they may soon +do so, more and more. For the conversion of the unsaved, let us, who +feel that Jesus saves us, pray more earnestly than ever, and may God +help us to live our religion, that the heathen around us may see in our +lives what a wonderful thing it is." + +Timothy's burning words produced a deep impression, and some one began +to sing: + + "Ayume-oo-we-nah," + + "The praying Spirit breathe." + +Half a dozen were on their feet when the verses were sung, but Thomas +Walker spoke first. He said: + +"When I first heard the Gospel long winters ago, as brought to us by Mr +Evans, I was soon convinced that I was a sinner and needed forgiveness. +I found I could not of myself get rid of my sins, so I believed in +Christ, and found that He had power to forgive. I was very wretched +before I was forgiven. I was afraid I should be lost for ever. I +mourned and wept before God on account of my sins. In the woods alone, +I cried in my troubles, and was in deep distress. But I heard of the +love and power, and willingness to save, of this Jesus of the great +Book, and so I exercised a living faith in Him; and as I believed, God's +voice was heard, saying, `My son, I have forgiven your sins; I have +blotted them out. Go in peace.' I am sure I was not mistaken; I felt +filled with peace and joy. I felt that I, Thomas Walker, was cleansed +from my many sins, and clothed with the garments of salvation. That was +a blessed day when the Spirit of God shone into my heart and drove out +the darkness. Since then, my way in Him has been like the sunlight on +the waters. The more waves, the more sunshine. I am happy in His love +to-day. I am confident that, because He aids me, I am growing in grace. + +"I rejoice at being spared to come to another celebration of the Lord's +Supper; and in view of partaking of the emblems of the dying, loving +Jesus, I feel that my soul is feeding on Christ, the true Bread of +Life." + +Earnest yet suppressed words of praise and adoration quietly dropped +from many lips as Thomas ended. Then dear old Henry Budd succeeded in +getting a hearing. Henry was Mr Evans' marvellous dog-driver over +twenty-five years before the date of this blessed lovefeast. He had had +many wonderful adventures and some narrow escapes. Once, when running +ahead on a treacherous river, where in places the current was very +rapid, and consequently the ice was thin, he broke through into the +current underneath. He quickly caught hold of the edge of the ice, but +it was so weak it would not hold him up. His only comrade could not get +very near him as the ice was so bad, and so had to run about a mile for +a rope. When he returned, so intense was the cold that both of Henry's +hands, with which he had been holding on to the ice, were frozen. He +was utterly unable to close them on the rope. George shouted to him to +open his mouth. The rope was then thrown, lasso-like, so skilfully, +that the poor half-frozen man seized it in his teeth, and was thus +dragged out, and rushed off to the nearest wigwam. He was literally +saved by the "skin of his teeth." + +Thus Henry Budd had, like many others, much for which to praise God. He +spoke on this occasion as follows: + +"I rejoice in God my Saviour, Who has done such wonderful things for me. +I feel very happy. I am His child. He is my reconciled Father. How +can I help being happy? + +"When I first began to get my poor blind eyes opened, and there came to +me a desire to seek God, and to obtain salvation for my soul, I was +troubled on account of my sins. My many transgressions rose up before +me like a cloud. I was ignorant, and so my mind was full of doubts and +fears. Yet with all my doubts there was the anxious desire to be saved. +But the victory came at last. I was enabled to hear enough about the +Almighty Friend, and so, as I had confidence in His power and love, and +believed in Him, I was at last enabled to rejoice in the knowledge of +sins forgiven through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. From those sad +doubts and fears I am now happily delivered. I feel I love God, and +that God loves me. I am growing in grace, and in the knowledge of God +my Saviour. My hopes are brightening all the time. I am getting old, +but not unhappy, for I am cheered with the blessed assurance of one day +meeting, in my Father's house in heaven, with many who are safely there, +and many more who, like me, will soon enter in. That this may be a +blessed certainty, I desire to be faithful unto the end, that no man +take my crown." + +When Henry sat down, before another one could be heard, the large +congregation were singing:-- + + "Pe teh-na-mah-me cha-te yak + Ke ehe ne-ka-mo-yak," etc. + + "O for a thousand tongues to sing + My great Redeemer's praise." + +The next to get the floor was one of the sweetest, purest Christians it +was ever my lot to become acquainted with in any land. His name was +William Memotas. He was a very happy Christian. As he was a Local +Preacher and a Class Leader, I was much in his society, and I can say, +as many others have said, that William, since the day of his conversion, +was never heard to utter an unkind word about any one, or do anything +that could give the enemies of the Lord Jesus an opportunity to scoff at +his profession of loving the Lord with all his heart. He was never a +very strong man physically while we knew him, and so was unable to go on +the long tripping or hunting expeditions with him more vigorous +comrades. He suffered much from inward pain, but was ever bright and +hopeful. When he stood up to add his testimony, the sick, pallid face +caused a wave of sympathy to pass over the audience, but his cheery +words quickly lifted the cloud, and we seemed to look through the open +door into the celestial city, into which he was so soon to enter. His +obituary, which I wrote at the time of his death, is added at the close +of this chapter. He said:-- + +"For many years I have now been walking in this way, and proving this +great salvation. It is a blessed way, and it is getting more delightful +all the time. Every day on it is a day's walk nearer Jesus. It is not +like the trails in our country, sometimes rocks, and then more often +muskegs and quaking bogs; but it is the solid rock all the time, and on +it we may always be sure of our footing, and it leads us up to Him Who +is the Rock of Ages. I am not now a strong man, as you know I once was. +This poor weak body is like the old wigwam. It is breaking up. As +each storm tears fresh rents in the old wigwam, so each attack of +disease seems to tear me, and bring me nearer the time when what is +immortal of me shall slip away from the worn body into the everlasting +brightness of that land where the happy people never say, `I am sick.' +I am very glad and happy in the service of this Jesus, and will serve +Him as long as He lends me health. But I do want to go home. I cannot +do much more here. Our Missionary, Mr Young, said to me, `William, +don't talk so much about leaving us. How can we spare you?' I thank +him for his love and friendship, but there is another Friend I am +getting such a longing in my heart to see, and that is Jesus, my +Saviour, my Redeemer. I am praying for patience, but by-and-by I shall +be with Him, with him for evermore. There I shall have no pain, and I +will praise my Jesus for evermore. So, while waiting, I ask God to be +with me here, and to let me serve Him in some way every day." + +With suppressed emotion, for many eyes were full of tears, the people +sang-- + + "Tapwa meyoo ootaskewuk, + Ispemik ayahchik," etc. + + "There is a land of pure delight, + Where saints immortal reign." + +William was a sweet singer, and joined heartily with the rest in singing +several verses of that grand old hymn. We had a presentiment that the +end was not far off, but we little thought, as we looked into his +radiant face, and heard his clear scriptural testimony, and his longings +for rest and heaven, that this was to be the last Lovefeast in which our +dear brother was to be with us. Ere another similar service was held, +William Memotas had gone sweeping through the gates, washed in the blood +of the Lamb. + +James Cochrane, a Class Leader, said,-- + +"I have great reason to bless God for the privileges and mercies I have +had from him. I am so glad to be with you to-day in his house. I try +to arrange all my huntings and journeys so as to be present at all of +these love-feasts and sacraments. Since I decided, many years ago, to +give up paganism and become a Christian, I have never missed one of +these meetings, though sometimes I have had to take several days and +travel hundreds of miles to get here. I only had to travel sixty miles +on my snow-shoes to be here to-day. It has paid me well to come. I +rejoice that God has enabled me to be faithful all these years since I +started in His service. When I first began, I had a great many doubts +and fears. The way seemed very long ahead of me. I felt so weak and so +prone to sin. It seemed impossible that such a weak, unworthy creature +as I could stand true and faithful; but trusting in God, and constantly +endeavouring to exercise a living faith in Christ, I have been kept to +this day, and I can say I realise a daily growth in grace. I ask God to +give me His Holy Spirit to help me to follow Christ's example and to +keep all of God's commandments. May I, too, prove faithful." + +Mary Cook, a very old woman, who has had to endure persecution for +Christ's sake, spoke next. She said: + +"I am very glad to be here once more. I have many pagan relatives who +have no feeling of friendship towards me, because I am a follower of +Jesus. But He is my Friend, so it is all right. I have been very sick, +and thought that God was going to take me home to heaven. That thought +made me very happy in my sickness. My poor little room often seemed +light with the presence of my Lord. I love to dwell with God's people. +It is my chief joy. I refused to go and live with my relatives in the +woods, even though I should be better off, because I love the house of +God, and because I so love to worship with God's people." + +Mary Oig said: + +"Very happy do I feel in my heart to-day. My heart is filled with his +love. I knew I love Him and his people; and His service is to me a +great delight. Once, like many others, I was in the great darkness, +wandering in sin; but God sought me by His Holy Spirit, and convinced me +of my lost condition, and shewed me Himself as my only Hope, and enabled +me to rejoice in his pardoning mercy through faith in the Atonement. +May God keep me faithful, that with you I may join around the Throne +above." + +Thomas Mamanowatum, generally known as "Big Tom," on account of his +almost gigantic size, was the next to speak. He is one of the best of +men. I have used him to help me a good deal, and have ever found him +one of the worthiest and truest assistants. His people all love and +trust him. He is perhaps the most influential Indian in the village. +Tom said: + +"I, too, desire to express my gratitude to God for His great blessings +and mercies to me. I am like David, who said, `Come, all ye who fear +the Lord, and I will tell you what He hath done for my soul.' He has +taken me out of the pit of sin, and set me on the rock. So I rejoice, +for I have felt and tasted of His love. When I think of what he has +done for me, and then think of what I have been, I feel that I am not +worthy even to stand up in such a place as this. But He is worthy, and +so I must praise Him. I have a comfortable assurance that He, my good +Father, is contented with me. But it is only because the grace of God +is sufficient to keep me. I am growing in grace, and I desire more than +ever to glorify God in all I think, or speak, or do. I have been +helping our Missionary at Beren's River in the good work among the +people there. I often felt happy while endeavouring to point my heathen +brethren to Jesus Christ, Who takes away the sins of the world. My +first consecration was of myself, when converted to Christ. My second +was of my family to Him. My third is of my class. I am often very +happy while trying to lead them on in the way to heaven. To-day I renew +my vows of consecration. I offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, for He +is my God and my portion for ever. As He is the Source of Love and +Light and Safety, I want to be continually drawing nearer to Him." + +Very appropriate was the hymn which was next sung,-- + + "Ke-se-wog-ne-man-toom + Ke-nah-te-tin," etcetera, + + "Nearer, my God, to Thee." + +After three verses of this beautiful hymn were sung, we had a large +number of short testimonies. Some of the people beautifully expressed +themselves by quoting passages from their Indian Bibles. For example, +one said: "The joy of the Lord is my portion." Another: "The Lord is my +Shepherd; I shall not want." Another: "Beloved, now are we the sons of +God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when +He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see him as He is." + +Thus delightfully passed away two hours. Perhaps fifty or sixty gave +their testimonies, or quoted passages of Scripture. The speaking was up +to the average of a similar gathering among white people, as these +examples we have given would indicate. They were faithfully translated +by two of our best interpreters, and then compared. And yet many of the +beautiful Indian images are lost in the translation into English. + +The best of all has also to be left out. The Divine power, the holy +emotions, the shining faces, the atmosphere of heaven, cannot be put +down on paper. Many of my readers know what I mean as thus I write, for +they have been in those hallowed gatherings where "they that feared the +Lord spake often one to another." + +Then followed the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. To the Christian +Indians this service is, as it ever should be, the most solemn and +impressive in the Church. Our custom was to hold four Communion +services during the year. In addition, we sometimes gave a dying +devoted member this sacrament, if so desired. Here there were a few +other very important occasions, when we celebrated in this way the dying +of the Lord Jesus. As, for example, when several scores of our people +were going off on a dangerous trip in a plague-infected district with +but very poor prospects of all returning home again. + +WILLIAM MEMOTAS. + +William Memotas was converted from the darkness of paganism to the light +of the Gospel soon after the introduction of the glad tidings of +salvation among the Cree Indians by that most useful and godly man, the +Reverend James Evans. William's conversion was so clear and positive +that he never had any doubts about it. His progress in the Divine life +was marked and intelligent, and soon he became a useful and acceptable +worker in the Church. He was a Class Leader and Local Preacher of great +power and acceptability. + +He was pre-eminently a happy Christian. His face seemed full of +sunshine. There was a genial sweetness about him that caused his very +presence to act as a charm. His coming into our Mission home was like +the sunshine, in which even our little ones basked with great delight. +He was an every-day Christian. Although I was often in his company, and +was thrown in contact with him on some occasions calculated to severely +test him, yet I never heard from him an improper word, or heard of his +having in any way gone contrary to his Christian profession during the +thirty years that he had professed to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. + +His greatest aim in life seemed to be to get to heaven; and next to that +he strove to induce others to follow in the same course. + +When some of the Indians were getting excited about their lands, and the +treaties which were soon to be made with the Government, William, in +writing to a friend, said: "I care for none of these things; they will +all come right. My only desire is to love Jesus more and more, so as to +see Him by-and-by." + +He was a useful Christian, possessing a good knowledge of the roots and +herbs of his native forests, and also having had some instruction given +him in reference to some of the simpler medicines of the whites, he was +often styled our "village doctor." Although seldom remunerated for his +services, he was always ready to listen to the calls of the afflicted, +and, with Heaven's blessing, was instrumental in accomplishing some +marvellous cures. He believed in using a good deal of prayer with his +medicines. His skill in dressing and curing gun-shot wounds could not +be excelled. + +Yet, while doing all he could to cure others, his own health was very +poor for several years. He suffered frequently from violent headaches +that caused intense pain. Yet he was never heard to murmur or complain, +but would say to us, when we tried to sympathise with him, "Never mind, +by-and-by I shall get home, and when I see Jesus I shall have no more +pain." About nine days before his departure he caught a severe cold +that settled upon his lungs, which seemed to have been diseased for a +long time. He had from the beginning a presentiment that his sickness +was "unto death," and never did a weary toiler welcome his bed of rest +with greater delight than did William the grave. The prospect of +getting to heaven seemed so fully to absorb his thoughts that he +appeared dead to everything earthly. In life he had been a most loving +and affectionate husband and father, but now, with a strong belief in +God's promises of protection and care over the widow and fatherless, he +resigned his family into the Lord's hands, and then seemed almost to +banish them from his thoughts. + +Being very poor on account of his long-continued ill health, which had +incapacitated him for work, he had, when his severe illness began, +nothing to eat but fish. We cheerfully supplied him with what things +our limited means would allow, to alleviate his sorrows and poverty. +One day, when my beloved Brother Semmens and I had visited him, we had +prayer and a blessed talk with him. As we were leaving him, after +giving him some tangible evidences of our love, Brother Semmens said, +"Now, Brother William, can we do anything else for you? Do you want +anything more?" The poor sick man turned his radiant face towards us +and said, "O no, I want nothing now, but more of Christ." + +He often conversed with us about his glorious prospects and the joy and +happiness he felt as the pearly gates of the Golden City seemed to be +opening before him. Here are some of his dying words whispered either +to my beloved colleague or to myself. Would that we could portray the +scene, or describe the happy, shining face of the dying man, lying there +on a bed of blankets and rabbit skins in his little dwelling! + +He said, "While my body is getting weaker, my faith is getting stronger, +and I am very happy in Jesus' love. Very glad am I that I responded to +Mr Evans' invitations, and gave my heart to Him Who has saved me and +kept me so happy in His love. I am so glad I was permitted to do some +little work for Jesus. He used to help me when I tried to talk about +His love and recommend Him to others. I used to get very happy in my +own soul when thus working for Him. I am happier now than ever before. +I am resting in His love." + +Thus would the happy man talk on as long as his strength permitted. It +was ever a blessing to visit him. It wonderfully encouraged and +strengthened us in our work. One day, as we came from one of these +blessed visits, Brother Semmens burst out in almost ecstatic delight,-- + + "O may I triumph so + When all my warfare's past!" + +When we administered to him the emblems of the broken body and spilt +blood of the Redeemer, he was much affected, and exclaimed, "My precious +Saviour! I shall soon see Him. `That will be joy for evermore.'" + +Once, when conversing with him, I happened to say, "I hope you will not +leave us. We want you to remain with us. We need you to help us to +preach. We need you in the Sunday School and in the Prayer Meetings. +Your sixty class members are full of sorrow at your sickness. They +think they cannot spare you. Do not be in a hurry to leave us, William. +We want your presence, your example, your prayers." + +He listened patiently while I talked, and then he looked up at me so +chidingly, like a weary, home-sick child, and exclaimed, in a voice that +showed that earth had lost all its charms, "Why do you wish to detain +me? You know I want to go home." + +Shortly after, his heart's desire was his in actual possession. +Triumphantly he went home. While we felt that our Mission was much the +loser by his departure, we knew it was better for him, and an accession +to heaven's glorious company of one who was worthy to mingle with the +white-robed throng around the throne of God. + +There is nothing that more roots and grounds us in this blessed Gospel, +and more stimulates us to labour on, even amidst hardships and +sufferings, than the consistent lives and triumphant deaths of our +Indian converts. + +Ignorant as many of them are of the non-essentials of our religion, yet +possessing by the Spirit's influence a vivid knowledge of their state by +nature, and of the Saviour's love for them, they cling to Him with a +faith so strong and abiding, that the blessed assurance of His favour +abides with them as a conscious reality through life; and when the end +draws near, sustained by His presence, even the Valley of the Shadow of +Death is entered with delight. + +The Missions among the Indians of North America have not been failures. +The thousands converted from different tribes, and now before the throne +of God, and the many true and steadfast ones following after, tell us +that although many of the toilers among them, as they went with the +seed, literally went forth weeping, yet the harvest has been an abundant +one, and has more than compensated for the tears and toils of the +sewers. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +VARIED DUTIES--CHRISTIANITY MUST PRECEDE CIVILISATION--ILLUSTRATIONS-- +EXPERIMENTAL FARMING--PLOUGHING WITH DOGS--ABUNDANCE OF FISH--VISITS +FROM FAR-OFF INDIANS--SOME COME TO DISTURB--MANY SINCERE INQUIRERS AFTER +THE TRUTH--"WHERE IS THE MISSIONARY?"--BEREN'S RIVER MISSION BEGUN-- +TIMOTHY BEAR--PERILS ON THE ICE. + +Very diversified were our duties among these Indians. Not only were +there those that in all places are associated with ministerial or +pastoral work, but there were also many others, peculiar to this kind of +missionary toil. Following closely on the acceptance of the spiritual +blessings of the Gospel came the desire for temporal progress and +development. Christianity must ever precede a real and genuine +civilisation. To reverse this order of proceedings has always resulted +in humiliating failure among the North American Indians. + +Sir Francis Bond Head, one of the early Governors of Canada, took a +great interest in the Indians. He zealously endeavoured to improve +them, and honestly worked for their advancement. He gathered together a +large number of them at one of their settlements, and held a great +council with them. Oxen were killed, and flour and tea and tobacco were +provided in large quantities. The Indians feasted and smoked, and +listened attentively to this great man who represented the Queen, and +who, having also supplied them with food for the great feast, was worthy +of all attention. + +The Governor told them that the great object of his coming to see them, +and thus feasting them, was to show his kindness to them, and interest +in their welfare. Then, with much emphasis he told them how the game +was disappearing, and the fish also would soon not be so plentiful, and, +unless they settled down and cultivated the soil, they would suffer from +hunger, and perhaps starve to death. He got them to promise that they +would begin this new way of life. As they were feeling very comfortable +while feasting on his bounties, they were in the humour of promising +everything he desired. Very much delighted at their docility, he said +he would send them axes to clear more of their land, and oxen and +ploughs to prepare it for seed; and when all was ready he would send +them seed grain. Great were their rejoicings at these words, and with +stately ceremony the council broke up. + +In a few days along came the ploughs, oxen, and axes. It was in the +pleasant springtime, but instead of going to work and ploughing up what +land there was cleared in their village, and beginning with their axes +to get more ready, they held a council among themselves. These were +their conclusions: "These axes are bright and shine like glass. If we +use them to cut down trees, they will lose their fine appearance. Let +us keep them as ornaments. These oxen now are fat and good. If we +fasten them up to these heavy ploughs, and make them drag them through +the ground, they will soon get poor and not fit for food. Let us make a +great feast." So they killed the oxen, and invited all of the +surrounding Indians to join them, and as long as a piece of meat was +left the pots were kept boiling. + +Thus ended, just as many other efforts of the kind have ended, this +effort to civilise the Indians before Christianising them. + +We found that almost in proportion to the genuineness of the Indian's +acceptance of the Gospel was his desire to improve his temporal +circumstances. Of course there were some places where the Indians could +not cultivate the land. We were four hundred miles north of the fertile +prairies of the great western part of the Dominion of Canada, where +perhaps a hundred millions of people will yet find happy times. From +these wondrously fertile regions my Nelson River Indians were at least +six hundred miles north. As hunters and fishermen these men, and those +at Oxford Mission, and indeed nearly all in those high latitudes, must +live. But where there was land to cultivate the Indians had their +gardens and little fields. + +I carried out with me four potatoes. I did not get them in the ground +until the 6th of August. Yet in the short season left I succeeded in +raising a few little ones. These I carefully packed in cotton wool and +kept safe from the frost. The next year I got from them a pailful. The +yield the third year was six bushels, and the fourth year one hundred +and twenty-five bushels; and before I left the Indians were raising +thousands of bushels from those four potatoes. They had had some +before, but there had been some neglect, and they had run out. + +One summer I carried out, in a little open boat from Red River, a good +Scotch iron beam plough. The next winter, when I came in to the +District Meeting, I bought a bag of wheat containing two bushels and a +half; and I got also thirty-two iron harrow teeth. I dragged these +things, with many others, including quite an assortment of garden seeds, +on my dog-trains, all the way to Norway House. I harnessed eight dogs +to my plough, and ploughed up my little fields; and, after making a +harrow, I harrowed in my wheat with the dogs. The first year I had +thirty bushels of beautiful wheat. This I cut with a sickle, and then +thrashed it with a flail. Mrs Young sewed several sheets together, and +one day, when there was a steady, gentle breeze blowing, we winnowed the +chaff from the wheat in the wind. There were no mills within hundreds +of miles of us; so we merely cracked the wheat in a hand coffee-mill, +and used some of it for porridge, and gave the rest to the Indians, who +made use of it in their soups. + +Thus we laboured with them and for them, and were more and more +encouraged, as the years rolled on, at seeing how resolved they were to +improve their temporal circumstances, which at the best were not to be +envied. + +The principal article of food was fish. The nets were in the water from +the time the ice disappeared in May until it returned in October; and +often were holes cut in the ice, and nets placed under it, for this +staple article of food. + +The great fall fisheries were times of activity and anxiety, as the +winter's supply of food depended very much upon the numbers caught. So +steady and severe is the frost at Norway House, and at all the Missions +north of it, that the fish caught in October and the early part of +November, keep frozen solid until April. The principal fish is the +white fish, although many other varieties abound. + +Each Indian family endeavoured to secure from three to five thousand +fish, each fall, for the winter's supply. For my own family use, and +more especially for my numerous dogs, which were required for my long +winter trips to the out Mission appointments, I used to endeavour to +secure not less than ten thousand fish. It is fortunate that those +lakes and rivers so abound in splendid varieties of fish. If it were +not so, the Indians could not exist. But, providentially,-- + + "The teeming sea supplies + The food the niggard soil denies." + +Deer of several varieties abound, and also other animals, the flesh of +which furnishes nutritious food. But all supplies of food thus obtained +are insignificant in comparison with the fish, which the Indians are +able to obtain except in the severest weather. + +As with the natives, so it was with the Missionaries; the principal +article of food upon their tables was fish. During the first Riel +Rebellion, when all communication with the interior was cut off, and our +supplies could not as usual be sent out to us from Red River, my good +wife and I lived on fish twenty-one times a week, for nearly six months. +Of course there were times when we had on the table, in addition to the +fish, a cooked rabbit, or it may be a piece of venison or bear's meat. +However, the great "stand-by," as they say out in that land, was the +fish. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Every summer hundreds of Indians from other places visited us. Some +came in their small canoes, and others with the Brigades, which in those +days travelled vast distances with their loads of rich furs, which were +sent down to York Factory on the Hudson Bay, to be shipped thence to +England. Sometimes they remained several weeks between the trading post +and the Mission. Very frequent were the conversations we had with these +wandering red men about the Great Spirit and the Great Book. + +Some, full of mischief, and at times unfortunately full of rum, used to +come to annoy and disturb us. One summer a band of Athabasca Indians so +attacked our Mission House that for three days and nights we were as in +a state of siege. Unfortunately for us our own loyal able-bodied Indian +men were all away as trip men, and the few at the Mission village were +powerless to help. Our lives were in jeopardy, and they came very near +burning down the premises. + +Shortly after these Athabasca Indians had left us I saw a large boatload +of men coming across the lake towards our village. Imagining them to be +some of these same disturbers, I hastily rallied all the old men I +could, and went down to the shore, to keep them, if possible, from +landing. Very agreeable indeed was my surprise to find that they were a +band of earnest seekers after the Great Light, who had come a long +distance to see and talk with me. Gladly did I lead them to the Mission +House, and until midnight I endeavoured to preach to them Jesus. They +came a distance of over three hundred miles; but in that far-off +district had met in their wanderings some of our Christian Indians from +Norway House, who, always carrying their Bibles with them, had, by +reading to them and praying with them, under the good Spirit's +influence, implanted in their hearts longing desires after the great +salvation. They were literally hungering and thirsting after salvation. +Before they left for their homes, they were all baptized. Their +importunate request to me on leaving was the same as that of many +others: + +"Do come and visit us in our own land, and tell us and our families more +of these blessed truths." + +From God's Lake, which is sixty miles from Oxford Lake, a deputation of +eleven Indians came to see me. They had travelled the whole distance of +two hundred and sixty miles in order that they might hear the Gospel, +and get from me a supply of Bibles, Hymn-books, and Catechisms. One of +them had been baptized and taught years ago by the Reverend H. +Brooking. His life and teachings had made the others eager for this +blessed way, and so he brought these hungry sheep in the wilderness that +long distance that they might have the truth explained to them more +perfectly, and be baptised. As it had been with the others who came +from a different direction, so it was with these. Their earnest, oft- +repeated entreaty was, "Come and visit us and ours in our far-away +homes." + +A few weeks after, another boatload of men called to have a talk with +me. They seated themselves on the grass in front of the Mission House, +and at first acted as though they expected me to begin the conversation. +I found out very soon that they were Saulteaux, and had come from +Beren's River, about a hundred and fifty miles away. After a few words +as to their health and families had passed between us, an old man, who +seemed to be the spokesman of the party, said, "Well, Ayumeaookemou" +("praying master," the Missionary's name), "do you remember your words +of three summers ago?" + +"What were my words of three summers ago?" I asked. + +"Why," he replied, "your words were that you would write to the Keche- +ayumeaookemou" (the great praying masters, the Missionary Secretaries) +"for a Missionary for us." + +When I first passed through their country, they with tears in their eyes +had begged for a Missionary. I had been much moved by their appeals, +and had written to the Mission House about them and for them, but all in +vain. None had come to labour among them. + +For my answer to this old man's words I translated a copy of my letter, +which had been published, and in which I had strongly urged their claims +for a Missionary. They all listened attentively to the end, and then +the old man sprang up and said, "We all thank you for sending that word, +but _where is the Missionary_?" I was lost for an answer, for I felt +that I was being asked by this hungering soul the most important +question that can be heard by the Christian Church, to whom God has +committed the great work of the world's evangelisation. + +"WHERE IS THE MISSIONARY?" The question thrilled me, and I went down +before it like the reed before the storm. I could only weep and say, +"Lord, have mercy upon me and on the apathetic Christian world." + +That was the hardest question a human being ever asked me. To tell him +of a want of men, or a lack of money, to carry the glad tidings of +salvation to him and his people, would only have filled his mind with +doubts as to the genuineness of the religion enjoyed by a people so +numerous and rich as he knew the whites were. So I tried to give them +some idea of the world's population, and the vast number yet unconverted +to Christianity. I told him the Churches were at work in many places +and among many nations, but that many years would pass away before all +the world would be supplied with Missionaries. + +"How many winters will pass by before that time comes?" he asked. + +"A great many, I fear," was my answer. + +He put his hands through his long hair, once as black as a raven's wing, +but now becoming silvered, and replied: "These white hairs show that I +have lived many winters, and am getting old. My countrymen at Red River +on the south of us, and here at Norway House on the north of us, have +Missionaries, and churches, and schools; and we have none. I do not +wish to die until we have a church and a school." + +The story of this old man's appeal woke up the good people of the +Churches, and something was soon done for these Indians. I visited them +twice a year by canoe and dog-train, and found them anxious for +religious instruction and progress. + +At first I sent to live among them my faithful interpreter, Timothy +Bear. He worked faithfully and did good service. He was not a strong +man physically, and could not stand much exposure. To live in, he had +my large leather tent, which was made of the prepared skins of the +buffalo. One night a great tornado swept over the country, and +Timothy's tent was carried away, and then the drenching rains fell upon +him and his. A severe cold resulted, and when word reached me several +weeks after at Norway House, it was that my trusted friend was +hopelessly ill, but was still endeavouring to keep at his duties. + +So great was my anxiety to go and comfort him that I started out with my +dog-trains so soon after the winter set in that that trip very nearly +proved to be my last. The greater part of that journey was performed +upon Lake Winnipeg. Very frequently on the northern end of that lake +the ice, which there forms first, is broken up by the fierce winds from +the southern end, which, being three hundred miles further south, +remains open several days longer. I had with me two Indians,--one was +an old experienced man, named William Cochran; the other a splendid +specimen of physical manhood, named Felix. + +When we reached Lake Winnipeg, as far as we could judge by the +appearance of the ice, it must have formed three times, and then have +been broken up by the storms. The broken masses were piled up in +picturesque ridges along the shore, or frozen together in vast fields +extending for many miles. Over these rough ice-fields, where great +pieces of ice, from five to twenty feet high, were thrown at every +angle, and then frozen solid, we travelled for two days. Both men and +dogs suffered a great deal from falls and bruises. Our feet at times +were bruised and bleeding. Just about daybreak, on our third day, as we +pushed out from our camp in the woods where we had passed the night, +when we had got a considerable distance from the shore, Felix was +delighted to find smooth ice. He was guiding at the time. He put on +his skates and bounded off quickly, and was soon followed by the dogs, +who seemed as delighted as he that the rough ice had all been passed, +and now there was a possibility of getting on with speed and comfort. + +Just as I was congratulating myself on the fact of our having reached +good ice, and that now there was a prospect of soon reaching my sick +Indian brother, a cry of terror came from William, the experienced +Indian who was driving our provision sled behind mine. + +"This ice is bad, and we are sinking," he shouted. + +Thinking the best way for me was to stop I checked my dogs, and at once +began to sink. + +"Keep moving, but make for the shore," was the instant cry of the man +behind. + +I shouted to my splendid, well-trained dogs, and they at once responded +to the command given, and bounded towards the shore. Fortunately the +ice was strong enough to hold the dogs up, although under the sled it +bent and cracked, and in some places broke through. + +Very grateful were we when we got back to the rough strong ice near the +shore. In quiet tones we spoke a few words of congratulation to each +other, and lifted up our hearts in gratitude to our great Preserver, and +then hurried on. If we had broken in, we could have received no earthly +aid, as there was not even a wigwam within a day's journey of us. + +That night at the camp-fire I overheard William saying to Felix, "I am +ashamed of ourselves for not having taken better care of our +Missionary." + +We found Timothy very sick indeed. We ministered to his comfort, and +had it then in our power so to arrange that, while the work should not +suffer, he could have rest and quiet. His success had been very marked, +and the old Saulteaux rejoiced that he and the rest of them were to be +neglected no longer. He had made such diligent progress himself in +spiritual things that I gladly baptized him and his household. + +There were times when our supplies ran very short, and hunger and +suffering had to be endured. During the first Riel Rebellion, when we +were cut off from access to the outside world, we were entirely +dependent upon our nets and guns for a long time. Our artist has tried +to tell a story in three pictures. + +At the breakfast table we had nothing to eat but the hind-quarter of a +wild cat. It was very tough and tasteless; and while we were trying to +make our breakfast from it, Mrs Young said, "My dear, unless you shoot +something for dinner, I am afraid there will be none." + +So I took down my rifle, and tied on my snow-shoes, and started off +looking for game. See Picture I. Pictures II and III tell the rest of +the story. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +SMALL-POX PESTILENCE--HEROIC CONDUCT OF CHRISTIAN INDIANS--WHITES +SUPPLIED WITH PROVISIONS BY RED MEN--THE GUIDE SAMUEL PAPANEKIS--HIS +TRIUMPHANT DEATH--NANCY, THE HAPPY WIDOW--IN POVERTY, YET REJOICING. + +We were very much shocked, during the early spring, to hear that that +terrible disease, the small-pox, had broken out among the Indians on the +great plains of the Saskatchewan. + +It seems to have been brought into the country by some white traders +coming up from the State of Montana. When once it had got amongst them, +it spread with amazing rapidity and fatality. To make matters worse, +one of the tribes of Indians, being at war with another, secretly +carried some of the infected clothing, which had been worn by their own +dead friends, into the territory of those with whom they were at war, +and left it where it could be easily found and carried off. In this way +the disease was communicated to this second tribe, and thousands of them +died from it. + +Every possible precaution against the spread of this terrible destroyer +was taken by the Missionaries, Messrs. McDougall and Campbell, aided by +their Christian people. But, in spite of all their efforts, it +continued cutting down both whites and Indians. To save some of his +people Mr McDougall got the Indians of his Victoria Mission to leave +their homes and scatter themselves over the great prairies, where, he +hoped, they would, by being isolated, escape the contagion. The pagan +Indians, rendered desperate under the terrible scourge which was so +rapidly cutting them off, and being powerless to check it, resolved to +wreak their vengeance upon the defenceless whites. So they sent a band +of warriors to destroy every white person in the country. The first +place they reached, where dwelt any of the pale-faces, was the Victoria +Mission on the Saskatchewan River. Indian-like, they did not openly +attack, but, leaving the greater number of their warriors in ambush in +the long grass, a few of them sauntered into the Mission House. Here, +to their surprise, they found that the small-pox had entered, and some +of the inmates of the home had died. Quickly and quietly they glided +away, and told their comrades what they had seen. A hasty consultation +was held, and they decided that it could not have been the Missionary +who had control of the disease; for, if he had, he would not have +allowed it to have killed his own. They then decided it must have been +the fur-traders, and so they started for the trading post. Here they +pursued the same tactics, and found to their surprise that a Mr Clarke, +the gentleman in charge of that place, had fallen a victim. Another +hasty council made them think that they had been mistaken, and so they +quickly returned to their own country without having injured any one. + +But the Missionary and his family were surrounded by perils. The +Indians were excited and unsettled, and their old pagan conjurers were +ever ready to incite them to deeds of violence. The restraining power +of God alone saved them from massacre. Once the Missionary's wife and +some of the family were at work in the garden, while secreted in the +long grass not a hundred yards from them lay eleven Blackfeet, who had +come to murder and pillage the place, but, as they afterwards +acknowledged, were strangely restrained from firing. At another time +some of the fierce warriors of this same bloodthirsty tribe crawled +through a field of barley, and for a long time watched the movements of +the family, and then noiselessly retired, doing no harm to any one. To +hear the ping of a bullet as it passed in close proximity to the head +was no very rare event in the lives of several of the early Missionaries +among the excited pagans. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +While the small-pox was raging in the Great Saskatchewan country, +strenuous efforts were made to prevent it spreading to other districts. +Manitoba had now been formed into a province, and was filling up with +white settlers. The old name, Fort Garry, had been changed to Winnipeg, +and this place was rapidly growing into a prosperous town. From Fort +Garry long trains of Red River carts had been in the habit of going for +years with the supplies needed in the far-off Saskatchewan country. +These carts were made without having in their construction a single +piece of iron. The Half-breeds or Indian drivers never oiled or greased +them, and the result was they could be heard about as far as seen, even +on the level prairies. Each cart was drawn by one ox, and was supposed +to carry from eight to twelve hundred pounds of supplies, in addition to +the food and outfit of the driver, who was always expected to walk. +This freighting by carts on the prairies is the counterpart of +transporting goods by open boats or canoes in the northern rivers, to +which we have elsewhere referred. The arrival of the brigade of carts +with the supplies, and the news from the outside world, was the great +event of the year in the early times at those lonely prairie +settlements. + +But stern measures had to be adopted in this year of the small-pox +plague. A proclamation was issued by the Governor of the Province of +Manitoba, absolutely prohibiting any trade or communication in any way +with the infected district. Not a single cart or traveller was +permitted to go on the trail. This meant a good deal of suffering and +many privations for the isolated Missionaries and traders and other +whites who, for purposes of settlement or adventure, had gone into that +remote interior country. + +As it was, only twice a year in many places did the lonely Missionaries +hear from the outside world. Then the mail-carrier was very welcome, +whether he came by canoe or dog-train. + +Although there were still plenty of buffalo on the plains, it was well +known that the ammunition was about exhausted, as well as all other +supplies, including medicines, now so much needed. Some interested +parties vainly urged the Governor to relent and allow some supplies to +be sent in. But, conscious of the risks that would be run of the +pestilence reaching the province over which he governed, he remained +firm, while he felt for those who necessarily must suffer. + +"What can be done to aid those unfortunate ones, who, in addition to +their sorrows and troubles incident to the ravages of the small-pox +among them, are now to be exposed to pinching famine and want?" was the +question that sympathising friends were asking each other. As a last +resort it was decided to appeal to the Norway House Christian Indians, +and ask them to form a brigade of boats, and take the much-needed +supplies up the mighty Saskatchewan River, where they could be reached +by those needing them. + +To me, as Missionary of these Indians, Mr Stewart, the highest official +of the Hudson's Bay Company, came; and we talked the matter over, and +the risks which the Indians, not one of whom had been vaccinated, must +run in going on such a perilous journey. They would have to go hundreds +of miles through the disease-stricken land where hundreds had died. But +it seemed essential that something must be done, and there were +possibilities that the Indians, by acting very wisely, could escape +infection: so we decided to call them together, and see what they would +do in this emergency. + +When the church bell was rung, and the people had assembled together in +their Council house, wondering what was the matter, I described the sad +circumstances to them, and then presented the request, that one hundred +and sixty of them should take twenty boats loaded with supplies, and go +up the Saskatchewan, to save these white people from starving. I said +to these converted Indians, my own people: + +"I know your race on this continent has not always been fairly treated; +but never mind that. Here is a grand opportunity for you to do a +glorious act, and to show to the world and to the good Lord, Whose +children you are, that you can make sacrifices and run risks when duty +calls, as well as the whites can." + +We told them that there was a possibility that they, by keeping in the +middle of the great river all the time, and _never_ going ashore, might +all escape. They would be provided with abundance of food; so they need +not go ashore to hunt. Then we asked, "Are you willing to run the risk, +and avail yourselves of this chance to do a glorious act?" Turning to +one of the most trusted guides in the country, one of my best Class- +Leaders, I said: "Samuel Papanekis, you are to be the guide and leader +of this party." He was a son of the old centenarian, and brother of the +Reverend Edward Papanekis, now our Missionary at Oxford House Mission. + +He seemed at first a little startled by the responsibility of the +position, and after a moment's thought quietly said: "Will you give us a +little time to talk it over?" So we left them to discuss the matter +among themselves. When they sent us word that they had their answer +ready, we returned, and he said: "Missionary, we have talked it over, +and have decided to go to take the supplies to our suffering white +brothers and their families. But will you let us have one more Sunday +at the church, and will you give us the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, +ere we start upon the dangerous journey?" + +"Yes," I said, "it will take several days to get your loads and boats +ready, and so we will have another blessed day of rest and hallowed +worship together." + +It was a memorable Sabbath. Every man, woman, and child who could come +to church, seemed to be there. Some of the women wept as they thought +of the risks their husbands, or brothers, or sons were running. Others +of them seemed to catch the spirit of the men, and felt proud that those +they loved were willing to undertake so brave and noble a work. + +At the close of the morning service we had the Sacrament of the Lord's +Supper. It was very solemn and impressive. As they came forward and +partook of the emblems of their dear Lord's dying love, the recollection +of His self-sacrifice and disinterested kindness seemed to come very +vividly before us all, and there was in many hearts a kind of exultant +joy that they were counted worthy to run some risks for the sake of +doing good. + +No foolish boastfulness, or desire to seek for sympathy, characterised +their utterances at the afternoon service, at which we met again in a +Testimony or Fellowship Meeting. Some made no reference at all to the +work before them; others asked for our prayers for them; and others, +well taught in the Word of God, with the hallowed influences of the +morning sacramental service still resting upon them, thought that they +ought to rejoice when there were chances for getting into this spirit, +so as to be partakers of Christ's sufferings, or companions in +tribulation with such a Friend, so that when His glory should be +revealed, they also might rejoice, as He has taught us: "If we suffer +with Him," we shall "also be glorified together." + +Two or three days after this they started on their long, dangerous +journey. They had twenty boats well loaded with supplies, each manned +by eight Indians, and all under the guidance of Samuel Papanekis, whom +they were expected to implicitly obey. They went up the fine river that +passes by Norway House, until they entered into Lake Winnipeg. From +this place they skirted around the north-western shore of this great +lake, until they reached the mouth of the Saskatchewan River. Up this +great river they had to row their beats against the current for many +hundreds of miles. That summer was an exceedingly hot one, yet for +weeks together these gallant fellows tugged away at their heavy oars. +For a few short hours of rest during the night they anchored their boats +in mid-stream, and then at first blush of morning they continued their +journey. Wild beasts were sometimes seen walking on the shores or +quenching their thirst in the river. The hunting instincts of the +younger Indian boatmen were so strong that they begged to be allowed to +fire; but Samuel, ever on the alert, and seeing the danger, always +positively refused. + +When the Sabbaths came they anchored their boats as close together as +possible near the middle of the river on some shoal or shallow spot, +such as abound in this great river of shifting sand bars. Here they +spent their quiet, restful days, having prayers and a couple of +religious services each Sunday. + +Ere they reached the place where they were to deliver their precious +cargoes, the river passed through many miles of the plague-stricken +country. They could see on the shores the deserted wigwams, in which +all the inmates had fallen victims to the fell destroyer, or had, panic- +stricken, fled away. + +Very long seemed that summer, and great indeed was our solicitude, and +many were our prayers for these noble men, from whom we did not hear a +single word during the whole time of their absence. After being away +for about ten weeks, they came back amidst a doxology of thanksgiving +and gratitude. All of them were happy and in vigorous health, with the +exception of the guide. The strain and anxiety upon him had been too +much, and he was never the same man after. The others said, "Samuel +seemed to be everywhere, and to watch every movement with almost +sleepless vigilance." Realising how great the responsibilities were +upon him, he determined, if untiring devotion to his work would enable +him to rescue those suffering whites, and then return with his large +brigade uncontaminated by the disease, it should be done. + +He succeeded, but at the price of his own life, for he only came home to +linger a while and then to die. His indomitable will-power kept him up +until he saw the last boat safely moored in our quiet harbour, and +witnessed the loving greetings between his stalwart crews and their +happy families. He joined with us all in the blessed thanksgiving +service in our overflowing sanctuary, where with glad hearts we sang +together: + + "And are we yet alive, + And see each other's face? + Glory and praise to Jesus give + For His redeeming grace: + Preserved by power Divine + To full salvation here, + Again in Jesu's praise we join, + And in His sight appear." + +Then he began to droop and wither, and in spite of all that we, or the +kind Hudson's Bay officials, who were very much attached to him, could +do for him, he seemed almost visibly to slip away from us. + +By-and-by the end drew near. It was a beautiful day, and as he had some +difficulty in breathing, at his own request a wigwam was prepared, and +he was well wrapped up and gently lifted out of his house and placed +upon a bed of balsam boughs covered with robes. He seemed grateful for +the change, and appeared a little easier for a time. We talked of +Jesus, and heaven, and "the abundant entrance," and "the exceeding great +and precious promises." Then he dropped off in a quiet slumber. Soon +after, he awoke with a consciousness that the time of his departure had +come, and laid himself out to die. Bending over him, I said, "Samuel, +this is death that has come for you! Tell me how it is with you." His +hearing had partly left him, and so he did not understand me. Speaking +more loudly I said, "Samuel, my brother, you are in the Valley of the +Shadow of Death; how is it with you?" + +His eye brightened, and his look told me he had understood my question. +He lifted up his thin, emaciated arm, and, seeming to clasp hold of +something, he said, "Missionary, I am holding on to God; He is my all of +joy and hope and happiness." Then the arm fell nerveless, and my +triumphant Indian brother was in the Better Land. + +Perhaps I cannot find a better place than here to refer to Samuel's +widow and children, and an interview I had with them. + +They moved away, shortly after his death, from his house in the Mission +village, and took up their abode with several other families up the +river beyond the Fort, several miles from the village. We had visited +them and substantially aided them up to the time of their moving away, +but for a while I had not met them, except at the services, and so did +not know how they were prospering. When the cold winter set in, I +arranged with my good Brother Semmens that we would take our dog-trains +and go and make pastoral visits among all the Indian families on the +outskirts, and find out how they were prospering, temporally and +spiritually. It was ever a great joy to them when we visited them, and +by our inquiries about their fishing and hunting, and other simple +affairs, showed we were interested in these things, and rejoiced with +them when they could tell of success, and sympathised with them when +they had met with loss or disaster. Then they listened reverently when +we read from the blessed Word, and prayed with them in their humble +homes. + +One bitterly cold day towards evening we drove up to a very poor little +house. We knocked at the door, and in answer to a cheery "Astum,"--the +Indian for "Come in,"--we entered the little abode. Our hearts sank +within us at the evidences of the poverty of the inmates. The little +building was made of poplar logs, the interstices of which were filled +up with moss and clay. The floor was of the native earth, and there was +not a piece of furniture in the abode, not a table, chair, or bedstead. +In one corner of the room was an earthen fireplace, and, huddled around +a poor fire in it, there sat a widow with a large family of children, +one of whom was a cripple. + +We said a few words of kindly greeting to the family, and then, looking +round on the destitute home, I said sorrowfully, "Nancy, you seem to be +very poor; you don't seem to have anything to make you happy and +comfortable." Very quickly came the response,--and it was in a very +much more cheery strain than my words had been,-- + +"I have not got much, but I am not unhappy, Missionary." + +"You poor creature," I replied, "you don't seem to have anything to make +you comfortable." + +"I have but little," she said quietly. + +"Have you any venison?" + +"No!" + +"Have you any flour?" + +"No!" + +"Have you any tea?" + +"Have you any potatoes?" + +When this last question of mine was uttered, the poor woman looked up at +me, for she was the widow of Samuel Papanekis, and this was her answer: +"I have no potatoes, for, don't you remember, at the time of potato +planting Samuel took charge of the brigade that went up with provisions +to save the poor white people? And Samuel is not here to shoot deer, +that I may have venison; and Samuel is not here to catch mink and marten +and beaver and other things to exchange for flour and tea." + +"What have you got, poor woman?" I said with my heart full of sorrow. + +She replied, "I have got a couple of fish-nets." + +"What did you do when it was too stormy to visit the nets?" + +"Sometimes some of the men from the other houses visited them for me, +and would bring me the fish. Then we sometimes get some by fishing +through the ice." + +"What about when it was too stormy for any one to go?" + +She quietly said, "If nothing were left, we go without anything." + +As I looked at her and her large family of fatherless children, and then +thought of her husband's triumphant death, and his glorious transfer to +that blest abode, where "they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any +more," and where "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes," the +contrast between the husband and father in his felicity, and the sorrow +of the widow and children in their poverty, so affected me that, to hide +my emotion and keep back my tears, I hurried out of the room, following +my loving Brother Semmens, who was, if possible, more deeply moved than +I was. We had gone into that house to pray, but we could not. There +must be tangible sympathy given ere we could look to a higher source. + +My brother had reached the cariole, which was a few yards away, and I +was not far behind, when the word, "Ayumeaookemou," ("Praying master,") +arrested my hurrying steps. I turned back, and there, just outside of +the door, was Nancy. With a woman's quick intuition to read the +feelings of the heart from the face and voice, she had followed me out, +and her words, as nearly as I can recall them, were these: + +"Missionary, I do not want you to feel so badly for me; it is true I am +very poor; it is true, since Samuel died, we have often been hungry and +have often suffered from the bitter cold; but, Missionary," and her face +had no trace of sorrow upon it, "you have heard me say that as Samuel +gave his heart to God, so have I given God my heart, and He Who +comforted Samuel and helped him, so that he died so happily, is my +Saviour; and where Samuel has gone, by-and-by I am going too; and that +thought makes me happy all the day long." + +There came a blessed exultation into my soul, but I could find no answer +then. So I hurried on and joined my weeping brother, and shouting, +"Marchez!" to our dogs, we were soon rapidly speeding over the icy trail +to our Mission home. + +That night our bed was a blanket thinner, and on our limited supplies +there was a heavy drain. I told the Indians who were better off about +her straitened condition, and she and hers were made more comfortable. +Many of them gave very generously indeed to help her. The grace of +liberality abounds largely among these poor Christian Indians, and they +will give to the necessities of those who are poorer than themselves +until it seems at times as though they had about reached the same level. + +The triumphant death of Samuel, and then Nancy's brave words, very much +encouraged us in our work. We could not but more than rejoice at the +Gospel's power, still so consciously manifested to save in the Valley of +the Shadow of Death, and also to make a humble log-cabin a little heaven +below. We pitied her in her poverty, and yet soon after, when we had +thought it all over in the light of eternity, we could only rejoice with +her, and in our spirits say, "Happy woman! Better live in a log hut +without a chair or table or bedstead, without flour or tea or potatoes, +entirely dependent upon the nets in the lake for food, if the Lord Jesus +is a constant Guest, than in a mansion of a millionaire, surrounded by +every luxury, but destitute of His presence." + +It is a matter of great thankfulness that not only spiritually but +temporally thousands of the Indians in different parts of Canada are +improving grandly. The accompanying picture (page 209) is from a +photograph taken at the Scugog Lake Indian Mission. The fine barn, well +filled with wheat, as well as all the surrounding vehicles and +agricultural implements, belong to one of the Christian Indians. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +A RACE FOR LIFE IN A BLIZZARD STORM--SAVED BY THE MARVELLOUS +INTELLIGENCE OF JACK--"WHERE IS THE OLD MAN, WHOSE HEAD WAS LIKE THE +SNOW-DRIFT?" + +Blizzard storms sometimes assailed us, as on the long winter trails, +with our gallant dogs and faithful companions, we wandered over those +regions of magnificent distances. + +To persons who have not actually made the acquaintance of the blizzard +storms of the North-Western Territories, or Wild North Land, it is +almost impossible to give a satisfactory description. One peculiarity +about them, causing them to differ from other storms, is that the wind +seems to be ever coming in little whirls or eddies, which keep the air +full of snow, and make it almost impossible to tell the direction from +which the wind really comes. With it apparently striking you in the +face, you turn your back to it, and are amazed at finding that it still +faces you. Once, when on Lake Winnipeg, we saw one coming down upon us. +Its appearance was that of a dense fog blowing in from the sea. Very +few indeed are they who can steer their course correctly in a blizzard +storm. Most people, when so unfortunate as to be caught in one, soon +get bewildered, and almost blinded by the fine, dry, hard particles of +snow which so pitilessly beat upon them, filling eyes, nose, and even +ears and mouth, if at all exposed. + +Once, when crossing Lake Winnipeg, to visit some wild Indians, whom we +found on our arrival in the midst of the hideous ceremonies of a dog +feast, I got caught in a terrible storm. My men had gone on ahead with +all the dogs, to have dinner ready in the camp on the distant shore, +leaving me miles behind, tramping along on snow-shoes. Down from the +north, with terrific fury, came the gale. I tramped on as rapidly as +possible, until I got bewildered. Then I took off one of my snow-shoes, +and, fastening it in a hole cut in the ice, I got ready to tramp in a +small circle around it to keep from freezing to death, when fortunately +I heard the welcome whooping of my Indians, who, seeing my danger, had +quickly turned round, and risking their own lives for mine, for they +could have reached the woods and shelter, aided by the dogs, had +fortunately reached me. There we stopped for hours, until the blizzard +had spent its fury, and then on we went. + +I had a remarkable experience in a blizzard, which I will more fully +describe, as our escape was under Providence so much indebted to my +wonderful dog Jack. + +I had started on one of my long winter trips to visit the few little +bands of Indians who were struggling for an existence on the Eastern +coast of Lake Winnipeg, and who were always glad to welcome the +Missionary, and to hear from him of the love of the Great Spirit, and of +His Son Jesus Christ. Their country is very wild and rough, very +different from the beautiful prairie regions of the North-West. To keep +down expenses, which in those Northern Missions are very heavy, I had +started out on this long trip with only this young Indian lad as my +companion. But as he was good and true, I thought we could succeed, +since I had been several years in the country, and had faced many a +wintry storm, and slept many nights in the snow. + +We had with us two splendid trains of dogs. My leader was a lively, +cunning Esquimaux dog, as white as snow. His name was Koona, which is +the Indian word for "snow"; and he was well named. The other three dogs +of my train were my favourites from Ontario. Two of them were gifts +from Senator Sanford, of Hamilton; the other was kindly sent to me by +Dr Mark, of Ottawa. The other train, driven by Alec, was composed of +some sagacious St. Bernards obtained for me by the kindness of Mr +Ferrier, of Montreal. The largest and most enduring of the eight was +Jack from Hamilton, whose place was second in my train, and who is to be +the hero of this adventure. + +We had left our camp-fire in the woods early in the morning, and, +turning our faces towards the north, had hoped that ere the shadows of +night had fallen around us, at least sixty miles of the frozen surface +of Lake Winnipeg would have been travelled over. For a time we were +able to push on very rapidly, keeping the distant points of headlands +well in view for our guidance. Lake Winnipeg is very much indented with +bays, and in travelling we do not follow the coast line, but strike +directly across these bays from point to point. Some of them run back +for many miles into the land, and several of them are from ten to thirty +miles wide. The dogs get so accustomed to these long trips and to their +work, that they require no guide to run on ahead, but will, with +wonderful intelligence, push on from point to point with great +exactness. + +On and on we had travelled for hours; the cold was very great, but we +could easily jump off from our dog-sleds and run until we felt the glow +and warmth of such vigorous exercise. After a while, we noticed that +the strong wind which had arisen was filling the air with fine dry snow, +and making travelling very difficult and unpleasant. Soon it increased +to a gale, and we found ourselves in a real North-West blizzard on +stormy Lake Winnipeg, many miles from shore. + +Perhaps our wisest plan would have been, at the commencement of the +storm, to have turned sharply to the east, and got into the shelter of +the forest as quickly as possible. But the bay we were crossing was a +very deep one, and the headland before us seemed as near as the other +end of the bay; and so we thought it best to run the risk and push on. +That we might not get separated from each other, I fastened what we call +the tail rope of my sled to the collar of the head dog of Alec's train. + +After Alec and I had travelled on for several hours, no sign of any land +appearing, we began to think that the fickle blizzard was playing us one +of its tricks, and that we had wandered far out into the lake. We +stopped our dogs out there in the blinding, bewildering storm. + +"Alec!" I shouted, "I am afraid we are lost." + +"Yes, Missionary," he replied, "we are surely lost." + +We talked about our position, and both had to confess that we did not +really know where we were or which way we ought to go. + +The result of our deliberation was that we could do no better than trust +in the good Providence above us, and in our dogs before us. + +As it was now after midday, and the vigorous exercise of the last few +hours had made us very hungry, we opened our provision bag, and, taking +out some frozen food, made a fairly good attempt to satisfy the keen +demands of appetite. We missed very much the good cup of hot black tea +we should have had if we had been fortunate enough to reach the shore, +and find some wood with which to make a fire. + +After our hasty meal we held a short consultation, in which the fact +became more and more evident to us, that our position was a very +perilous one, as we were becoming blinded by the driving particles of +fine snow that stung our eyeballs and added much to our bewilderment. +We found that we did not know east from west, or north from south, and +would have to leave the dogs to decide on their own course, and let them +go in any direction they pleased. + +I had a good deal of confidence in my dogs, as I had proved their +sagacity. To Jack, the noblest of them all, I looked to lead us out of +our difficulty; and he did not disappoint our expectations. I suppose I +acted and talked to my dog in a way that some folks would have +considered very foolish. When travelling regularly, the dogs are only +fed once a day, and that when the day's work is done. However, it was +different that day, as in the blinding gale Alec and I tried to eat our +dinner. As Jack and the others crowded around us, they were not +neglected, and with them we shared the food we had, as there was a great +uncertainty whether another meal would ever be required by any one of +us. + +As usual in such emergencies, Jack had come up close to me, and so, +while he and Alec and I, and the rest of us, men and dogs, were eating +our dinners, I had a talk with him. + +"Jack, my noble fellow," I said, "do you know that we are lost, and that +it is very doubtful whether we shall ever see the Mission House again? +The prospect is that the snow will soon be our winding sheet, and that +loving eyes will look in vain for our return. The chances are against +your ever having the opportunity of stretching yourself out on the wolf +rug before the study fire. Rouse up yourself, old dog, for in your +intelligence we are going to trust to lead us to a place of safety." + +The few arrangements necessary for the race were soon made. Alec +wrapped himself up as comfortably as possible in his rabbit-skin robe, +and I helped him to ensconce himself securely on his dog-sled. I tied a +rope from the end of my sled to the collar of his leader dog, so that +our trains might not get separated. Then I straightened out the trains, +and, wrapping myself up as well as I could on my sled, I shouted +"Marchez!" to the dogs. + +I had as leader dog the intelligent white Esquimaux, "Koona." As I +shouted the word for "Go," Koona turned his head and looked at me, as +though bewildered, and seemed to be waiting for "Chaw" or "Yee," the +words for "right" and "left." As I did not know myself, I shouted to +Jack, who was second in the train, "Go on, Jack, whichever way you like, +and do the best you can, for I do not know anything about it." As Koona +still hesitated, Jack, with all the confidence imaginable, dashed off in +a certain direction, and Koona with slackened traces ran beside him, +very willing in such an emergency to give him all the honour of +leadership. + +For hours the dogs kept bravely to their work. The storm raged and +howled around us, but not for one moment did Jack hesitate or seem to be +at fault. Koona had nothing to do but run beside him; but the other two +splendid dogs in the traces behind Jack seemed to catch his spirit, and +nobly aided him by their untiring efforts and courage. The cold was so +intense that I had grave fears that we should freeze to death. We were +obliged so to wrap ourselves up that it was impossible with so much on +us to run with any comfort, or to keep up with the dogs whilst going at +such a rapid rate. Frequently would I shout back to my comrade, "Alec! +don't go to sleep. Alec, if you do, you may never wake up until the +Judgment morning." Back would come his response, "All right, sir; then +I'll try to keep awake." + +Thus on we travelled through that wintry storm. How cold, how +relentless, how bitter were the continuous blasts of the north wind! +After a while the shadows of night fell upon us, and we were enshrouded +in the darkness. Not a pleasant position was that in which we were +situated; but there was no help for it, nor any use in giving way to +despondency or despair. A sweet peace filled my soul, and in a blessed +restfulness of spirit my heart was kept stayed upon God. While there is +life there is hope; and so, with an occasional shout of warning to Alec +to keep awake, and a cheering call to the dogs, who required no special +urging, so gallantly were they doing their work, we patiently hung on to +our sleds and awaited the result. We were now in the gloom of night, +dashing along I knew not where, and not even able at times to see the +dogs before us. + +About three hours after dark the dogs quickened their pace into a +gallop, and showed by their excitement that they had detected evidences +of nearness to the shore and safety, of which as yet I knew nothing. +Soon after they dragged us over a large pile of broken ice and snow, the +accumulations of ice cut out of the holes in the lake, where the Indian +families had for months obtained their supply of water for cooking and +other purposes. Turning sharply on the trail towards the shore, our +dogs dashed along for a couple of hundred yards more; then they dragged +us up a steep bank into the forest, and, after a few minutes more of +rapid travelling, we found ourselves in the midst of a little collection +of wigwams, and among a band of friendly Indians, who gave us a cordial +welcome, and rejoiced with us at our escape from the storm, which was +the severest of the year. + +We had three days of religious services with them, and then went on our +way from encampment to encampment. Very glad were the poor people to +see us, and with avidity did they receive the word preached. + +I felt that it was very slow work. My Circuit or Mission-field was +larger than all England. I was the only Missionary of any Church in +this large field. By canoe or dog-train I could only get around to all +my appointments or out-stations twice a year. Six months the poor souls +had to wait for the messenger and the message. + +At one of these Indian encampments on one of these visits I had the +following sad experience. Before I closed the first service I asked, +"Where is the old man whose head was like the snow-drift?" for I had +missed a white-haired old man, who had ever been at all the services, +and had from the time of his conversion manifested the greatest anxiety +to hear and learn all he could about this great salvation. At first he +had opposed me, and was annoyed at my coming among his people. +Ultimately, however, he became convinced of the error of his ways, and +was an earnest, decided Christian. When I arrived at his village, +whether by canoe in summer, or dog-train in winter, I was always +received by this venerable old man with great delight. Not satisfied +with attending all the services held, and being at hand whenever I +taught the Syllabic Characters, that the Indians might be able to read +the blessed Word, he used to follow me like my shadow, and listen very +attentively to all I had to say. It was rather startling, indeed, when +one night, after a hard day of preaching and teaching and counselling, I +kneeled down to pray, ere I wrapped myself up in my camp-bed to get a +little rest, to hear whispered in quiet tones beside me, "Missionary, +pray in Indian, and so loud that I can hear you." In the morning he was +there again, and as I bowed to say my quiet morning prayers there came +into my ears from this old man the pleading words again, "Missionary, +please pray in Indian, and pray out loud, so that I may hear what you +say." + +Is it any wonder that I became very much attached to my old friend with +the snow-white hair, who was so hungering and thirsting for the +teachings of the Word? Only twice a year could I then visit him and his +people. I used to remain a few days at each of these visits, and very +busy ones indeed they were. For six months these poor sheep in the +wilderness had been without the Gospel, and as soon as I left they would +have to get along as well as they could on what they had heard. Now +that they had, under the good Spirit's influence, a longing desire to +receive the truth, can any one wonder at their anxiety to learn all they +could from the Missionary during his short stay among them? This +intense desire on their part filled my heart with thankfulness, and +amply compensated for all the sufferings and hardships of the long, +cold, dangerous journeys. + +On my arrival at this place, as usual, the Indians had crowded around to +welcome me. I was disappointed at not seeing my old friend. So it was +that at our first meeting, held as soon as possible after my arrival, I +asked the question, "Where is the old man whose head was like the snow- +drift?" + +To my question there was no response, but every head was bowed as in +grief and sorrow. + +Again I asked: "Tell me, what have you done with the old man with the +snow-white hair?" + +Then there was a little whispering among them, and one of them, speaking +out softly, said in the Cree language, "Non pimmatissit;" the English of +which is, "He is not among the living." + +The poor Indians, who have not as yet come to understand that death is a +conquered foe, never like to use the word; and so, when speaking of +those who have gone, they say they are "not among the living." + +When in this expressive way I learned that my old friend was dead, my +heart was filled with sorrow, as I saw also were theirs. After a little +pause I said, "Tell me how he died." + +At first there was a great deal of reluctance to answer this question; +but when they saw I was not only anxious but resolved to know all about +it, they took me into a wigwam where most of his relatives were, and +there a young man, a grandson, got up and told me this pathetic story. + +He said: "Missionary, you had not been long gone with your canoe last +summer before Mismis," (the Indian word for "grandfather"), "got very +sick, and after some weeks he seemed to know that he was going to leave +us. So he called us all around him, and said a great many things to us. +I cannot remember them all, as he spoke many times; but I do remember +that he said, `how I wish the Missionary would soon come again to talk +to me and comfort me! But he is far away, and my memory is bad, and I +have forgotten what he used to say to me. My body is breaking up, and +so also is my memory getting bad. Tell him his coming was like the +sunlight on the waters; but it was so seldom that he came that all in my +mind has got so dark, and my memory is so bad, that I have forgotten all +he used to say to me. The good things he used to tell us about the Good +Spirit and His Son, and what we ought to do, have slipped away from me. +O that he were here to help me! Tell him, as long as I was able; I used +to go up to the point of land that runs out into the lake, and watch if +I could see his canoe returning. But it came not. Tell him I have, +since the winter set in, listened for the sound of the bells on his dog- +trains. But I have not heard them. O that he were here to help me! He +is far away; so get me my old drum and medicine bag, and let me die as +did my fathers. But you, young people, with good memories, who can +remember all the Missionary has said to you, listen to his words, and +worship the Great Spirit and His Son, as he tells you, and do not do as +I am doing!' + +"Then, as we saw his mind was weak, or he would not have asked for his +old things, we got him the old drum, and put it before him where he was +sitting upon the ground. We also hung up a medicine bag before him in +the wigwam, and he drummed. As he drummed he fell, and as he fell he +died. But his last words were to the young people with good memories to +be sure and listen to the Missionary, and to give up all their old +Indian sinful paganism." + +When the young man ceased and sat down again, a deep silence fell upon +us all, as there we were huddled that cold, stormy day in that little +bark tent. An occasional sob from some sorrowing relative was the only +sound heard for several minutes. + +My own heart was deeply affected when they told me these and other +things, which I cannot now call up, about the old Indian's death. After +a while I broke the silence by saying, "Where have you buried him?" + +They showed me the place. It was where his wigwam had stood. So +terrible is the power of the Frost King in that land in winter, that to +dig a grave out in the open places is like cutting through a granite +rock. And so in his tent, where burned his fire, thus keeping the +ground unfrozen, there they dug his grave and buried him. The wigwam +was removed, and soon the fierce storms swept over the place, and the +snow fell deeply upon it, and there was nothing to indicate that there, +so shortly before, had been a human habitation. + +When they had pointed out the place where, underneath the snow-drift, +rested all that was mortal of my old friend, I lingered until the +Indians had sought the shelter of their wigwams from the bitter cold, +and then all alone, except with Him Who hears His people's cry, I knelt +down in the snow and prayed, or tried to pray. But I could only weep +out my sorrow as I thought of this old man's precious soul passing into +eternity under such strange circumstances. With his waning strength he +exhorted his loved ones to be Christians, and yet he himself was +performing some of the foolish and unmeaning rites of paganism, not +because he had much faith in them, but because there was no Missionary +or teacher to keep in his memory the story of Jesus and His wondrous +love! + +Never before did the wants and woes of the weary, waiting, wailing +millions of earth's perishing ones rise up so vividly as I knelt there +in the snow. Before me, through my blinding tears, I seemed to see them +pass in dense array,--a dark world, to be illumined; an enslaved world, +to be set free; a sinful world, to be made holy; a redeemed world, to be +saved. + +In a spirit that perhaps savoured too much of unbelief I cried out, "How +long, O Lord, how long? Why do Thy chariot wheels delay?" + +Saving me from further gloom, came some of the sweet promises of the +Word: and so I prayed for their speedy fulfilment. Earnestly did my +feeble petitions ascend, that the time would soon come when not only all +the poor Indians of the great North-West, but also all the unnumbered +millions of earth's inhabitants who are going down from the darkness of +paganism and superstition to the darkness of the grave, might soon have +faithful teachers to whisper in their ears the story of the Cross, and +point them to the world's Redeemer. + +Making all the visits we had arranged for that trip, we returned home. +Months after, when the packet arrived from Manitoba, the sad news, that +had so filled the Church with sorrow, of the death of the heroic George +McDougall reached us. Out on the wild prairies he had been caught in a +blizzard storm. Horse and man seem to have become bewildered, and there +the noble Missionary to the Indians on the great plains laid himself +down to die, and his frozen body was not found until after fourteen days +of diligent search. After my dear wife and I had read the story, and +talked and wept about his death, so sad, so mysterious, so inscrutable, +she said to me, "Where were you during that week?" The journal was +searched, and we were not a little startled at finding that the race for +life we have in this chapter described was in all probability on the +same day as that on which the Reverend George McDougall perished. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +WORK OUTSIDE THE PULPIT--POLYGAMY AND ITS EVILS--FAMILY RE- +ARRANGEMENTS--DANGEROUS WORK AT TIMES--PRACTICAL PASTORAL DUTIES--A FISH +SERMON--FIVE MEN WON TO CHRIST. + +While the blessed work of preaching "the glorious Gospel of the Son of +God" was ever recognised as the most important of our duties, and we +were permitted to rejoice that, as in Paul's time, still "it pleased God +by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe," yet there +was a great deal to be done outside of the pulpit ere these Indians +could shake off the fetters of a degrading paganism with its attendant +evils. + +The slavish fear of the old conjurers deterred some from openly avowing +themselves as willing to accept the truths of Christianity. Others were +polygamists, and were unwilling to comply with the Scriptural +requirements. To have several wives is considered a great honour in +some of the tribes. For a man to separate from all but one is to expose +himself to ridicule from his pagan friends, and also to the danger of +incurring the hostility of the relations of the discarded wives. Some +of the most perplexing and trying duties of my missionary life have been +in connection with this matter of re-organising, on a Christian basis, +the families of once heathen polygamists, who, desirous to do what was +right, have left the matter entirely in my hands. At first my +convictions and views were that the first wife should always be the one +to remain with the man, and the others should go away. Like all the +other Missionaries in the country, I had to modify these ideas, and +decide differently in some peculiar cases. + +For example, a man came to me who was much impressed by the truth, and +desired to be a Christian. I questioned him closely, and found him very +sincere and earnest in his resolves. The Spirit was undoubtedly working +in his heart and conscience. He told us he had two wives, but was +willing to put one away. Which one should go, he said he would leave to +the Missionary to decide. His first wife was much the older woman, but +she had no children, while the younger wife had quite a family of little +ones around her. So poor are they in this cold northern land that it is +hard for the best of them at times to get along. Very sad is the +condition of the widow, or those women who have no able-bodied men as +husbands, fathers, or sons, to hunt and work for them. Worse still is +it if they have helpless little children to be cared for. So the +decision we came to was, that the wife with the family of little ones +should remain with the man, and the one who had no children should leave +him. + +We tried to arrange that a certain quantity of help should be rendered +to the wife, or wives, put away by the husband. But we found that there +was a certain amount of danger in this, the nature of which will be +evident to the reader; and so, while we insisted on the one or more who +left receiving as large a share as possible of the man's "worldly +goods," we endeavoured to make the separation complete and final. To +help those who for conscience sake thus acted was often a very heavy tax +upon our limited means. + +Often the women themselves were the first to insist on a change from the +old polygamous style, which, they were quick to see very soon after the +Gospel was proclaimed to them, was antagonistic to its teachings. + +There was one most thrilling case that moved our hearts, and yet caused +us to rejoice, for it showed us the depth of the religious convictions +which impelled them to have the matter set right, even though one must +be cast out and exposed to the ridicule of her heathen friends, and to +the loss of a fairly good-natured husband, considering his pagan +surroundings. + +Two women came to our Mission House, and asked to have a talk with my +good wife and myself. After talking about different things, at length +they told us, with much trepidation, that they had attended our +services, and had a great desire in their hearts to become Christians. +We found they were the two wives of an Indian whose wigwam had been +pitched in our vicinity a few weeks before. These women and others had +quietly come to our services at the church, and their hearts and +consciences had been touched by the truth. + +We had had some experiences on these lines, and so with entire strangers +we had learned to be a little cautious. In that country, as well as in +civilised lands, it is sometimes a dangerous matter to interfere in the +domestic affairs of other people. So we questioned them closely, and +found that they were resolved to have the matter settled. I asked them +if they had spoken to their husband about it, and they answered in the +affirmative; also that he had left it to them to settle which should go, +as he likewise had begun to think they ought to live as the Christian +Indians did. We asked them what they wanted us to do, and they said +that they had decided that they would leave the matter to the Missionary +and his wife, and whichever we thought ought to leave, would go away, +and try to get her own living. + +They returned to their wigwam, and with the consent of their husband +made an equal division of the few things which constituted their +possessions, such as nets, traps, blankets, kettles, and axes. Then, +accompanied by their children, they came again to our house, and sat +down apart from each other, and patiently awaited our decision. My wife +and I deeply felt the responsibility of deciding; yet, as it had come to +us because of the awakening of their hearts to desire a better life, we +could not do otherwise than accept the situation, and do the best we +could. + +We had talked the matter over, and had asked Divine guidance; and so +now, when summoned to give our decision, we quickly but kindly said to +the woman with five children, "You are to stay with your husband;" and +to the other woman, who had four children, we said, "You are not to +return to the wigwam, but must be from this hour as an entire stranger +to it." + +The first woman sprang up, her eyes flashing with joy, and gathering her +children and property around her she uttered her hasty words of +farewell, and was gone. For a few moments the other woman, who had +drawn her blanket over her head, remained perfectly still, with the +exception of a suppressed sob, which seemed to make the whole body +quiver. Soon, with that wonderful will-power which these Indian women, +as well as the men, possess, she appeared to have obtained the mastery +over herself again, and, uncovering her head, she began to make +preparations for leaving. As she turned her large black eyes dimmed +with tears towards us, while there was no malice in them, there was a +despairing sorrow that pierced us like a knife. She seemed to see the +lonely, neglected, contemned, suffering life before her; but she had +counted the cost, and had taken the step for conscience' sake, and she +would not flinch now. We entered into conversation with her, and it +seemed almost cruel that we, who had given a decision that had shut up +against her the only home she had, should begin to talk to her about +where she would go and what she would do. + +She told us she did not know where to go or what to do. Her husband had +bought her from her father, but he was dead; and as her girlhood home +was far away, and she had not been there since her husband took her +away, she knew nothing about any of her relatives. But even if she did, +and could find some of them, it was very likely they would treat her +with contempt, and perhaps persecute her. So she had not the slightest +idea as to the future. + +Need I write that our hearts were full of sorrow, and we saw that this +was a case which must have help, no matter how straitened might be our +financial circumstances! + +We had but lately read the story of the little oil in the cruse, and the +handful of meal in the barrel; and so this woman and her children must +be helped. While Mrs Young fed them and talked kindly to them, I went +out and got some of my Christian Indians together, and we talked the +matter over, and then took off our coats and went to work, and made her +a wigwam for the present, as it was in the pleasant summer-time. A +canoe was obtained for her, and her nets were set where white fish could +be caught readily. She was an industrious woman, willing to do +everything she could; and so, with the help we gave her and the tangible +sympathy manifested by the Christian Indians, she took heart and got +along very well, and became a good Christian woman. + +As the result of the looseness of the marriage tie in their old sinful +lives, we found many strange complicated tangles, some of which it was +impossible to straighten. To deal with some of them would have caused +endless difficulty, without any possibility of improving matters. To +refuse to interfere gave offence to some, who, I am afraid, were more +pharisaical than wise. Here, for example, was one case. A couple had +been married years ago. After living together for several years and +having three children, the man went off to Red River as a boatman for +the Hudson's Bay Company. Delayed there for a time, he married a wife +in the Indian settlement, and made that place his home, only returning +with his second family about the time I went there. His first wife, a +year or two after he left, not hearing from him, married another man, +who supposed she was a widow, and they had several bright, interesting +children. As the result of the faithful preaching of the Word, these +families were converted, and became good Christians. They felt keenly +their position, but, after pondering it over and listening to many +solutions, I gave it up; and as the two families were living happily, I +left them as I had found them. Paganism, not Christianity, was +responsible for the difficulty. + +At Nelson River I was accosted one day by an old man, who said he had +listened carefully to what I had said, and wanted to become a Christian +and be baptised. I was very much pleased with his talk, but, suspecting +him to be a polygamist, I asked him as to the number of his wives. His +answer was that he had four. I had a long conversation with him as to +our views, and explained to him the teachings of God's Word, and +candidly told him that I could not baptize him until he put three of +them away. + +He seemed grieved at my decision, and said that he did want to be a +Christian, but he and his wives were getting old, and they had got along +fairly well; and now if he went and told them what he would have to do, +he was afraid there would be trouble. As I saw the man was really in +earnest, and it was evident that the good Spirit was working upon his +heart, I encouraged him to make the effort, and I told him everything +would work out all right. + +He went to his large tent, and, getting his large family around him,-- +for three of these wives had stalwart sons,--he told them of his desire +to become a Christian, and what he would have to do before the +Missionary would consent to baptize him. At once there was a "row." +The women began to wail, and the sons, who generally treated their +mothers with neglect and indifference, now declared, with a good deal of +emphasis, that their mothers should not be sent away, and thus degraded +in the eyes of the people. From what I afterwards learned, there must +have been a rough time. + +At length one of the sons spoke up and said, "Who is causing us all this +trouble?" + +The answer was, "Why, it is the Missionary, whom we have all heard, and +who refuses to baptize our father unless he puts away all of his wives +but one." + +"Let us go for that Missionary," said several of them, and seizing their +arms, they came for me. + +Fortunately for me I was outside of the trading post on the green, and +saw them coming, and, not liking their suspicious movements, and +imagining the cause, I speedily decided on my course of action. Calling +one of my reliable Christian Indians, I went quickly towards them, and, +ignoring their angry looks, I began talking to them as though we were +the best of friends. Something like the following were my words to +them:-- + +"Men, you have heard me talk to you out of the great Book. You have +listened attentively. You are thinking about what I have said to you. +I wish we could do something, or find out some way, by which you and +your mothers and father could all resolve together to give up the old +bad life, and accept the new one, and become Christians together. I +have been thinking it over since I had a little talk with your father, +and I have a plan that I think will work well." + +While I went on in this way, they listened attentively; and when I came +to mention a plan by which the difficulty could be overcome, the wicked +looks began to fade from their eyes, for they were not anxious to kill +me if any other solution of the difficulty could be found. + +They were eager to know what I had to suggest, and listened very +attentively when I told them it would not be humiliating to any one. I +told them I was pleased to find some young men who were willing to stand +up for their mothers, while the great majority treated them worse than +they did their dogs. My suggestion was, that the sons of each mother +should form a wigwam of their own, and take their own mother with them +and care for her. They were good hunters and strong men, and could do +well. Then I added, "Let your father remain with the wife who has no +children, no strong sons or daughters. Do this, and the Great Spirit +will be pleased, and when you are further instructed there will be +nothing to prevent you all being baptized and becoming Christians +together." + +They were much pleased with the suggestion, and went away to talk it +over. I did not succeed in getting the scheme immediately carried out, +but my successor, the devoted and heroic Reverend John Semmens, was so +successful in following up the work thus begun, that these Indians, with +many scores of others, have become sincere, consistent Christians. + +Various were the plans adopted by my zealous, devoted wife and myself to +help the people up to a better and happier life. In their old ways +there were but few efforts made by the women to keep their homes neat +and tidy, and their children or themselves clean. They had no +encouragements to do anything of the kind. Kicked and cuffed and +despised, there was left in them no ambition to do anything more than +would save them from the rough treatment of those who considered +themselves their lords and masters. The result was, when they became +Christians, there was a great deal to learn ere their simple little +homes could be kept decently, and in order. Fortunately, with a great +many of them there was a desire to learn. A novel plan that we adopted, +as one among many that did much good, was occasionally to go and dine +with some of them. Our method was something like this. On the Sabbath +from the pulpit I would announce that on Monday, if all was well, Mrs +Young and I would dine with such a family, mentioning the name. On +Tuesday we would dine with some one else, and on Wednesday with some +other family, and so on for the week. This was, of course, the first +intimation any of these families had received that, without waiting for +an invitation, the Missionary and his wife were coming to dine with +them. + +After service they waited to ask us if they could believe their own +ears. + +"Yes, certainly," I replied. + +"Why, we have nothing to set before you but fish," they would say. + +"Never mind if you have but little; we will see to the food. All we are +anxious for you to do is to have your little house as clean as you can +possibly make it, and yourselves and children as clean and nice as +possible." + +In this way we would talk to the half-frightened women, who were at +first really alarmed at the prospect of having to entertain us; however, +our words comforted them, and they went off delighted. + +Our plan was generally as follows. I would start off after breakfast +and make several pastoral visits, or attend to some other matters, and +so arrange my forenoon work that I should be able to reach the Indian +home, where that day we had announced to dine, about noon. Mrs Young +would have her own train of dogs harnessed up about ten o'clock. In her +cariole she would put dishes, tablecloth, and provisions, with +everything else requisite for a comfortable dinner considering our +limited circumstances. A faithful young Indian acted as her dog-driver, +and soon she and her load were at the home of the expectant family, who +were all excitement at the coming of the Missionary and his wife. + +Very clean and tidy looked the little house and family. The floor had +been scrubbed and rubbed until it could not be made whiter, and +everything else was similarly polished up. As but very few of the +houses had tables in those days, the floor was ever used as the +substitute. On it the tablecloth was spread, and the dishes and knives +and forks were arranged in order, and the dinner prepared. If the +family had fish and potatoes, some of them would be cooked; but if not, +sufficient was always taken in the cariole. We ever found it best to +let them contribute to the dinner if they had abundance of either fish +or potatoes. + +About the time I arrived dinner would be ready, and after cheering words +of greeting to all, even to the fat papoose in the board cradle, we sat +down, picnic style, on the floor to dinner. It would be called in +civilised lands a plain dinner, and so it was; yet it was a feast to +them, a banquet to us. Cheery conversation added to our enjoyment, and +a very happy hour was thus spent. Then the Bible and hymn-books were +brought out, and together we sang and read and talked about the blessed +truths of that glorious Book. Then together we kneeled down, and "by +prayer and supplication with thanksgiving" made our requests known to +God; and to us came the sweet fulfilment, "the peace of God, which +passeth all understanding," filled our hearts. + +I generally hurried off to other duties. Mrs Young directed in the +washing of the dishes and in putting them away, and then helped the +woman of the house in some things about which she was longing for +assistance. Perhaps it was a dress to be cut out for herself, or some +garments fitted on some of the girls, or other similar things too +intricate or difficult for my obtuse mind to be able to grasp. + +Thus from house to house we would go, and by our presence and cheery +words encourage them to become more industrious and tidy. Those +families never forgot these visits. With many of them there was a +marked change in their homes, and with many also there was a marked +improvement in their religious life. + +Once, in preaching from the text, "Behold, I stand at the door, and +knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in," I +tried to describe the blessed Redeemer coming to our hearts and knocking +for admittance. I told them, all He wanted was a welcome to come in. +As they made their little houses so clean, and gave the Missionary and +his wife such a welcome, so the Saviour asked us to drive all sin out, +and give Him all the place. + +"Some of you said, `We cannot entertain the Missionary; we have no food, +so there will be no dinner.' But the Missionary and his wife brought +abundance, and there was a good dinner. Better far is it when Jesus +comes. He spreads out the feast, and He invites us to sit down and +feast with Him. O let Him in!" + +Such talks as these, after practical illustrations, opened many hearts +to the Heavenly Guest. + +So many and importunate had been the pleading calls for visits to +different places, to tell the wonderful story of the Great Spirit and +his Son, and to teach the people to read His Book, that one year my +canoe trip to Oxford House Mission had to be delayed until the summer +was nearly ended. But my comrades were splendid fellows, and we started +off in good spirits, anticipating a successful visit; and we were not +disappointed. + +We preached several times to the Indians, and baptized a large number of +children; some young couples were married, and we had a solemn and +blessed time when celebrating the dying of the Lord Jesus. The +Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is very much prized by the Indians, and +the greatest reverence is always manifested during the service. The +fellowship meeting was a very good one, and some of the testimonies +given by the men and women, so happily rescued by the Gospel's power, +were of great interest. + +When travelling, if the weather was good, we generally rose with the +first blush of morn, and so were often on the way by four o'clock. +Sometimes our route was across fine lakes, or along majestic rivers; and +then we were in narrow, sluggish streams, that were destitute of beauty +or interest. One morning our way was down a large river, on the shores +of which the fog had settled, completely hiding us from land. The early +morning air was invigorating, and so in unison we were plying our +paddles vigorously, and rapidly speeding along. We had seen no signs of +human beings for days, and so were surprised and startled when several +reports of firearms in quick succession sounded sharp and clear through +the fog on our right. Nothing was visible through the gloom, but we +quickly hove to, and turned our canoe in the direction from which the +_feu-de-joie_ had sounded. As we approached the shore human forms began +to appear in ghostly outline, more and more distinct, until they +resolved themselves into a company of Indians, who were delighted to see +us, and had been on the look-out for days. They had come sixty miles +from the interior, and had camped on that point jutting out into the +river, for the purpose of having a visit from us as we passed. + +The fact that they detected us as we were passing was another evidence +of the marvellous education, in certain lines, of these Indians. It was +very early in the morning; our canoe was some hundreds of yards from the +shore; a dense fog hid us completely from each other. All the noise we +made was the dip of our paddles in the water. Yet these wide-awake, +alert Indians heard that sound, and by the rapid firing of the guns drew +us to them. + +We shared their hospitality, as they had abundance of game. We had +service with them, married a young couple, baptized several children, +and had a pleasant time. Then on we hurried, since the time of open +navigation was drawing to a close, and we did not wish to be caught in +the ice, and have to walk perhaps scores of miles with our bedding, +provisions, kettles, axes, and other things strapped on our backs. + +We made the greater part of the return trip all right, had reached Harry +Lake early in the forenoon, and were rapidly paddling out of the river +which entered into it, when again we heard the report of guns. So +anxious were we to get on that we hesitated about stopping. It was now +later in the season than often in some other years. Fierce storms had +raged, and the ice had formed on the lake and rivers. We were dreading +these fierce fall storms, which come down very suddenly, and stir up +those northern lakes, so that in a very short time where all was calm +and still, great foam-crested waves go rushing madly by. + +The lake before us, into which we had just entered and which was several +miles in diameter, was now as placid as a pond. + +To cross it now, as in wondrous beauty it spread before us, would be but +a pleasure jaunt. The poetry of motion is to be found in the Indian's +birch canoe, when the water is calm and the sky is clear. Cold-hearted +prudence said, "Go on, and never mind those Indians' signals for you to +land." Our better natures said, "They may be in need, and have good +reason for asking you to stop. Perhaps you can do them good." So we +turned the head of our canoe to the shore, and were soon alongside the +rock on which we saw them standing. They were five hunters. Without +getting out of the canoe, we asked why they had signalled to us to come +ashore. Their answer was one we had often heard before. They were +hungry, and wanted help. Finding they had only been a few days away +from the Fort, where they had got supplies, I asked how it was that they +were so badly off. Their reply was that they had unfortunately left +their powder, which they were carrying in a canvas bag, out on the rock +a few nights before. While they slept the rain came down upon them and +ruined it, and so they could not shoot anything. I quickly said to one +of my men, "How much food have we?" He examined our limited supply, and +then said there was about one square meal. + +We found these men were pagan Indians, whom I had met before, and had +talked with about becoming Christians; but all I could get from them was +the characteristic Indian shrug of the shoulders, and the words, "As our +fathers lived, so will we." Our dinner was the last of a bear we had +shot a few days before. While it was cooking the storm which we feared +began to gather, and ere our dinner was finished the lake looked very +different from what it was an hour before. If we had not stopped, we +could have easily got across it. As it was now, it would have been +madness to have ventured out upon it. So we had to pull up our canoe, +and there, as contentedly as possible, wait for the storm to cease. It +raged furiously all that day and the next. The third day it began to +moderate. What made it worse for us was the scarcity, or rather the +entire absence, of food. We were unfortunately storm-bound in about the +worst part of that country for game. It was so late in the season that +the ducks and geese had gone south, the beaver and musk-rats were in +their houses, and we could find nothing. On some of our trips we +carried fishing-tackle, but this time we had nothing of the kind. +Fortunately we had some tea and sugar. + +Without breakfast, dinner, or supper, we had to live on as best we +could. Before we lay down to sleep there had to be a considerable +tightening of the belts, or there would be no sleep at all, so keen were +the gnawings of hunger. I found it helpful to sleep to roll up my towel +as hard as possible, and then crowd it under my tight belt over the pit +of my stomach. Nearly three days without food was no pleasant ordeal +even in missionary work. + +We held several religious services, even though our congregation was a +small one. We also found out that it was not at all helpful to piety to +try to worship on an empty stomach, and have been ever since in great +sympathy with these who would feed the poor first, and then preach to +them. + +The third day one of the Indians, while walking along the shore, found +the old bleached shoulder-blade of a bear. With his knife he carved out +a rude fish-hook, and, taking the strings of his moccasins, and those of +others, he formed a line. A piece of red flannel was used as bait, and +a small stone served as a sinker. With this primitive arrangement he +began fishing. His method was to stand on a rock and throw the hook out +as far as his line would permit, and then draw it in rapidly, like +trolling. + +Strange to say, with this rude appliance he caught a fish. It was a +pike weighing six or eight pounds. Very quickly was it scaled, cleaned, +and put in the pot. When cooked, about a third of it was put on my tin +plate, and placed before me with these words: "Please, Missionary, eat." +I looked at the hungry men around me and said, "No, that is not the +way." And then I put back the third of the fish with the rest, and, +taking out my hunting knife, I counted the company, and then cut the +fish into eight pieces, and gave each man his eighth, and took an equal +portion myself. It was right that I should thus act, and it seemed to +be a little thing to do, but it was a sermon that led those five men to +become Christians. As soon as they had finished their portions they lit +their pipes, and as they smoked they talked; and as near as I and my men +could make out, here is what they said: + +"We must listen with both ears to that Missionary. He is here without +food, suffering from hunger, because he stopped to share with us his +last meal. We caught a fish, and when we offered him a large piece he +refused it, and divided equally with us all. He has been anxious to do +us good and to have us to listen to his words. He has not once scolded +us for asking him to stop, although he could have got across the lake +before the storm arose, and, as the rest of the way is in the river, he +could have gone on home. He has shown himself to be our friend, and we +must listen to what he has to say." Thus they went on, and I must +confess I paid but little attention to what they were saying. After a +few hours more the storm went down, and we gladly embarked that evening +in our canoe and pushed on. + +The next day we reached the Mission village of Rossville, making our +last portage at Sea River Falls, near Norway House; and as we saw the +fish and venison hanging on the stagings around the houses of the +people, my patient fellows cried out, "We should like to laugh at the +sight of food, but we are too empty altogether." + +We paddled the last mile as quickly as we had any other, and kept up our +courage until we were home. As I entered the house, a strange faintness +came over me, and all the welcome words I could give to my loved ones +were, "My dear, we are starving; please get us some food." Then I sank +down exhausted. Loving care from one of the best and bravest of wives +quickly brought me round again, and I was soon ready to be off on +another trip. + +The long winter passed away, and the welcome summer came at last. We +have really very little of spring in that northern land. The transition +from winter to summer is very rapid. With the disappearance of the ice +from the lakes and rivers came the Indians in their birch canoes, from +various quarters where they had spent the winter in trapping the fur- +bearing animals. As usual they came to see the Missionary in goodly +numbers. Among those who thus honoured us were five big men, who, after +a few words of greeting, said, "We hope you have not forgotten the fish; +we have not, and we want to have a talk with you." + +"Fish?" I said. "Why, we have fish twenty-one times a week, boiled, +baked, fried, salt, dried,--good, bad, and indifferent. I have seen so +many fishes, I cannot think of any one in particular." + +Then they told me about the long delay by the storm, when I had stopped +and fed them, at the time when they had not kept their powder dry; and +how, when one of them caught a fish and offered me a good-sized piece, I +divided it equally among them. As they brought the incident back to my +memory, for there were so many strange adventures occurring in the wild +life that this one had partly faded, I said: "Yes, I now remember there +did happen something of the kind." + +Very earnestly spoke up one of them and said: "We have never forgotten +it, and all through the moons of the winter we have talked about it and +your lessons out of the great Book. And while up to that time we had +decided not to be Christians, but to die as did our fathers, we have +changed our minds since that time you divided the fish, and we want you +to teach us more and more of this good way." + +They were intensely in earnest and fully decided for Christ. So five +more families settled down in the Christian village, and are giving +evidence by their lives and conversation that the change wrought in them +was real and abiding. Their conversion in this peculiar way was very +cheering to us, and it was another lesson to be "instant in season, out +of season." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +EXPLORING NEW FIELDS--THE GOSPEL BEFORE TREATIES--BIG TOM'S NOBLE SPIRIT +OF SELF-SACRIFICE. + +In 1873 I received a most urgent request from a deputation of Indians to +go and visit a band of their countrymen who lived on the western side of +Lake Winnipeg at a place called Jack Head. They were getting unsettled +and uneasy in their minds in reference to their lands. Treaties were +being made with other tribes, but nothing as yet had been done for them; +and as surveyors and other white men had been seen in their country, +they were suspicious, and wanted to know what they had better do. + +So, after many councils among themselves, they decided to send over into +the land of the Crees and Salteaux for their Missionary to come and give +them advice, in order that they too might make a treaty with the +Government of the Queen. + +I felt much pleased on receiving this deputation; and as it would give +me a grand opportunity to preach the Gospel to a people who had not as +yet heard it, I consented to go. With two dog-trains, and accompanied +by a couple of trusty Indians, we left the Eastern side of the great +Lake Winnipeg about sunrise. We dug a hole in the snow at Pigeon Point, +and there made a fire of some dry young willows, and enjoyed our +breakfast. From that point we struck out in a south-west direction +across the great lake. The day, although cold, was a very bright one. +The ice was good, and our dogs were magnificent fellows; and so we sped +along at a rapid rate. We reached a chain of little islands out in the +middle of the lake early in the afternoon. On the shore of one of them +we gathered some dry wood, cleared away the snow, made a fire, melted +some snow, and made ourselves a good kettle of tea. This, with some +pemmican and flat cakes, made us a capital dinner. + +From this island the western shore of the lake was just visible, over +thirty miles away. Towards it we pushed as rapidly as possible, +considering that one of our Indians was quite an old man. When within +about three miles of the shore, the report of fire-arms reached our +ears, telling us that the Indians had observed our coming. Our noble +dogs seemed to rejoice at the sound as much as ourselves, and, well +knowing that their day's journey of over sixty miles was nearly ended, +changed their swinging trot into a gallop; and very soon we were at Jack +head, and among its plumed and painted inhabitants, by whom we were +received in a most extraordinary manner. + +At some other places where I have gone as the first Missionary who ever +visited them, I have had two or three hundred men, women, and children +trying to see who could be the first to kiss me; but here the reception +was very different. Night was just falling upon us as we drew near the +shore, but there was light enough to observe that the narrow trail, up +from the lake into the dark recesses of the forest, along which we must +pass with our dog-trains, was lined with men armed with guns. + +When we were about a hundred yards from them, the foremost ones began +firing. This _feu-de-joie_ continued until we had reached them and had +dashed through the lines of fire, for they continued loading and firing +as rapidly as possible. Our ears were almost deafened with the +continuous reports, and our nerves were somewhat tried, as the younger +braves especially consider it great fun to fire off their heavy charges +of powder as close to their visitors' heads as possible. But a well- +singed fur cap was the only evidence of harm having been done. + +To increase the welcome, they courteously brought out for our special +benefit the few English and French words of which they were masters. +Some of them were most ludicrously out of place. It did require a good +deal of nerve to keep my face straight when a grave and dignified chief, +who wished to inquire politely as to my health, for the moment dropped +his own language, and in good English said, "Does your mother know +you're out?" I found out afterwards that a roguish fur-trader had +taught him the expression, as a very polite one to use to distinguished +strangers. + +We quickly unharnessed and fed our faithful dogs. We hung up in the +trees our sleds and harness beyond the reach of the wolfish curs, which +in large numbers prowled around. If they could get the opportunity, +they would make short work of the deer-skin and raw-hide fastenings of +the sleds, and the harness would entirely disappear, with perhaps the +exception of the buckles. We waited until our big dogs had given a few +of the most impudent and saucy of these brutes a good thrashing, so that +there was some prospect of peace; and then, feeling that our outside +work was attended to, and that the Indians had had time to get arranged +in their council room, we went to the door, and were ceremoniously +ushered in. The council house was a large square log building of much +better construction than I had expected to see. It was without +partitions, and was lighted by the brilliant council fire, and a number +of fish oil lamps hanging from the walls. At the places of honour were +seated the chiefs of the band. Their "thrones of state" were curiously +woven mats of rushes made by the Indian women. Their head-dresses were +gorgeous masses of feathers, and their costume was very picturesque. +Some of them had not yet adopted the pantaloons of civilisation, but +wore instead the scant leggings of native manufacture. + +From the chiefs on either side and extending around the room in circles, +were the old men and warriors and hunters, ranged according to their +rank and standing. Behind these were the young men and boys. All were +seated on the ground, and all were silent, as I entered. The chiefs +were fine-looking men, and there was that indescribable _hauteur_ now so +rarely seen among this interesting people. Crowded out behind the men +and boys, and in many places packed against the walls of the house, were +the women and girls. While the men were in many instances well and +often brilliantly dressed in their finery, the women and girls were +wretchedly clothed, and miserable in appearance. + +The house was filled, with the exception of a small space reserved at +the right hand of the principal chief for the visitors. With a good +deal of ceremony we were escorted to our seats. For me they had +obtained a little box, on which a fur robe was placed, as they said +afterwards, that they had heard that white men cannot sit comfortably on +the ground. On this I seated myself next to the chief, and my attendant +Indians ranged themselves beside me. During the profound silence that +lasted for several minutes after our entrance, I had a good opportunity +to grasp the situation. I breathed an earnest prayer to God for the +much-needed wisdom, and that I might here preach the Gospel in such a +way that it might be understood and accepted by this people, the +majority of whom had not as yet heard the glad tidings of salvation. + +Then I rose up and, addressing the chief, I said: "I have come at your +request from across the great Winnipeg, to visit you and to meet you at +your council fire. I will preach to you and discuss treaty matters with +you, and will help you all I can with the Government. I want to find +out your views about giving up your old paganism and becoming +Christians. I also want to know how many children you have among you, +and if you desire a school for them. So I am here for these reasons." + +When I sat down, the calumet, the pipe of peace, was gravely lit, and +after the chief had puffed away at it, he handed it to me. As I have +not as yet acquired the art of smoking, I adopted the plan of taking +hold of the long stem, which is over a yard in length, by the middle. +The result was that when my hand was near my mouth, the mouthpiece of +the pipe was a foot or so behind my head. As previously arranged, one +of my obliging Indians was always on hand to do my smoking. + +After the pipe ceremony was over, the chief began his address of +welcome. He said a good many kind things, and told me of their +anxieties as to their future and that of their children. The fire-canoe +(the steamboat) was rushing through the waters, destroying their +fisheries. The white hunters, with their fire guns and steel traps, +were fast killing off the game. The surveyor was driving his lines of +stakes into the ground, and the white people, more numerous than +mosquitoes, were crowding in on the prairies. They had nothing but +peace in their hearts, but still he could not help thinking that a +treaty ought to be made with them before the fire canoe or the surveyor +came. They were powerless themselves to speak before the Queen's +representative, the Governor. They had heard of the Missionary's love +for the Indian, and so they had sent across the great Winnipeg for him, +and their hearts were glad that he had come. With their right hands +they had fired off their guns, which all said, "Welcome!" With his left +hand he had handed the pipe of peace, which also from the heart again +said, "Welcome!" Their hearts were all glad that with their eyes they +saw the Missionary among them. Their ears were now open to hear what he +had to say about their future, and what he thought the Queen's men would +do for them. + +Then he sat down on his mat, and I rose up and in reply said: "Before I +dare talk to you about treaties, and lands, and your future for this +life, and that of your children, I must speak about something more +important." + +This seemed to astonish them, and they said: "What has he got to talk +about that is more important than the treaty?" + +"Yes," I answered, "I have something more important than the treaty, and +something to say about One greater than the Queen, or the Governor she +sends; for I must first talk about our great God, Whom the Queen and we +all must love if we would be happy. The Great Spirit, our good Father +in heaven, wants to make a treaty with us; and if we will be willing to +comply with His conditions, it will be the best treaty ever made, for it +will bring us joy and happiness for this life and the life to come." + +Loud were their words of approval that I should thus speak to them; and +so I preached to them, making use of my trusted and careful interpreter, +Timothy Bear, who is as thorough a master of the Saulteaux language as +he is of the Cree. Considering that it was the first sermon they had +ever heard, and that their ideas of our worship were very crude, they +behaved remarkably well, seeing they were a crowd of plumed and painted +savages, and Saulteaux besides. They kept up a constant smoking through +all the service, except when we were singing or at prayer. Men, women, +and children were all at it, and it seemed as though they were always at +it. + +Before I got through my sermon I was almost suffocated by the smoke. +The cloud, not that for which we had prayed, overwhelmed us, blinded us, +and nearly smothered us. It was the cloud of their vile weeds and +tobacco. As well as I could I talked to them of God and his love, and +of the way of salvation, and the blessings which would come to them if +they would cheerfully and heartily accept Him. We then sang the Jubilee +hymn,-- + + "Blow ye the trumpet, blow." + +This hymn has been translated into their language. The tune we used was +"Lennox," and I urged them to help us to sing. I gave out the hymn +verse by verse, and said, "Sing as well as you can." Some followed very +well, and others, while trying to follow the words, seemed to have +substituted for the tune one of their Indian lilts. After the religious +service was over, we hastily boiled our kettles, made tea, and had our +suppers, for we had travelled far, and were very hungry. The Indians +had nothing themselves but tea, fish, and tobacco. I never saw such +smokers. Even little unweaned children were adepts in the use of the +pipe. + +After tea the ceremonious speeches were delivered. The head chief was +of course the first to speak again. His address was very complimentary. +He said he had been gazing all day long across the great lake watching +for my coming. Although it was several moons since, I had promised that +in this one, if possible, I would be on hand. My coming just at the +time I did, showed that I was a man of my word, and could be depended +upon. + +"We feel," he said, "that we Indians are but children in the presence of +the whites. Great changes are taking place. The buffalo and deer once +so abundant are fast disappearing. Our fathers told us long ago that +the buffalo was the special gift of the Great Spirit to the Indian, and +that when it disappeared the Indian must go also. But in your words you +tell us good things about the Great Spirit, and we are thankful that you +have come. We wish you could live among us and thus talk to us." + +Thus he and others talked for a long time. + +We went over the business of the approaching treaty, and I told them all +I knew about the matter, and assured them that they need have no fear or +alarm. The Dominion Government would treat them honourably and fairly. +More tobacco was smoked, and extra kettles of tea were made and drunk, +and then I was told that as an additional mark of their thankfulness to +me for thus coming with these assuring and quieting words, they now +wished to give me the tribal ceremony of the greatest welcome, which was +only given at rare intervals, and then only when the best of news came +to them. + +The room was quickly rearranged for the ceremony. The crowd in the +centre of the room was moved back, much to the discomfort of the women +and girls, some of whom were roughly ejected to make room for their +tyrants and masters. Then some drums were brought in, and between +twenty and thirty of the most active and agile young men, dressed, or +rather undressed, in their picturesque way, seated themselves closely +around the men who were to act as drummers. The first part of the +ceremony was supposed to be a kind of a concert, part musical and part +pantomime. + +To describe it with its monotonous drumming and shrill songs, which they +said were words of welcome, is altogether beyond my powers. At certain +places in the songs, ten or twenty of the young men would spring up in +their places, and without moving their feet from the ground would go +through such strong, undulating, graceful motions, and yet all in such +perfect unison with each other and with the music, that I was almost +fascinated by the strange weird beauty of the scene. + +Then their programme changed, and rapidly they glided around in simple +and intricate movements, but all in perfect time to the songs and drums. + +Not satisfied with giving me the welcome of their own tribe, they also +gave me the still more exciting Sioux welcome, and also that of the wild +Crees in the Saskatchewan. Until long after midnight these scenes were +being enacted. Then word was passed round that the supply of tobacco +devoted to the welcome ceremonies was exhausted, for through all of +these scenes the pipes were only out of the mouths of the performers. +All the rest of the crowd smoked without apparent cessation. + +This intimation of the exhaustion of the supply of tobacco abruptly +closed the ceremony. Such is their custom. Some more tea was made and +drunk by the chiefs. Then the Missionary's hand was shaken, and the +people quickly flitted away to their wigwams. A supper, consisting of +beautiful fish, called "gold eyes," which are caught by the young +Indians in the rapid river at the foot of the Rude Water Slide, was then +much enjoyed. + +One of my faithful Indians brought in my camp bed, and unrolled it near +the council fire. I rolled myself up in a blanket and buffalo robe, and +there on the ground I soon fell asleep, for I was very weary. At +daybreak we arose, and had our breakfast cooked at the council fire. +While eating it, many of the Indians crowded in to see us ere we left +for our home across Lake Winnipeg. With them we held another religious +service. I talked kindly and faithfully to them, and urged them to +decide speedily to forsake their old pagan habits and become Christians; +telling them that now, as they were making treaties and entering upon a +new way of obtaining a living, they should adopt the religion of the +great Book. + +With them we sang a hymn, and then kneeled down and prayed. Devoutly +and reverently did they bow with us at the Mercy-seat. When we rose up +from our knees, a young man spoke up on behalf of the young people. He +said they were glad I had come, and hoped I would come again. Their +minds were dark; would I soon come back and bring in the light? + +I said all I could to encourage them to seek after the great Light, and +promised to come again. We harnessed up our dogs, and, in company with +my attendant Indians, I started for home. A wild blizzard storm came +down upon us from the north when we were far out from land. We toiled +on through it as well as we could, although at times unable to see a +dozen feet ahead of us. Often we got bewildered by its fury, as it +seemed to circle and eddy around us; but Jack was in the foremost train, +and so we safely reached the other shore, and did not for many a day +cease to think about some of the strange features of this adventurous +trip, in which in after years we found much real good had been done. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +As we have been referring to treaties and the excitement there was in +the minds of the Indians in reference to the new relationship in which +they would stand to the Government, it may be well here to put upon +record the noble spirit of one of our Indians, on whom honours were +desired to be conferred by his people. + +When the Dominion Government of Canada took possession of the +territories so long held by the Hudson's Bay Company, they began to make +arrangements for treaties with all the Indian tribes. Word came out to +us at Rossville Mission House, that the Government wished the Indians to +elect one of their number as chief, with whom they could make a treaty, +and whom they could confer with if difficulties arose in the future. +They wished the people to select a wise, judicious man, in whom all +confidence could be placed. + +Naturally the Indians were very much excited at this new order of +things, and so there were many councils and much speech-making. A good +deal of curiosity was expressed to know what benefits would result, and +how much money would be received by each of them. While there was still +much uncertainty about these things, it had become well known that the +one selected to be chief would fare very well. He would have more money +and presents than any other. He would be presented with a silver medal +with the face of the "Great Mother," the Queen, upon it, and would be +honoured with the personal friendship of the Governor, and with other +honours naturally dear to the Indian. + +After many councils the people came to the almost unanimous conclusion +that Big Tom should be their chief. In a full council, with much +ceremony, they offered him the position. Instead of seizing the +proffered honours with avidity, his face became very grave, and it was +evident he was full of suppressed emotion. When he arose, as all +supposed, to indicate his acceptance of the position, and to express his +thanks, they were very much surprised to hear him quietly say that he +could not answer fully now, but desired a day to think it over. So he +asked the council to adjourn until the following morning. + +Of course this request was complied with, and, full of curiosity, the +people thronged the building the next day. I had naturally taken a deep +interest in the matter, as, next to their spiritual interests, I was +anxious to do all I could for their temporal welfare. So I attended +many of their meetings. The council was opened in due form, and then +Big Tom arose to give his answer. He began quietly and slowly, but +warmed up a good deal before he ended. + +He spoke, in substance, as follows:-- + +"Long ago, when the Missionaries came and preached to us, for a time we +refused to listen to them, and would not become Christians. Then, after +a while, many of us who had been in the darkness began to feel in our +hearts that what they told us was for our good; and so we accepted of +these things, and they have done us good. When I got the assurance in +my heart that I was a child of God, and had a soul that should live for +ever, I found that in working out its salvation I had something great to +live for. To do this was the great object of my life. By-and-by I +married, and then, as my family increased and began to grow up around +me, I found I had another object for which to live. To help them along +in the way to heaven, as well as to work for their comfort here, was my +second great work. Then, after a while, the Missionary gave me the +charge of a class. I was to meet with them, and we were to talk +together about our souls and God's love to us, and to do all we could to +help each other on to the better land. To do my duty as the leader was +a great and important work. While attending to these duties, I found I +had another object for which to live. These three things,--1. My own +soul's salvation; 2. The salvation of my family; and 3. To do all I +can to help and encourage the members of my class to be true and +faithful to Him Who died for us, that we may see him by-and-by,--are the +uppermost things in my heart. + +"I am thankful for your confidence in me in asking me to be your chief. +I know it is a great honour, but I see it will have many +responsibilities, and that whoever has the position will have to attend +to many other things than those which I have my mind set upon. So you +must appoint some one else, for with those three things I cannot let +anything else interfere. I thank you, my brothers, and love you all." + +In this strain he went on for a long while, and then sat down. No one +thought any the less of the noble Christian man; and David Bundle, who +was appointed, ever found in Big Tom a wise and judicious counsellor and +friend. I was thrilled by the address and the spirit manifested. How +few white men in like circumstances would have had grace and self-denial +enough to have acted in a similar manner! + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THE MISSION AMONG THE SAULTEAUX ESTABLISHED--NELLY'S DEATH--MISSIONARY +ANNIVERSARIES ATTENDED--REVEREND THOMAS CROSBY--TRAVELLING ADVENTURES-- +MORE WORKING WITH DOGS--OUR NEW HOME--VISIT FROM A CHIEFTAINESS--CLOSING +WORDS. + +After a great deal of correspondence it was decided that I should begin +the work at Beren's River among the Saulteaux Indians who lived there, +and in little bands scattered along the eastern shores of that great +lake, and in the interior, most of them in extreme poverty and +superstitious degradation. A few of them, as the result of acquaintance +with our Christian Indians of other places, were groping after the great +Light, and trying to lift themselves up socially in life. + +The Reverend John H Ruttan was appointed to Norway House, the Reverend +Orrin German to Oxford House, and I was put down for Beren's River. + +As it was advisable that I should remain at Norway House until my +successor, Brother Ruttan, arrived, and as there was only one +opportunity for a long time for Mrs Young and the children to return to +Red River, they availed themselves of it, poor and miserable as it was. + +With loving "farewells" I wished them success on their journey, and saw +them off. Sandy Harte, our adopted Indian lad, and I sailed down to the +old Norway House, about twenty miles from our home, and there saying +"Good-bye," we returned to our lonely home. + +Mrs Young had with her our three darling children, Eddie, Lilian, and +Nelly. All were well and full of the best of spirits as the sail was +hoisted, and we saw them glide away before the favouring gale. Precious +Nelly we never saw again. So terrible was the heat, and so miserable +were the accommodations in that little open boat, without deck or awning +or cabin, that the child sickened and died. + +As we have referred to this sad event in an earlier chapter, we need not +dwell upon it here. What the poor mother felt and suffered as, sick +herself, she saw her beautiful child attacked by brain fever, and then +droop and die amidst surroundings so sad and trying, can be realised by +but few. God knows all about it. As mentioned, the venerable +Archdeacon Cowley's sympathy did much to raise up Mrs Young's crushed +spirits and dry her bitter tears. + +I remained at Norway House until Brothers Ruttan and German arrived; and +then, after having spent a Sabbath with them, and seen Mr Ruttan and +his noble young wife cheerfully and hopefully entered upon their blessed +work among the people, to whom I had become very much attached, I +started off for Beren's River. Sandy Harte, the Nelson River lad, went +with me as far as my first camping place, and spent the night with me. +We read the sacred Word together, and then, after singing a Hymn, we +bowed in prayer. We lay down together, but we had so much to say, that +hours passed away ere we slept. + +Early the next morning we were aroused from our slumbers by the cry of +"Fair wind," and so no time must be lost. I was very much surprised to +find that during the night some scores of Indians had come on in their +canoes from the Mission, although it was many miles away, to shake hands +with their Missionary once more, and say a final "Farewell." + +After a hasty breakfast we assembled on the shore for prayers. We sang +in Cree a favourite hymn:-- + + "Jesus, my All, to heaven is gone, + He Whom I fix my hopes upon. + His path I see, and I'll pursue + The narrow way till Him I view." + +We closed by singing the Doxology, and then, after prayers, I sadly said +"Good-bye," and shook hands again with them all. I found it hard to +break away from them. Many of them were in tears, who seldom wept +before. Coming to my beloved Sandy last, I put my arm around his neck +and kissed him as there he stood, weeping as though his heart would +break. With a "God bless you all," I sprang into the boat, which was +quickly pushed off from the shore, and then the long journey to the land +of the Saulteaux was begun. + +After some of the usual incidents of travel I reached Beren's River, and +was most enthusiastically received by the Indians. The man who had +said, "Our eyes were dim from long watching," now said that they were +dim with tears of joy that he had lived to see the day when a Missionary +of their own lived among them. As I was to leave before the lake froze +up, every day was precious. I pitched a canvas tent, and in it lived +for several weeks. All assembled once every week-day for religious +worship, and then, when that was over, the Missionary and men took off +their coats and went to work. The spot for the Mission was decided +upon, and then acre after acre of the forest from this place, and also +from where each Indian had decided to build, was rapidly being cleared +of the forest trees. We held three services every Lord's day, and saw +that the school for the children was faithfully kept up. + +Getting everything in good shape, and leaving Martin Papanekis, a devout +and trusty Christian Indian from the Norway House Mission, in charge, I +started in a birch canoe, with Big Tom as principal canoe-man, for Red +River. + +Of our adventures and dangers I need not write, although there were +several on that long journey in such a frail craft. One complete upset +chilled me most thoroughly, as the water was about down to freezing +point. At one place, where we tried to push on all night, we were +tantalised by some most brilliant "Will-o'-the-wisp" lights, which our +experienced Indians thought were decoy signals put out by wicked Indians +to bewilder or injure us. Canoe travelling on this great lake is risky +business. The storms come up with surprising rapidity, and the waves +rise up like those of the ocean. However, we had a good canoe, and Big +Tom was in charge; and He Who holds the winds and the waves in His fists +was our Father and our Friend. + +At Red River I called on the Reverend Archdeacon Cowley at his Indian +Mission home. Very cordial and sympathetic was he, as I introduced +myself, and told him I had come to accept of his kind offer, and seek in +some part of the quiet graveyard of his Mission Church a little place +where I could bury the body of my darling child. He at once went with +me and showed me all kindness and help, as also did Mr Flett and his +family, of the Hudson's Bay Company's Service. As we laid away the +beautiful child, and the solemn words, "Earth to earth, dust to dust," +were uttered, we felt that there was now an additional tie holding us to +that country and work. + +In due time I reached Toronto, and there met the Missionary Secretaries, +and obtained from them an outline of the work before me. Here it was my +great joy to meet for the first time the Reverend Thomas Crosby, the +energetic and successful Missionary from British Columbia, who has been +wonderfully owned of God in his glorious work. Uncalled by any Church, +but impelled by the good Spirit, shortly after his conversion he made +his way to British Columbia at his own expense, and offered himself to +one of the Missionaries there as a volunteer teacher among the poor, +neglected Indians, who, uncared for by any one, were prowling around the +cities and towns of that new Province, living lives of shame and sin. +Great indeed was his success. + +He has also established flourishing Missions at Fort Simpson and +elsewhere in the north of that land, and through his labours a blessed +work began among the Indians in Alaska. Some of them, hearing wonderful +stories about the black-coated man and his mysterious Book, came +hundreds of miles, that they might have their curiosity satisfied. They +returned with more than they anticipated. They reached the Mission, and +from Mr Crosby, and also from some of their own tribes who lived there, +they heard the "old, old story" for the first time in their lives. It +was indeed wonderful news to them, but they accepted it with a simple +faith that was pleasing to God, and brought into their hearts the +consciousness of His smile and benediction. Rejoicing in this new-found +treasure they returned to their own land, and there they published the +glad tidings of God's love, and added the testimony of their own +personal experience that they had a new joy in their hearts, the result +of their having accepted this Saviour. Great indeed was the excitement +among the people. Some mocked, and some opposed and tried to persecute, +but many were affected by what their companions had brought them, and +believing their testimony entered into their joy. + +Of course the new converts could give but little instruction; and so, as +the work proceeded, it was decided that a deputation must go for the +Missionary and bring him into their land. Mr Crosby responded, and +went over to Alaska, and spent some time among them. God blessed his +labours, and many of the Indians gave up their paganism and became +Christians. Convinced that a grand opening was here for Missionary +triumph, Mr Crosby wrote to the Methodist Episcopal Mission Rooms, New +York, urging the officials there to enter this open door and begin work +here. The answer was that it was impossible; that their other fields +absorbed all their income, and so there was no prospect of their being +able to respond to his appeal. + +Not to be discouraged very easily, Mr Crosby next wrote to the +Presbyterian Board at Philadelphia, and told of these poor sheep in the +wilderness; and here, thank God, he met with success, and there was a +glad response; and the successful Presbyterian Missions and Indian +Schools in that land to-day are the outgrowth of that work. + +In company with this heroic Brother Crosby, who had so much to tell, I +spent several months in attending Missionary Meetings. We had blessed +times. Immense crowds came out to hear us, and, if I am not mistaken, +the increase in the Missionary income that year was the greatest in its +history. In all, we attended eighty-nine Missionary Anniversary +Services in different Canadian towns and cities between Sarnia and +Quebec. + +A very happy week was spent with my family at "Oaklands," Toronto, the +beautiful residence of the Honourable Senator Macdonald, the Lay +Treasurer of our Missionary Society. Of Senator Macdonald's great +kindness, and tangible evidences of sympathy, neither few nor slight, if +I should here write, I should only be mentioning what scores of +Ministers and Missionaries could say had been their own fortunate +experiences with this large-hearted philanthropist. Eternity alone will +be able to reveal the full measure of what, with a glad heart, he has +been constantly and unostentatiously doing for many of Christ's +ambassadors, and among the different Churches. + +As soon as the season for holding Missionary Meetings ended, I returned +to my Indian work. I left the Province of Ontario on the 6th of April, +and reached Beren's River after twenty-three days of continuous +travelling. On the railroads in Minnesota and Dacota we were detained +by snowdrifts, which so blocked up our way that we had some very +unpleasant experiences. After leaving the railroad I had to travel two +hundred and fifty miles in a stage on runners over the snowy prairies. +We had some blizzards to encounter, and one night, when we were +fortunate enough to have reached one of the stopping places, the storm +raged like a hurricane. The house was built of logs, and not well +finished, and the snow sifted in through the wide cracks between these +logs and on to our beds. My experiences in wintry camps served me a +good purpose now, and so pulling up the hood of my overcoat, and then +completely covering myself up under the bedclothes, I slept soundly +through the raging storm and driving snow. When we were called up to +eat a hasty breakfast and resume our journey, I found several inches of +snow on the top of my bed, but I had suffered no inconvenience from it. +With my travelling companions in the other beds it was very different. +The upper storey, in which our beds were placed, was all one room, and +so the snow had equally assailed us all. But, not being able to sleep +with their heads completely covered up, they had suffered much, and were +in anything but an amiable mood when we resumed our journey. + +At Winnipeg I was cordially welcomed by my beloved Chairman, the +Reverend George Young, who had ever taken the deepest interest in my +work, and done all he could to add to our comfort and efficiency in its +prosecution. Fortunate indeed were we, poor Missionaries in the +interior, whether it was north or west, that we had such a man to look +after our supplies, and see that we were not cheated or swindled by +those who once a year sent them out to the poor toilers in their lonely +fields. For years we had no money in our northern Missions. Our plan +was, once a year to receive from Winnipeg all that our salary would +purchase for us in the shape of supplies that were needed in our own +home, and also with which to pay teacher, interpreter, guides, canoe- +men, dog-drivers, and others who might be employed in the prosecution of +the work. + +As all the work of purchasing and packing these things depended very +much upon the Chairman, fortunate indeed did all of us, who had Dr +Young as our Chairman, consider ourselves to be. + +My dogs and Indians were waiting for me, having come down from the north +to meet me, as arranged months before. We purchased our supplies, +loaded our sleds, and away we started by dog-train on the last part of +the long journey. We had left Toronto in a splendid railroad carriage; +we ended the trip of over twenty days' duration with dog sleds. + +Very quickly did I come back to the wild life of the North after the six +months of incessant pleading the cause of the Indians before the large +and enthusiastic audiences in our towns and cities. The days of hard +and rapid travelling over the frozen surface of Lake Winnipeg,--the +bitter cold that often made us shiver in spite of the violent exercise +of running,--the intense and almost unbearable pain caused by the +reflection of the brilliant rays of the sun upon the snowy waste,--the +bed in the hole in the snow with no roof above us but the star-decked +vault of heaven,--were all cheerfully endured again and successfully +passed through. + +Very cordial was my welcome by the Saulteaux at my new field. I was +very much gratified to find that they had had a successful winter, and +that those left in charge had worked faithfully and well. A little log +house, twelve by twenty-four feet, had been put up, and in one end of it +I was installed as my present home. My apartment was just twelve feet +square, but to me it was all-sufficient. It was kitchen, bedroom, +dining-room, study, reception-room, and everything else. Two of my +grandest dogs, Jack and Cuffy, shared it with me for months, and we had +a happy and busy time. With several hard-working Indians, two of them +being Big Tom and Martin Papanekis from Norway House, we toiled hard at +getting out the timber and logs for our new church, school-house, and +parsonage. We had to go a distance of twelve or fourteen miles over the +frozen lake ere we reached the large island on which we found timber +sufficiently large for our purpose. Here we worked as hard as possible. +Often we had to go in miles from the shore to find what we wanted. To +make our work more difficult, we found but few large trees growing close +together. So, for nearly every large stick of timber, we had to make a +new trail through the deep snow to the lake. The snow was from three to +four feet deep. The under-brush was thick, and the fallen trees were +numerous. Yet under these discouragements we worked. We cut down the +trees, measured them, squared them, and got them ready for their places. +Then we hitched one end on a strong dog sled, and attached one dog to +this heavy load. How four dogs could drag these heavy sticks of timber +was indeed surprising. The principal pieces were thirty-six feet long +and ten inches square. Yet my gallant St. Bernards and Newfoundlands +would take these heavy loads along at a rate that was astounding. We +had thirty-two dogs at work, and rapidly did our piles of timber and +logs accumulate. + +Dressed as one of the natives, with them I toiled incessantly for the +material upbuilding of the Mission. We had delightful services every +Sabbath. Nearly every Indian within some miles of the place attended, +and good results were continually cheering our hearts. Although it was +so late in the season when I arrived, yet there was not, for weeks +after, any sign of the spring, except in the lengthening days and +increasingly brilliant sun. For a long time the vast snowy wastes +remained crisp and hard. Very glorious was the atmosphere, for there +were no fogs, no mists, no damps. The sky seemed always cloudless, the +air was always clear. + +Nearly every morning during those weeks of hard toil we were treated to +the strange sights which the beautiful and vivid mirage brought to us. +Islands and headlands, scores of miles away, were lifted up from below +the horizon, and shown to us as distinctly as though close at hand. +With but few exceptions our nights also were very glorious, especially +when the Northern Lights, taking this vast Lake Winnipeg as their field +of action, held one of their grand carnivals. Generally beginning in +the far north, with majestic sweep they came marching on, filling the +very heavens with their coloured bars, or flashing, ever-changing, yet +always beautiful clouds of brightness and glory. Sometimes they would +form a magnificent corona at the zenith, and from its dazzling splendour +would shoot out long columns of different coloured lights, which rested +upon the far-off frozen shores. Often have I seen a cloud of light flit +swiftly across these tinted bars, as if a hand were sweeping the strings +of some grand harp. So startling was the resemblance, that there was an +instinctive listening for the sound that we used to think ought to come. +Sometimes I have suddenly stopped my dogs and men, when we have been +travelling amidst these fascinating and almost bewildering glories of +the heavens above us, and we have listened for that rustling sound of +celestial harmony which some Arctic travellers have affirmed they have +heard, and which it seemed to me so evident that we ought to hear. But +although for years I have watched and listened, amidst the death +stillness of these snowy wastes, no sounds have I ever heard. Amidst +all their flashing and changing glories these resplendent beauties ever +seemed to me as voiceless as the stars above them. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +When spring arrived, and with its open water came our first boats, we +brought out from Red River a quantity of building material and two +experienced carpenters. Then actively went on the work of building a +Mission House, and also a large school-house, which for a time was to +serve as a church also. We called it "the Tabernacle," and for a good +while it served its double purpose admirably. + +Leaving the carpenters and Indians at work, I went into the then small +village of Winnipeg for Mrs Young and our two little children, who were +now returning from Ontario, where they had remained among friends, until +I, who had so long preceded them, should have some kind of a habitation +prepared for them in the wilderness. For weeks we had to live in my +little twelve-by-twelve log-cabin. It was all right in cold or dry +weather, but as its construction was peculiar, it failed us most +signally in times of rain and wet. The roof was made of poplar logs, +laid up against the roof pole, and then covered very thickly with clay. +When this hardened and dried, it was a capital roof against the cold; +but when incessant rains softened it, and the mud in great pieces fell +through upon bed, or table, or stove, or floor, it was not luxurious or +even comfortable living. One morning we found that during the night a +mass, weighing over five pounds, had fallen at the feet of our youngest +child, as she, unconscious of danger, slept in a little bed near us. +However, after a while, we got into our new house, and great were our +rejoicings to find ourselves comfortably settled, and ready for +undivided attention to the blessed work of evangelisation. + +While there was a measure of prosperity, yet the Mission did not advance +as rapidly as I had hoped it would. My hopes had been that the surplus +population at Norway House would have settled there, and that many from +the interior directly east would, as they had stated, come out and help +to build up the Mission. + +Opposition in various quarters arose, and the Norway House Crees +preferred to go farther south; and finally seventy families preferred +that place, and there they have formed a flourishing additional Mission. +Thus the work advanced, although not all along the lines which some of +us had marked out. With patient endurance my noble wife and I toiled +on. There was room for the exercise of the graces of courage, and hope, +and faith, and patience; but a measure of success was ever ours, and we +saw signs of progress, and had every now and then some clear and +remarkable cases of conversion from the vilest degradation and +superstition into a clear and conscious assurance of Heaven's favour and +smile. + +One summer there came from the east to visit us a chieftainess with +several of her followers. Her husband had been the chief of his people, +and when he died she assumed his position, and maintained it well. Her +home was several days' journey away in the interior, but she had heard +of the Missionary who had come to live among the Saulteaux and teach +them out of the great Book. Was not she a Saulteaux, and had not she a +right to know of this new way, about which so much was being said? With +these thoughts in her mind she came to see us. When she came to the +Mission, we saw very quickly that here was an interesting woman. We had +several interviews, and Mrs Young and myself did all we could to lead +this candid, inquiring mind into the right way. Before she left I gave +her a sheet of foolscap paper, and a long lead pencil, and showed her +how to keep her reckoning as to the Sabbath day. I had, among many +other lessons, described the Sabbath as one day in seven for rest and +worship; and she had become very much interested, and promised to try to +keep it. + +As she pushed out in her canoe from our shore, her last importunate +request was, that as soon as possible I would visit her and her people +in their own land. So many were my engagements that I could not take up +this additional one until about the middle of the winter following. +When, with a couple of Indian attendants, with our dog-trains, we dashed +into her village, great indeed was her joy at seeing us, and very +demonstrative was the welcome given. She had put up on a staging +outside in the cold a couple of reindeer heads, keeping them there +preserved by the frost until I should arrive. Very quickly were they +taken down to cook. The hair was singed off, and then they were cut up +with an axe into pieces weighing about two pounds each. Soon they were +in the pot, boiling for our dinner. I furnished some tea, and while +everything was being got ready by a few, the rest of us sat down and +talked. + +They were indeed anxious for instruction in spiritual things. I read +and, through my interpreter, explained truth after truth, to which they +gave the most earnest attention. Then we stopped a little while, that +we might have dinner. As I and my men were the guests of this +chieftainess I did not get out my tin plates, and cups, and knives and +forks, but sat down beside her in her wigwam with the rest of the +people, completing a circle around the big wooden dish, in which the +large pieces of cooked reindeer heads had been thrown. I asked a +blessing on the food, and then dinner began. The plan was for each +person to help himself or herself to a piece of the meat, holding it in +the hand, and using hunting knife or teeth, or both together, to get off +the pieces and eat them. + +I am sorry to say my lady friend on the right, this chieftainess, had +very dirty-looking hands, and long, strong, brilliant teeth. She took +her piece of meat, and, turning it over and over in her hands, began +tearing and cutting at it in a way that was not very dainty, but +extremely otherwise. After biting off a few mouthfuls, she threw it +down on the dirty ground of the wigwam before her, and, inserting one of +her greasy hands in the bosom of her dress, she pulled out a large piece +of soiled paper, and, unfolding it before me, she began in excited tones +to tell me how she had kept the tally of the "praying days," for thus +they style the Sabbath. Greatly interested in her story, and in her +wild joyous way of describing her efforts to keep her record correct, I +stopped eating and looked over her paper, as she talked away. Imagine +my great delight to find that through the long months which had passed +since I had given her that paper and pencil, she had not once missed her +record. This day was Thursday, and thus she had marked it. Her plan +had been to make six short marks, and then a longer one for Sunday. + +"Missionary," she said very earnestly, "sometimes it seemed as though I +would fail. There were times when the ducks or geese came very near, +and I felt like taking my gun and firing. Then I remembered that it was +the praying day, and so I only put down the long mark and rested. I +have not set a net, or caught a fish, or fired a gun, on the praying day +since I heard about it at your house so far away." + +Of course I was delighted at all this, and said some kind words of +encouragement. Then we resumed our dinner. I had my piece of meat in +one hand, and with the knife in the other was endeavouring to cut off +the pieces and eat them. The good woman replaced the precious paper and +pencil in her bosom, and then picked up her piece of meat from the dirty +ground, and, after turning it over and over in her hands, began with her +strong teeth to tear off the large mouthfuls. All at once she stopped +eating, and, looking intently at my piece, she said, "Your piece is not +a very good one, mine is very fine," and before I could protest, or say +a word, she quickly exchanged the pieces; and from her portion, which +she put in my hand, I had to finish my dinner. As what she did is +considered an act of great kindness, of course I would not grieve her by +showing any annoyance. So I quietly smothered any little squeamishness +that might naturally have arisen, and finished my dinner, and then +resumed the religious service. Soon after, she became a decided +Christian. + +The following extracts are from the last letter which I sent to the +Mission Rooms, ere, owing to the failure of Mrs Young's health, we left +the land of the Saulteaux for work in the Master's Vineyard elsewhere. +The Mission had now been fully established, a comfortable parsonage +built and well furnished. A large school-house had been erected, which +answered also for the religious services until the church should be +finished. Many had been our trials and hardships, and there had been a +great deal of opposition, much of it from places not expected. But to +be enabled to send such tidings from such a place, where I had gone as +the first Missionary, and among such a wicked and degraded tribe as were +these Saulteaux, so different from the more peaceful Crees, caused my +heart to rejoice, that He Who had permitted me to go and sow the seed +had also given me the honour of seeing some golden sheaves gathered in +for the heavenly garner:-- + +"Last Sabbath was perhaps the most interesting and encouraging one we +have spent on the Mission. Our place of worship was crowded, and many +had to remain outside. Some of the old Indians who, in spite of our +pleadings, had clung to their paganism, renounced it on that day in a +most emphatic manner. Seven of them, after being questioned as to their +thorough renunciation of their old superstitions, and as to their +present faith in Christ, were then and there baptized. + +"At the afternoon service several more were baptized; among them an old +man, perhaps seventy years of age, with his wife and grandchild. He had +never been inside a Christian sanctuary before. He had just arrived +from the vast interior eastward of this place, the country I visited +under so many difficulties last April. + +"The old man brought down with him the Bible and hymn-book which I had +given him months ago. He stated that although he could not read them +very well, yet he kept them close to him by day, and under his pillow by +night, and tried to keep in his memory all he had heard of what was +written in them, as I had told him. + +"I have been teaching the school myself for months, as my faithful +teacher, Timothy Bear, is poorly. Among the scholars I have none more +attentive than the old man and his wife. Seated on the ground with the +Reverend James Evans' Syllabic Characters marked out with a pen on a +piece of paper in their hands, and the open Bible on the grass before +them, they are striving hard to read fluently in their own language the +wonderful works of God. + +"If this old man had presented himself for baptism a little better +clothed, we should have been pleased. All he had on was a dirty cotton +shirt and a pair of deer-skin leggings. However, as such fashions occur +here, his appearance created no remark, but all were deeply moved at his +coming forward and so emphatically renouncing his old paganism. + +"The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper on the same day was also a service +of great interest, as several new members, baptized a few months ago, +were admitted to the Lord's Table for the first time. In two instances +the decided stand for Christ taken by the women has led to the +conversion of their husbands. Until lately they were careless, reckless +men; but they have now come and declared that they are convinced that +the religion of their wives is better than the old, and they desire to +have it too. Thus the work goes on; but how slowly! When shall the +time arrive when `nations shall be born in a day'? Haste, happy day!" + + "We are toiling through the darkness, but our eyes behold the light + That is mounting up the eastern sky and beating back the night. + Soon with joy we'll hail the morning when our Lord will come in might, + For Truth is marching on. + + "He will come in glorious majesty to sweep away all wrong; + He will heal the broken-hearted and will make His people strong; + He will teach our souls His righteousness, our hearts a glad new song, + For Truth is marching on. + + "He is calling on His people to be faithful, prompt, and brave, + To uplift again the fallen, and to help from sin to save, + To devote themselves for others, as Himself for them He gave, + For Truth is marching on. + + "Let us fight against the evils with our faces towards the light; + God is looking through the darkness, and He watches o'er the fight + And His joy will be our recompense, His triumph crown the right, + For Truth is marching on." + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's By Canoe and Dog-Train, by Egerton Ryerson Young + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BY CANOE AND DOG-TRAIN *** + +***** This file should be named 21244.txt or 21244.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/2/4/21244/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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