按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of their costume； stalking among the teepees of the Village of Peace。 Somehow；
such a procession always made Jim shiver。 The singing； praying and preaching
they heard unmoved。 No emotion was visible on their bronzed faces； nothing
changed their unalterable mien。 Had they not moved； or gazed with burning
eyes； they would have been statues。 When these chieftains looked at the
converted Indians； some of whom were braves of their nations； the contempt in
their glances betrayed that they now regarded these Christian Indians as
belonging to an alien race。
Among the chiefs Glickhican pointed out to Jim were Wingenund； the Delaware；
Tellane； the Half…King； Shingiss and Kotoxenall of the Wolf tribe of the
Delawares。
Glickhican was careful to explain that the Delaware nation had been divided
into the Wolf and Turtle tribes； the former warlike people； and the latter
peaceable。 Few of the Wolf tribe had gone over to the new faith； and those who
had were scorned。 Wingenund； the great power of the Delawaresindeed； the
greatest of all the western tribesmaintained a neutral attitude toward the
Village of Peace。 But it was well known that his right…hand war…chiefs； Pipe
and Wishtonah； remained coldly opposed。
Jim turned all he had learned over and over in his mind； trying to construct
part of it to fit into a sermon that would be different from any the Indians
had ever heard。 He did not want to preach far over their heads。 If possible；
he desired to keep to their idealsfor he deemed them more beautiful than his
ownand to conduct his teaching along the simple lines of their belief； so
that when he stimulated and developed their minds he could pass from what they
knew to the unknown Christianity of the white man。
His first address to the Indians was made one day during the indisposition of
Mr。 Wellswho had been over…working himself…and the absence of the other
missionaries。 He did not consider himself at all ready for preaching； and
confined his efforts to simple； earnest talk； a recital of the thoughts he had
assimilated while living here among the Indians。
Amazement would not have described the state of his feelings when he learned
that he had made a powerful impression。 The converts were loud in his praise；
the unbelievers silent and thoughtful。 In spite of himself； long before he had
been prepared； he was launched on his teaching。 Every day he was called upon
to speak； every day one savage； at least； was convinced； every day the throng
of interested Indians was augmented。 The elder missionaries were quite
overcome with joy； they pressed him day after day to speak； until at length he
alone preached during the afternoon service。
The news flew apace； the Village of Peace entertained more redmen than ever
before。 Day by day the faith gained a stronger foothold。 A kind of religious
trance affected some of the converted Indians； and this greatly influenced the
doubting ones。 Many of them half believed the Great Manitou had come。
Heckewelder； the acknowledged leader of the western Moravian Mission； visited
the village at this time； and； struck by the young missionary's success；
arranged a three days' religious festival。 Indian runners were employed to
carry invitations to all the tribes。 The Wyandots in the west； the Shawnees in
the south； and the Delawares in the north were especially requested to come。
No deception was practiced to lure the distant savages to the Village of
Peace。 They were asked to come； partake of the feasts； and listen to the white
man's teaching。
Chapter XII。
〃The Groves Were God's First Temples。〃
From dawn until noon on Sunday bands of Indians arrived at the Village of
Peace。 Hundreds of canoes glided down the swift stream and bumped their prows
into the pebbly beach。 Groups of mounted warriors rode out of the forests into
the clearing； squaws with papooses； maidens carrying wicker baskets； and
children playing with rude toys； came trooping along the bridle…paths。
Gifts were presented during the morning； after which the visitors were
feasted。 In the afternoon all assembled in the grove to hear the preaching。
The maple grove wherein the service was to be conducted might have been
intended by Nature for just such a purpose as it now fulfilled。 These trees
were large； spreading； and situated far apart。 Mossy stones and the thick
carpet of grass afforded seats for the congregation。
Heckeweldera tall； spare； and kindly appearing mandirected the arranging
of the congregation。 He placed the converted Indians just behind the knoll
upon which the presiding minister was to stand。 In a half circle facing the
knoll he seated the chieftains and important personages of the various tribes。
He then made a short address in the Indian language； speaking of the work of
the mission； what wonders it had accomplished； what more good work it hoped to
do； and concluded by introducing the young missionary。
While Heckewelder spoke； Jim； who stood just behind； employed the few moments
in running his eye over the multitude。 The sight which met his gaze was one he
thought he would never forget。 An involuntary word escaped him。
〃Magnificent！〃 he exclaimed。
The shady glade had been transformed into a theater； from which gazed a
thousand dark； still faces。 A thousand eagle plumes waved； and ten thousand
bright…hued feathers quivered in the soft breeze。 The fantastically dressed
scalps presented a contrast to the smooth； unadorned heads of the converted
redmen。 These proud plumes and defiant feathers told the difference between
savage and Christian。
In front of the knoll sat fifty chiefs； attentive and dignified。
Representatives of every tribe as far west as the Scioto River were numbered
in that circle。 There were chiefs renowned for war； for cunning； for valor；
for wisdom。 Their stately presence gave the meeting tenfold importance。 Could
these chiefs be interested； moved； the whole western world of Indians might be
civilized。
Hepote； a Maumee chief； of whom it was said he had never listened to words of
the paleface； had the central position in this circle。 On his right and left；
respectively； sat Shaushoto and Pipe； implacable foes of all white men。 The
latter's aspect did not belie his reputation。 His copper…colored； repulsive
visage compelled fear； it breathed vindictiveness and malignity。 A singular
action of his was that he always； in what must have been his arrogant vanity；
turned his profile to those who watched him； and it was a remarkable one； it
sloped in an oblique line from the top of his forehead to his protruding chin；
resembling somewhat the carved bowl of his pipe； which was of flint and a
famed inheritance from his ancestors。 From it he took his name。 One solitary
eagle plume； its tip stained vermilion； stuck from his scalp…lock。 It slated
backward on a line with his profile。
Among all these chiefs； striking as they were； the figure of Wingenund； the
Delaware； stood out alone。
His position was at the extreme left of the circle； where he leaned against a
maple。 A long； black mantle； trimmed with spotless white； enveloped him。 One
bronzed arm； circled by a heavy bracelet of gold； held the mantle close about
his lofty form。 His headdress； which trailed to the ground； was exceedingly
beautiful。 The eagle plumes were of uniform length and pure white； except the
black…pointed tips。
At his feet sat his daughter； Whispering Winds。 Her maidens were gathered
round her。 She raised her soft； black eyes； shining with a wondrous light of
surprise and expectation； to the young missionary's face。
Beyond the circle the Indians were massed together； even beyond the limits of
the glade。 Under the trees on every side sat warriors astride their steeds；
some lounged on the green turf； many reclined in the branches of low…spreading
maples。
As Jim looked out over the sea of faces he started in surprise。 The sudden
glance of fiery eyes had impelled his gaze。 He recognized Silvertip； the
Shawnee chief。 The Indian sat motionless on a powerful black horse。 Jim
started again； for the horse was Joe's thoroughbred； Lance。 But Jim had no
further time to think of Joe's enemy； for Heckewelder stepped back。
Jim took the vacated seat； and； with a far…reaching； resonant voice began his
discourse to the Indians。
〃Chieftains； warriors； maidens； children of the forest； listen； and your ears
shall hear no lie。 I am come from where the sun rises to tell you of the Great
Spirit of the white man。
〃Many； many moons ago； as many as blades of grass grow on yonder plain； the
Great Spirit of whom I shall speak created the world。 He made the sparkling
lakes and swift rivers； the boundless plains and tangled forests； over which
He caused the sun to shine and the rain to fall。 He gave life to the kingly
elk； the graceful deer； the rolling bison； the bear； the foxall the beasts
and birds and fishes。 But He was