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the spirit of the border-第22章

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elk; the graceful deer; the rolling bison; the bear; the foxall the beasts

and birds and fishes。 But He was not content for nothing He made was perfect

in His sight。 He created the white man in His own image; and from this first

man's rib He created his matea woman。  He turned them free in a beautiful

forest。



〃Life was fair in the beautiful forest。 The sun shone always; the birds sang;

the waters flowed with music; the flowers cast sweet fragrance on the air。 In

this forest; where fruit bloomed always; was one tree; the Tree of Life; the

apple of which they must not eat。 In all this beautiful forest of abundance

this apple alone was forbidden them。



〃Now evil was born with woman。 A serpent tempted her to eat of the apple of

Life; and she tempted the man to eat。 For their sin the Great Spirit commanded

the serpent to crawl forever on his belly; and He drove them from the

beautiful forest。 The punishment for their sin was to be visited on their

children's children; always; until the end of time。 The two went afar into the

dark forest; to learn to live as best they might。 From them all tribes

descended。 The world is wide。 A warrior might run all his days and not reach

the setting sun; where tribes of yellow…skins live。 He might travel half his

days toward the south…wind; where tribes of black…skins abound。 People of all

colors inhabited the world。 They lived in hatred toward one another。 They shed

each other's blood; they stole each other's lands; gold; and women。 They

sinned。



〃Many moons ago the Great Spirit sorrowed to see His chosen tribe; the

palefaces; living in ignorance and sin。 He sent His only Son to redeem them;

and said if they would listen and believe; and teach the other tribes; He

would forgive their sin and welcome them to the beautiful forest。



〃That was moons and moons ago; when the paleface killed his brother for gold

and lands; and beat his women slaves to make them plant his corn。  The Son of

the Great Spirit lifted the cloud from the palefaces' eyes; and they saw and

learned。 So pleased was the Great Spirit that He made the palefaces wiser and

wiser; and master of the world。 He bid them go afar to teach the ignorant

tribes。



〃To teach you is why the young paleface journeyed from the rising sun。 He

wants no lands or power。 He has given all that he had。 He walks among you

without gun or knife。 He can gain nothing but the happiness of opening the

redmen's eyes。



〃The Great Spirit of whom I teach and the Great Manitou; your idol; are the

same; the happy hunting ground of the Indian and the beautiful forest of the

paleface are the same; the paleface and the redman are the same。 There is but

one Great Spirit; that is God; but one eternal home; that is heaven; but one

human being; that is man。



〃The Indian knows the habits of the beaver; he can follow the paths of the

forests; he can guide his canoe through the foaming rapids; he is honest; he

is brave; he is great; but he is not wise。 His wisdom is clouded with the

original sin。 He lives in idleness; he paints his face; he makes his squaw

labor for him; instead of laboring for her; he kills his brothers。 He worships

the trees and rocks。 If he were wise he would not make gods of the swift arrow

and bounding canoe; of the flowering ash and the flaming flint。 For these

things have not life。 In his dreams he sees his arrow speed to the reeling

deer; in his dreams he sees his canoe shoot over the crest of shining waves;

and in his mind he gives them life。 When his eyes are opened he will see they

have no spirit。 The spirit is in his own heart。 It guides the arrow to the

running deer; and steers the canoe over the swirling current。 The spirit makes

him find the untrodden paths; and do brave deeds; and love his children and

his honor。 It makes him meet his foe face to face; and if he is to die it

gives him strength to diea man。 The spirit is what makes him different from

the arrow; the canoe; the mountain; and all the birds and beasts。 For it is

born of the Great Spirit; the creator of all。 Him you must worship。



〃Redmen; this worship is understanding your spirit and teaching it to do good

deeds。 It is called Christianity。 Christianity is love。 If you will love the

Great Spirit you will love your wives; your children; your brothers; your

friends; your foesyou will love the palefaces。 No more will you idle in

winter and wage wars in summer。 You will wear your knife and tomahawk only

when you hunt for meat。 You will be kind; gentle; loving; virtuousyou will

have grown wise。 When your days are done you will meet all your loved ones in

the beautiful forest。 There; where the flowers bloom; the fruits ripen always;

where the pleasant water glides and the summer winds whisper sweetly; there

peace will dwell forever。



〃Comrades; be wise; think earnestly。 Forget the wicked paleface; for there are

many wicked palefaces。 They sell the serpent firewater; they lie and steal and

kill。 These palefaces' eyes are still clouded。 If they do not open they will

never see the beautiful forest。 You have much to forgive; but those who

forgive please the Great Spirit; you must give yourselves to love; but those

who love are loved; you must work; but those who work are happy。



〃Behold the Village of Peace! Once it contained few; now there are many。 

Where once the dark forest shaded the land; see the cabins; the farms; the

horses; the cattle! Field on field of waving; golden grain shine there under

your eyes。 The earth has blossomed abundance。 Idling and fighting made not

these rich harvests。 Belief made love; love made wise eyes; wise eyes saw; and

lo! there came plenty。



〃The proof of love is happiness。 These Christian Indians are happy。 They are

at peace with the redman and the paleface。 They till the fields and work in

the shops。 In days to come cabins and farms and fields of corn will be theirs。

They will bring up their children; not to hide in the forest to slay; but to

walk hand in hand with the palefaces as equals。



〃Oh; open your ears! God speaks to you; peace awaits you! Cast the bitterness

from your hearts; it is the serpent…poison。 While you hate; God shuts His

eyes。 You are great on the trail; in the council; in war; now be great in

forgiveness。 Forgive the palefaces who have robbed you of your lands。 Then

will come peace。 If you do not forgive; the war will go on; you will lose

lands and homes; to find unmarked graves under the forest leaves。 Revenge is

sweet; but it is not wise。 The price of revenge is blood and life。 Root it out

of your hearts。 Love these Christian Indians; love the missionaries as they

love you; love all living creatures。 Your days are but few; therefore; cease

the the strife。 Let us say; 'Brothers; that is God's word; His law; that is

love; that is Christianity!' If you will say from your heart; brother; you are

a Christian。



〃Brothers; the paleface teacher beseeches you。 Think not of this long; bloody

war; of your dishonored dead; of your silenced wigwams; of your nameless

graves; of your homeless children。 Think of the future。 One word from you will

make peace over all this broad land。 The paleface must honor a Christian。 He

can steal no Christian's land。 All the palefaces; as many as the stars of the

great white path; dare not invade the Village of Peace。 For God smiles here。

Listen to His words: 'Come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden; and I

will give you rest。'〃



Over the multitude brooded an impressive; solemn silence。 Then an aged

Delaware chief rose; with a mien of profound thought; and slowly paced before

the circle of chiefs。 Presently he stopped; turned to the awaiting Indians;

and spoke:



〃Netawatwees is almost persuaded to be a Christian。〃 He resumed his seat。



Another interval of penetrating quiet ensued。 At length a venerable…looking

chieftain got up:



〃White Eyes hears the rumbling thunder in his ears。 The smoke blows from his

eyes。 White Eyes is the oldest chief of the Lenni…Lenape。  His days are many;

they are full; they draw near the evening of his life; he rejoices that wisdom

is come before his sun is set。



〃White Eyes believes the young White Father。 The ways of the Great Spirit are

many as the fluttering leaves; they are strange and secret as the flight of a

loon; White Eyes believes the redman's happy hunting grounds need not be

forgotten to love the palefaces' God。 As a young brave pants and puzzles over

his first trail; so the grown warrior feels in his understanding of his God。

He gropes blindly through dark ravines。



〃White Eyes speaks few words to…day; for he is learning wisdom; he bids his

people hearken to the voice of the White Father。 War is wrong; peace is best。

Love is the way to peace。 The paleface advances one step nearer his God。 He

labors for his home; he keeps the peace; he asks but little; he frees his

women。 That is well。 White Eyes has spoken。〃



The old chief slowly advanced toward the C
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