SUNDAYS IN THE GREAT LONE LAND--SERVICES AT THE MISSION--BY SKIFF OR
CANOE IN SUMMER--BY DOG-TRAIN IN WINTER--NAPOLEON, THE TAME BEAR, AND
HIS LOAD--SERVICES AT SAGASTA-WEEKEE--MISSIONARY JOURNEYS--NATIVE
MINISTERS--THE QUEER SERMON--HAPPY CHRISTMAS TIMES--NEW YEAR'S, THE
GREAT DAY--OO-CHE-ME-KE-SE-GOU--THE KISSING DAY--VARIED EXPERIENCES--THE
GREAT FEAST--HAPPY INDIANS--THANKSGIVING.
Sundays in the North Land! Yes, there are such days, and they come once
in seven in the wild North Land as elsewhere, and right welcome they
are; for they are days of gladness, not sadness--days in which loving
homage is paid to the loving Father who is also the God of nature; and
as nature rejoices in his bounteous care and infinite wisdom, why should
not those in his kingdom of grace also be happy in the sunshine of his
love?
"Serve the Lord with gladness," was the motto of Mr Ross's religious
life, and everyone under his influence or care felt that he was a
genuine man and a safe leader to follow. His religious life, while
decided and settled, was unobtrusive and kindly. It embraced the two
commands, love to God and love to his fellow-man.
The mission some years before established among the Indians had been
very successful, and a capacious church was there built. Every Sunday a
large portion of the family went from Sagasta-weekee at least once a
day, and there worshipped. The morning service was conducted in the
English language.
This was done for two reasons: one was for the instruction and profit of
all who spoke that tongue; the other was that the Indians who were
learning the language might become the more speedily familiarised with
it. The afternoon and evening services were conducted in the Indian
language. However, if a number understanding the English language only
happened to be present, both languages were used with the help of an
interpreter. The church was on the shore of a pretty lake, and it was a
very pleasant sight to see the gathering of the congregation. It was
one quite different from what is generally seen as crowds usually gather
for worship at the sound of the church bell. Here were no long streets,
or even common roads or sidewalks. The homes of these Indians, both
houses and wigwams, had been built around the lake shore on the various
picturesque points, not far from the water's edge. Every family wanted
easy access to the lake for water, and none of them wished to be far
away from the landing places where they kept their canoes. The result
was that it looked on Sundays, when they came to the church in groups,
as if there were a pathway from every dwelling place. Then, as large
numbers of the Indians lived out on points and islands, away from the
one on which the mission premises stood, the people, in the pleasant
summer time, came from their various homes in their canoes to the house
of God. Very picturesque indeed was the sight, as for an hour or so
before the time of service the lake seemed dotted with the well-filled
canoes of the well-dressed crowds of Indian men, women, and children.
In winter the scene was completely changed. The frost had hid the
sunlit, rippling waves under an icy pavement, as hard as granite. Frost
and snow and ice were everywhere.
For the summer Sunday trips to the church Mr Ross had several large
sailing boats and safe skiffs that would hold all who wished to go to
the morning service. In one, manned by four sturdy oarsmen, Mr Ross
and his family generally went when the weather was at all favourable.
In winter the dogs were all called into requisition, and the sight at
the church, when on a bright day the crowds were assembling, was as
pleasant and interesting as in the summer time, when on the bright
waters were seen coming the many beautiful, well-loaded canoes. From
the Hudson Bay trading post there were always a goodly number present
both in summer and winter. The officials and clerks prided themselves
on the quality of their dogs and the beauty and completeness of their
carioles and harness. Then some of the Indians had very valuable
trains, and it was interesting to notice the number of persons that
would be crowded into or on these dog-sleds and the strength of the dogs
in pulling them. Very primitive were some of their sleds, and mongrel
indeed were many of the dogs attached to them. Yet it was surprising to
see how rapidly even the rudest looking sledges got over the ground.
The dogs seemed to know that it was the day of religious worship, and
therefore their duty was to get their masters and mistresses to the
church with as little delay as possible. Then on the return trip, of
course, there must be no delay in getting them back for dinner. For
some winters a great tame black bear used to be attached every Sunday to
a long dog-sled. He was called Napoleon, and Alec and he became great
friends. When ordered to start he would dash off in his rough galloping
way and keep up the one steady pace until the church was reached. It
seemed to make but little difference, such was his strength, whether two
or ten persons were hanging on the sled. At the church he was tied to a
post, and there quietly remained until the service was over, when he at
the same rapid rate drew his load home again. Toward spring Napoleon
disappeared and was not seen for months.
It was understood that there was to be no racing on Sunday, yet somehow
everybody seemed to want to go just about as fast as possible. The
terrible cold may have had something to do with this. Alec was
generally sent on first, or else requested to wait some time after the
others had started, as his dogs had become possessed with the habit of
catching up and going ahead of everything in sight.
"Supposing, Alec," said Mr Morrison, a young clerk of the Company's
service, "that it were not Sunday, I should like to run ahead of your
dogs and show you what travelling is."
"Supposing it were not Sunday, I should like to see you do it," was
Alec's reply.
"Supposing it were not Sunday, here goes," was the saucy challenge of
this young clerk, who thought he had the fleetest train in the whole
district.
"Supposing it is Sunday," shouted Alec back to him, for they were both
on the Sagasta-weekee route. "I'll just go on and tell them you will be
along after a while and dine with us."
It was considerably later when the clerk arrived. That afternoon, in
conversation with Mr Ross, he gravely stated that one of the
temptations of that country was a disposition to travel rapidly, to and
from church, on the Lord's day. Frank and Sam, as well as Mr Ross, had
been promptly informed by Alec of the challenge and the race with this
young gentleman, and so when Alec heard the remark just mentioned he
gravely replied:
"Well, Mr Morrison, you need not have any qualms of conscience about
your speed to-day. We started about the same time from the church, and
it was a long time after I reached home ere you arrived."
This bit of sarcasm, so well put in, so tickled Sam that he fairly
exploded, and with his handkerchief in his mouth he rushed out of the
room. Soon after he was joined by Frank, and together they laughed
until they were sore. The hypocrisy of the young fellow was so evident
that they were delighted with Alec's comforting remarks.
Mr Hurlburt, the missionary, generally came over and held an evening
service at Mr Ross's house every second Sabbath. The alternate Sabbath
evening was spent in holding a similar service at the fort. These
services were very delightful. The boys often drove over to the mission
services in the afternoon with their trains and brought back with them
Mr and Mrs Hurlburt, and when it could be arranged--which was
frequently done--the two sweet young daughters.
To Frank, with his powerful train, was generally assigned the
missionary, who was a large, portly man; to Alec, with his beautiful
fleet train, was assigned the pleasure of bringing Mrs Hurlburt, and at
first Sam had the exquisite delight of tucking the robes of rich beaver
around the fair young daughters from the mission home, and carefully
bringing them over to Sagasta-weekee. This pleasure was, however, soon
taken from him. It was indeed a happy group that assembled around the
hospitable tea table those delightful evenings. The boys used to plead
so hard to be allowed to drive back with the loads that they generally
succeeded in having their way, although Mr Ross always took the
precaution of sending an extra team of dogs under the guidance of an
experienced Indian. This was necessary, as not only did vicious, mad
wolves sometimes cross that route, but blizzard storms might suddenly
come up, and then it would have gone hard with the boys with their young
dogs to have kept the trail.
Mr Hurlburt generally rode home in the extra cariole driven by this
Indian. This enabled Frank to take the elder of the young ladies, and
we must confess that, although Frank was very fond of the missionary, he
had not the slightest objection in changing him for the daughter.
Frequently the missionary, with some faithful Indians, used to make long
journeys with the dog-trains to distant places where no one had ever
gone before with the Bible and its sweet story of God's love to man.
During his absence his pulpit would be supplied by native ministers,
who, though not as yet ordained, were eloquent in their way, and were a
blessing to their fellow-countrymen. Even the white people who
understood the Indian language used to listen with great pleasure to
some of these gifted sons of the forest, as they preached from full
hearts of the love of God as revealed in the gift of his Son. In after
years some of these younger Indians were educated and ordained, and are
now regularly settled as ministers among their own people. There were
some of them, however, who aspired to be ministers who were not a
success. Some were too ambitious. Some, not content with talking about
what they knew themselves, must launch out into deep waters, and so
speedily they came to grief. Constantly did the missionary have them
under his eye, and many were the lessons he was giving them. Some
would, in spite of his best efforts, get beyond him. For example, one
ambitious would-be minister said in his address before quite a large
audience:
"Brothers, the missionary says the world is round. I don't believe it.
It is flat as the top of that stove."
As he said this he pointed to the top of the great flat iron stove, in
which a fire was burning, for it was in the depth of winter. Of course
the missionary was informed of this daring brother's unbelief, and a
good lesson in geography had to be administered to him by means of the
map of the two hemispheres hanging on the wall. He manfully
acknowledged to the missionary his error, and promised to make it right
with the audience the next time he stood up to address them. This he
endeavoured to do in the following manner:
"Brothers, I made a mistake when I last addressed you, when I said I did
not believe that the world was round. It is round. I have seen it. It
is like two moons flattened against the wall."
Of course this would never do, and so the missionary had to take him in
hand again and give him another lesson. This time he used his large
ball-like globe, swung on its axis in its frame, which was supported on
three feet. Patiently the minister showed him how the world was like a
great ball, round in every direction. Attentively the Indian listened,
and carefully examined the globe and the frame in which it hung.
"Yes," he said to his teacher, "I was wrong. I have it now. I will
explain it to the people."
When the first opportunity offered he was as good as his word, and so he
thus addressed them:
"Brothers, I seem to be hard to learn, but I have got it now. Yes, the
world is round every way. It is not flat even one way. It is round.
Yes, it is round, but then it stands upon three legs."
So another and even more thorough lesson was needed to knock those three
legs away.
As a general rule the Indians who were appointed to speak kept within
their own depths, and very sensible and appropriate were their
utterances.
Christmas Day and New Year's Day were great times of feasting and
gladness at the mission village among the Christian Indians. On
Christmas Day all the men, women, and children, arrayed in their very
best finery, called at the mission house, and were each treated to a
large cup of strong, well-sweetened tea, and a big bun. Then they went
to the fur-trading post, and there received the gratuities of tobacco
and other things. Many called at Sagasta-weekee, and were cordially
received. The boys were very much interested in them, and took great
pleasure in assisting Mrs Ross, as on this day it is expected that the
white people only will, pass the tea and cakes, and with their own hands
also give their Christmas gifts to the poor and needy. In such a land
there are many who require a great deal of just such help. After the
matters of hospitality had been attended to there were many sports on
the ice, and into these all who desired to enter were cordially
welcomed. The boys were in their glory in these sports, and gallantly
held their own against the lighter but more agile Indians. In the
evening all the trains that could be mustered were harnessed up, and
everybody who could get away went over to the mission church for the
Christmas services, which, on account of the elaborate musical
preparations, were held in the evening this year. The missionary, aided
by his musical family, had been for weeks diligently employed in
teaching the Indians to sing Christmas carols and other appropriate
songs for this joyous occasion. The native choir acquitted themselves
admirably, and everything passed off to the pleasure and delight of all.
New Year's Day is, however, the big day to the Indians, as it is on that
day that the great annual feast is held in the church. This Christian
festival has taken the place of the once heathen dog feast and other
pagan ceremonials that the Indians held, with disgusting rites, before
the missionaries came among them.
New Year's Day is called by the Indians Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou, which
literally means "the kissing day." On this day the men claim the right
to kiss every woman they meet, and, strange to say, every woman expects
to be kissed, and is quite offended if she is passed by without being
saluted in this way, which is so much more ancient and historic than the
meaningless modern one of shaking hands. This Indian definition of New
Year's Day vastly amused the boys, and when in the morning Mrs Ross and
Wenonah came in, they, of course, had to be saluted in the orthodox
fashion. This was very agreeable, but when the Indian cook came into
the dining room, in answer to Mrs Ross's ringing, Wenonah shouted out
to the boys:
"This is Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou, and you must all kiss Nahkoomah, the
cook."
Nahkoomah was not at all handsome, but she knew what day it was and
claimed her rights, and so when the boys made a rush to get out she
blocked the way in that direction, while Wenonah bravely cut off the
retreat by the other door. Seeing themselves thus captured, they
gracefully accepted the inevitable. A resounding smack was given her
first by Sam, which was gingerly imitated by Frank and Alec. The boys
afterward said that it paid grandly to give the cook the national kiss,
as from that day forward she was ever pleased to prepare them the best
dishes she could.
"I say, Frank and Alec," mischievously exclaimed Wenonah, "don't you
know they keep Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou over at the mission?"
This sally very much amused all, and of course gave Sam a chance to
remark that it was an elegant day for a sleigh ride; that he thought
Frank and Alec's dogs needed some exercise; that the road to the mission
was in capital condition, and perhaps they had better be off, and the
sooner the better, for fear the young ladies should wear the glass of
the windows thin, looking for their coming. Mrs Ross here interposed,
and stopped Sam's voluble utterances by saying that they were all going
over a little after noon, in response to a very cordial invitation from
Mr and Mrs Hurlburt, to witness the Indian feast and dine with them in
the church. This was great news to all, and as there were only a couple
of hours for preparation there was hurrying in every direction.
"Put on your best bibs and tuckers, my hearties," said Sam to Frank and
Alec, "for this day is the event of your lives. Rig yourselves up so
gallantly and finely that the sweet, blushing lassies over beyond, will
be so struck with your noble presences that they will, for the day at
least, imagine themselves Indian maidens enough to at least comply with
the customs of the day." But ere Sam had finished his long harangue,
the blushing Frank and Alec were hunting up their best apparel and
selecting the warmest robes for their dog-sleds.
While all are getting ready at Sagasta-weekee let us take a look at the
feast, or rather first at the preparations necessary in such a land to
feed ten or twelve hundred hungry Indians. About two months before the
time a great council is held. The missionary is invariably asked to be
the chairman, and a clever writer of the Indian syllabics is appointed
secretary. Then, as a matter of form, it is moved by the chief and
seconded by some other Indian of influence, "That we have the usual
feast on Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou day." This is, of course, carried amid
Indian applause. Then the question next asked is:
"How much will each supply to make it a grand success?" Thus there is
started a spirit of emulation that would astonish some white folks.
Big Tom says: "I saw the tracks of a moose. I will give half of him,
when I shoot him," he adds, while the quiet laugh goes round.
Mustagan says: "I saw the steam curl up from a bear's den. I will give
the largest bear, when I get him."
Soquatum says: "I have just heard of the coming of the reindeer. I will
give one."
Thus it goes on as rapidly as the secretary can write their names and
promises. Those hunters famous for killing the game that is good for
food, promise, as these already referred to have done, all kinds of
animals, from a moose to wild cats and beavers. Those hunters whose
skill is in killing the rich fur-bearing animals promise to exchange
portions of the valuable products of their huntings for flour, tea,
sugar, and raisins at the trading posts.
Everybody was expected to promise something, and then he was to do his
best to get it.
This method of getting up a feast was a unique one. The idea of
subscribing bears that were in their dens a hundred miles away, or
moose, or reindeer, or other wild animals that were roaming in the
forests or on the barren plains many scores of miles distant, was, to
say the least, very different from civilised methods. When the council
breaks up, every man is interested in securing what he has promised, or
something better. It often happens that the man who has promised a
couple of wild cats succeeds in finding a good, full beaver house. A
couple of these are worth more than the cats. The man who promised a
reindeer may be lucky enough to kill a moose, and thus it is. However,
they all try to do the very best they can. As these various supplies
are brought in they are stowed away in the large fish house of the
missionary, where they speedily freeze solid, and are thus kept sweet
and good until required for use. About four days before the feast the
wife of the missionary calls to her help a number of clever, industrious
Indian women, and from morning until night the cooking goes on. Early
in the morning of the feast day the seats are all removed from the
church, and long tables are improvised that stretch from nearly end to
end of the building. One long table is prepared at the upper end of the
church for all the whites, who are specially invited by letter to
attend. As they have all contributed largely to the feast, of course,
they are welcomed.
It is an interesting sight to see that happy, expectant throng.
Everybody, Christian and pagan, is welcome. No questions are asked.
See the piles of provisions. Surely there is enough and to spare.
Well, they will need a great quantity, for Indians have great appetites,
and then there are many sick and feeble who could not come to-day, and
they must be remembered. There are over a thousand out to-day, and
while some scores are busy preparing the feast the others skate, play
football, toboggan, and in other ways amuse themselves. Of course the
inmates of the mission house are busy. To the missionary and his wife
the Indians all look for direction and guidance. This is necessary,
that everything may go off without friction. In addition, they have to
be on hand to receive such white people as may come from the various
trading posts and other places.
See, here they come from Sagasta-weekee! Alec is at the head of the
company. His fleet dogs are never happy now except when first in every
crowd. Cozily wrapped up in fur robes in his cariole are Wenonah and
Roderick. Sam has brought over Mr Ross, and to Frank has been
intrusted Mrs Ross. The boys are now skillful drivers, and so no
mishap has occurred. Cordially are they welcomed, and as it is Oo-che-
me-ke-se-gou the ladies are gallantly kissed by the gentlemen. With
loving tenderness Mrs Hurlburt kissed the three boys, and said she
would do so in place of their precious mothers, who would doubtless
think of them on that glad day. Then she turned them over to her young
folks, while she hurried off to meet the later arrivals from the Hudson
Bay Company's fort.
Sam was first escorted in by Wenonah, who, as she met the young ladies
of the mission, exclaimed:
"Now this is Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou, and we are all of that way to-day."
Bravely did the blushing Sam pass through the ordeal, and then Alec and
Frank, in a way that seemed to come quite natural to them, saluted in a
good old-fashioned way the two fair ladies who had come into their young
lives and were much in their minds.
"Sure," said Sam, "that's not bad medicine to take, at all, at all."
At this there was a great laugh, for Sam had blushed and stammered and
acted as though it were an ordeal of great solemnity. There was a lot
of fun and pleasantry for the next hour or so among these happy young
people, while the older ones were busy looking after matters pertaining
to the feast. Frank and Alec entertained the young ladies' friends with
the latest news that had come in by the Christmas packet. Sam, with
Wenonah and Roderick, played all sorts of pranks all over the house.
When later arrivals came in and gravely kissed, not only the elderly
ladies of the party, but also the beautiful young maidens, Alec and
Frank's faces were studies that very much amused Sam.
"Indeed," he afterward said, "I thought it was going to be pistols and
coffee for four, and may I be there to see the fun."
As the tender passion had not yet struck him, he could thus afford to be
amused at the ebullitions of jealousy that rolled so ominously into the
young hearts of the chums. "Black as thunderclouds were their faces,"
he said, "as they saw these sweet young ladies, whom they in their
callow affections would already wholly monopolise, kissed by a dozen
different gentlemen during the day."
"How do you like `O-jimmy-catch-the-cow' day, or whatever you call it?"
he said to Frank, as he saw him glowering at a Hudson Bay officer who
had just kissed his sweetheart.
"I don't like it at all," Frank replied, with gritted teeth.
"You mean you don't like it for other folks," replied Sam. "You took
your medicine yourself very well, if I am a good judge, especially when
you so lovingly displayed your osculatory skill on the sweet lips of
peerless Rachel, whom that young prig of a Hudson Bay Company's clerk is
now approaching."
"I'll fight him," said Frank, and his hot breath and clinched lists
showed that he would have loved to pitch in just then.
"No, you will not," said Sam. "Hot-headed Englishman though you are,
you are too much of a gentleman to make a row in this clergyman's house,
and about his young daughter. But, Frank, I will give you a bit of
comfort. While the beautiful Rachel gave you her sweet lips to kiss,
she only turned her rosy cheek to all the other fellows, me included.
So now no more of your English, `I'll punch your 'ead for you.'"
Here Sam's advice, helpful and needed as it was, abruptly ended, as
everybody was summoned into the church to the great feast. Frank was
happy once again, as he was selected to take in his sweet Rachel, while
Alec had her younger sister, Winnie, as his partner. Much to his
delight, Sam came in with Wenonah and Roderick. Indeed, they were
almost one and inseparable on such occasions.
Of the great feast and how it was enjoyed by all we have written in
other volumes. Suffice to say that there was abundance for all. In
addition, great bundles of food, with packages of tea and sugar, were
sent to every sick or aged or feeble person, with loving good wishes of
all. The feast was pronounced a great success. At the evening meeting,
where, as in former years, the Indians gathered, with the chief in the
chair, and where many speeches were delivered by the eloquent ones of
the village, it was observed that among the happy things said there were
words of gratitude to their kind, loving missionary and his family, and
to the other white friends, in every address.
It was also noticed that many of the Christian Indians, rising higher in
their thoughts, saw in all these blessings that had come to them the
good hand of the Great Spirit, their heavenly Father, and so to him
their grateful prayers ascended, and the most frequent word uttered was
"nanaskoomowin"--"thanksgiving."