Soon after Litchfield began to be settled by the English, an unknown
Indian came into the inn at dusk, and requested the hostess to
furnish him with food and drink; stating, that he had had no success
in hunting, and could not pay till he had better fortune. The woman
refused; calling him a lazy, drunken, good-for-nothing fellow. A man
who sat by, noticed the Indian as he turned away from the inhospitable
place, and perceiving that he was suffering very severely from want
and weariness, he generously ordered the hostess to furnish him with a
good supper, and call on him for payment. After the Indian had finished
his meal, he thanked his benefactor again and again, and assured him
he should never forget his kindness, and would, if it were ever in his
power, faithfully recompense it. He observed, that he had one more
favor to ask; if the woman was willing, he wished to tell a story.
The hostess, whose good nature had been restored by money, readily
consented. The Indian, addressing his benefactor, said, “I suppose you
read the Bible?” The man assented. “Well, the Bible says, God make
the world; and then he took him, and looked on him, and say ‘all very
good.’ Then he made light; and took him, and looked on him, and say,
‘all very good.’ Then he made land and water, sun and moon, grass and
trees; and he took him, and looked on him, and say, ‘all very good.’
Then he made beasts, and birds, and fishes; and he took him, and looked
on him, and say, ‘all very good.’ Then he made man; and took him, and
looked on him, and say, ‘all very good.’ Then he made woman; and took
him, and looked at him, and —— he no dare say one such word.”
Many years after this, the Indian’s benefactor was taken prisoner by an
Indian scout, and carried into Canada. He was saved from death by one
of the tribe, who asked leave to adopt him in the place of a son, who
had fallen in battle. Through the winter, he experienced the customary
effects of savage hospitality. The following summer as he was at work
in the forest alone, an unknown Indian came to him and appointed a
meeting at a certain place, on a given day. The prisoner consented;
but afterwards, fearing mischief might be intended, he neglected the
engagement. The Indian again sought him, reproved him for his want of
confidence in him, and assured him the meeting would be for his good.
Encouraged by his apparent friendship, the man followed his directions.
He found the Indian provided with muskets, ammunition, and knapsacks.
The Indian ordered him to arm himself and follow him. Their course was
to wards the south, and day after day the Englishman followed, without
being able to conjecture the motives of his guide. After a tedious
journey, he arrived at the top of an eminence, commanding a view of a
country somewhat cultivated and populous. “Do you know that country?”
said the Indian, with an arch smile. “Oh, yes! it is Litchfield,”
replied the white man, as he cordially pressed his hand. “Many years
ago, you give weary Indian supper there,” said he. “He promise to pay
you, and he pay you now. Go home, and be happy.”