Eight times was the wintry camp made on this long trip, which was full
of strange adventures and many hardships to every one of the party; and
so they were glad indeed when Murdo and Oowikapun told the others, on
the ninth day, at about noon, that they were only six miles from Nelson
River.
This was indeed welcome news to all, especially to the missionary. He
had not had the severe physical training which naturally falls to the
lot of an Indian. True, he had his own dog-sled, and was supposed to
ride when possible; but there were whole days when he had to strap on
his snow-shoes and march along in single file with his Indians, and, as
happy Oowikapun put it in his broken English, "Good missionary help make
um track."
The result of this "make um track" business was that he was about worn
out ere the journey was ended. Several times had the cramps seized him
in such a way that the muscles of his legs so gathered up in knots that
he suffered intensely for hours. Then his feet were tender, and they
chafed so under the deerskin thongs of the snow-shoes that the blood
soaked through his moccasins, and in many places crimsoned the snow as
he bravely toiled along. More than once, as he had to stop and rest on
a log covered with snow, did he question with himself whether he had
done right in undertaking a journey so fraught with sufferings and
dangers.
Cheering, then, was the news that the journey was nearly ended. A halt
was called, a kettle of tea was prepared, and lunch was eaten with great
pleasure. The dog drivers put on some extra articles of finery of
beautiful beadwork or silkwork, that they might appear as attractive as
possible.
Very cordially were the missionary and his party welcomed by the great
majority of the people. They were very much interested and excited when
they found that the first missionary with the book of heaven was among
them. As many of the people were away hunting, runners were dispatched
for those within reach. All of these Northern Indians live by hunting.
They are beyond the agricultural regions. Their summers are very short.
The result is, they know but little of farinaceous or vegetable food.
There are old people there who never saw a potato or a loaf of bread.
Their food is either the fish from the waters or the game from the
forests. The result is, they have to wander around almost continually
in search of these things. The missionaries have learned this, and
endeavour to arrange their visits so as to meet them at their gatherings
in places where they assemble on account of the proximity of game.
While these meeting places are called villages, they do not bear much
resemblance to those of civilisation.
As soon as the missionary had rested a little he paid a visit to the
tent of Koosapatum, because he had quickly heard of the dire threats of
the old sinner. So gloomy was the interior of the wigwam that, as the
missionary pulled back the dirty deerskin which served as a door and
entered, he could hardly see whether there was anybody in or not; and no
kindly word of greeting had been heard. However, his eyes soon got
accustomed to the place, and then he was able to observe that the old
conjurer and his wife were seated on the ground on the opposite side of
the tent. With some tea and tobacco in his left hand, the missionary
extended his right, saying, "What cheer, _mis-mis_?"--the Indian for
"How are you, grandfather?"
The old fellow was cross and surly, and evidently in a bad humour, and
most decidedly refused to shake hands, while he growled out words of
annoyance and even threatening at the coming of a missionary among his
people.
The missionary, however, was not to be easily rebuffed, and so reaching
down he took hold of his hand, and in a pump-handle sort of style gave
it quite a shaking. Then taking up the tobacco, which, with the tea, he
had dropped upon the ground, he quickly placed it in the hand of the
morose old man. At first he refused to take it, but the missionary
spoke kindly to him, and after a little, as he had been out of the stuff
for days, his fingers closed on it; and then the missionary knew that he
had conquered in the first skirmish. Tobacco among these Indians is
like salt among the Arabs. Knowing this, the missionary, who never used
it himself, adopted this plan to make friends with the old conjurer.
After he had taken the tobacco, the missionary took up the package of
tea, and, looking at the dirty strips of meat which hung drying over a
stick, said: "You have meat, and I have tea. If you will furnish the
meat, I will the tea, and we will have supper together."
The first thought of the old sinner, as he glanced at his medicine bag
in which he kept his poisons, was: "What a good chance I shall now have
to poison this man who has come to check my power!" However, the
missionary saw that wicked gleam, and, being well able to read these men
by this time, he quickly said: "Never mind your medicine bag and your
poisons. I am your friend, even if as yet you do not believe it. I
have come into your wigwam, and you have taken my tobacco, and I offer
to eat and drink with you, and poison me _you dare not_!"
Thoroughly cowed and frightened that the white man had so completely
read his thoughts, he turned around to his wife, and in imperative tones
ordered her to quickly prepare the meat and the tea. So expeditiously
was the work accomplished that it was not very long ere the conjurer and
missionary were eating and drinking together. The old fellow said the
meat was venison; the missionary thought it was dog meat.
Perhaps we cannot do better than to anticipate the work a little and say
that at some later visits this old conjurer was induced to give up all
of his wicked practices and become an earnest Christian. He so highly
prized the visits of the missionary that he followed him like his
shadow. He attended all the services, and when, wearied out with the
day's toil, the missionary prepared to rest, Koosapatum was not far off;
and when the missionary knelt down to say his evening prayer alone, the
now devout old man would kneel beside him and say: "Missionary, please
pray out loud, and pray in my language, so that I can understand you."
Thus the Gospel had come to the heart and was influencing the life of
even the conjurer of the Nelson River Indians. The service at which a
great majority of the people decided for Christ was a very memorable
one. It began at about eight o'clock in the morning. The majority of
the Indians in all that vast district were gathered there.
Oowikapun's people were among the crowd, much to his delight.
Astumastao and her aunt had heard of the gathering, and required no
second invitation to be on hand. Great indeed was her joy to look again
into the face, and hear the voice of a missionary. Very much surprised
and bewildered was she at having been anticipated by some one who had
succeeded in bringing in the missionary before she had begun her journey
for this purpose. And great indeed was her joy and delight, and deeply
was she moved when she heard of the part Oowikapun had played in the
important work.
The meeting between the two was genuine and natural. The dream of her
youth was now accomplished, for here, ready to begin the religious
service, was the missionary, with the good book in his hand. His coming
was the result of the efforts of Oowikapun. That she really loved him
the conflicts of the last few weeks most conclusively answered. His
bronzed, weather-beaten appearance showed something of the hardships of
the long journey, while his bright, happy face revealed to her how amply
repaid he felt for all he had endured and suffered.
As he entered the gathering assembly it was evident to all that his
quick, eager eyes were on the lookout for some special friend.
Not long had he to look. Astumastao and her aunt had come in from
another wigwam, and were not very far behind him, and so were able to
see how eagerly he was scanning the faces of those who had already
assembled. So absorbed was he in scanning those in front that the
noiseless moccasined feet of others coming in behind him were unheeded.
For a moment Astumastao watched his wistful, eager looks, and well
divining the meaning, with flushed and radiant face she advanced toward
him and cordially exclaimed: "My brave Oowikapun!" Startled, overjoyed,
and utterly unconscious or careless of the hundreds of bright eyes that
were on him, he seized the extended hands, and drawing her toward him,
he imprinted upon her brow a kiss of genuine and devoted love, and
exclaimed: "My own Astumastao!"
Tucking her arm in his as he had lately seen the white Christians do, he
proudly marched with her up to a prominent place in the audience, where
they seated themselves, while the aunt for the present judiciously
looked out for herself.
It was a very picturesque assembly. Indians dress in an endless variety
of fashions. Some in their native costumes looked as statuesque and
beautiful as the ancient Greeks; others as ridiculous as a modern fop.
All, however, were interested and filled with suppressed excitement.
The first hour was spent in singing and prayer and in reading the word
of God, or, as the Indians love to call it, the book of heaven.
Then the Indians who had come from Norway House with the missionary, and
who were earnest Christians, told of how they had found the Saviour.
Very clear and definite are many of the Christian Indians on this point.
And as Paul loved to talk about how the Lord Jesus had met him while on
the way to Damascus, so it was with many of these happy converted red
men; they love to talk of their conversion.
To the great joy of the missionary, Oowikapun asked for the privilege of
saying a few words. At first he seemed to falter a little, but soon he
rose above all fear, and most blessedly and convincingly did he talk.
We need not go over it again; it was the story of his life, as it has
been recorded in these chapters. Because of the words and resolves of
Astumastao, he said, he had gone for the missionary; and from this man,
and from Memotas and others, he had found the way of faith in the Son of
God. Now he was trusting in him with a sweet belief that even he,
Oowikapun, was a child of God like these other happy Christians who had
spoken.
After such an hour of preliminary services it was surely easy for that
missionary to preach. He took as his text the sixteenth verse of the
third chapter of Saint John's gospel. This is how it reads in Cree,
which we give, that our readers may see what this beautiful language
looks like:
"_Aspeecke saketat Kesa-Maneto askeeyou kah ke ooche maket oopay
ye-koo-sah-ke aweyit katapua yaye mah kwa akah keche nese-wah
nah-tee-sit maka kacke at ayaky ka-ke-ka pimatissewin_."
It was a long sermon that was preached that day. For four hours the
missionary talked without stopping. He had so much to say, for here was
a people who had never heard the Gospel before, and were now listening
to it for the first time. Everything had to be made plain as he went
along. So he had to take them back to the creation of the human family;
and tell them of the fall, and of the great plan to save the poor
sinning race, who have got out of the right trail, and ate wandering in
darkness and death, and bring them back again into the right way, which
has in it happiness for them here, and heaven hereafter.
Thus the missionary talked hour after hour, wishing to bring them to a
decision for Christ at once. He dwelt upon the greatness and
impartiality of God's love, and urged them that as his love was so real
and blessed, they should accept of him now, at the first great
invitation.
The ever-blessed Spirit carried home to the hearts of these simple
people the truths uttered, and deep and genuine were the results. After
more singing and prayer the missionary asked for some of them to
candidly tell what was in their hearts concerning these truths, and what
were their wishes and resolves in reference to becoming Christians.
To write down here all that was said that day would require several more
chapters; suffice it to say that, from the chief, who spoke first,
through a succession of their best men, they were all thankful for what
they had heard, and said that these things about the Great Spirit
"satisfied their longing," and, as one put it, "filled up their hearts."
Thus the Gospel had reached Nelson River, and rapidly did it find a
lodgment in the hearts of the people. At the close of the second
service about forty men and women came forward to the front of the
assembly and professed their faith in Christ and desired Christian
baptism, the meaning of which had been explained to them. And thus the
good work went on day after day, and many more decided fully for Christ.
Do not, my dear reader, say this work was too sudden, and that these
baptisms were too soon. Nothing of the kind. It was only another
chapter in the Acts of the Apostles, and in perfect harmony with what is
stated by infallible Wisdom. There it is recorded of the multitudes,
after one sermon by Peter, "Then they that gladly received his word were
baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls."