Of course Oowikapun and Astumastao were married. Everybody was invited,
and of course everybody came to the wedding, and to the great feast that
followed. Very kind and devoted was he to her, even as Memotas had been
to his wife. The excitement of the arrival of the missionary after a
time died away, but the good results continue to this day. Although at
times slowly, yet constantly has the good work gone on, and none who at
the beginning decided for the Christian life have ever gone back to the
old pagan religion of their forefathers. So much had Oowikapun to say
about Memotas that he resolved if possible to see that blessed man once
again. And to Astumastao also there came a longing desire to visit the
spot to which now, more than ever, her memory turned, where that period,
all too brief, in her childhood days had been spent, where in the home
of the missionary, and in the house of God she had learned the sweet
lessons which had never entirely been forgotten, and which had "after
many days" produced such glorious results.
The longed-for opportunity came the next summer, and was gladly
accepted.
So successful had been the fur hunters in their trapping the fur-bearing
animals such as the silver foxes, beavers, otters, minks, and others
whose rich pelts are very valuable, that the Hudson Bay Trading Company
resolved to send up to Norway House a second brigade of boats to take up
the surplus cargo left by the first brigade, and also to bring down a
cargo of supplies for the extra trade, which was so rapidly developing.
Oowikapun was appointed steersman of one of the boats, and his wife was
permitted to go with him.
With great delight were they both welcomed at Norway House Mission.
They had had a long, dangerous trip. Many rapids had to be run where
the greatest skill was required in safely steering the little boats, but
Oowikapun was alert and watchful and did well. Twenty-five or thirty
times did they have to make portages around the dangerous falls and
rapids.
The joy of Astumastao on reaching the place where she had spent that
eventful year, so long ago, was very great indeed. Absorbed in bringing
up the memories of the past she seemed at times like one in a dream. To
find the playmates of that time she had to search among those, who now,
like herself, had left the years of childhood far behind. Many of them
had gone into the spirit land. Still she found a goodly number after a
time, and great indeed was their mutual joy to renew the friendships of
their earlier days. And great indeed was the pleasure of all to meet
the wife of that Indian who had visited the mission in the depth of that
cold winter to plead for a missionary, especially when they learned that
it was because of her earnest resolve that he had undertaken the long,
cold, dangerous journey.
They were welcome visitors at the mission house. Sagastaookemou and
Minnehaha seemed intuitively to love them, much to their delight, and as
gravely listened as did the older people to the recital of some of the
thrilling incidents of their lives. The services of the sanctuary were
"seasons of sweet delight," and in them much was to be learned to be
helpful in times to come.
Of course the little home of Memotas was visited. Their hearts were
saddened at finding the one, who for years had not only, as the
missionary's most efficient helper, often ministered to the mind
diseased, and brought comfort to the sin-sick soul, but had often, as in
the case of Oowikapun, when bitten by the savage wolf, skillfully
restored to health and vigour many suffering ones, now rapidly himself
hastening to the tomb.
But although he was feeble in body he was joyous in spirit, and had the
happy gift of making everybody happy who came to see him. Even in his
last illness this remarkable man was a "son of consolation." For months
ere he left us, he lived in an atmosphere of heaven, and longed for his
eternal home. Only once after the arrival of Oowikapun and Astumastao
did he have sufficient strength to go with them to the house of God.
Every Indian within twenty miles of the sanctuary was there that bright
Sabbath morning. Wan and pale and _spiritual_ looked the saintly man
who seemed to have just, by the strength of his will, kept the soul in
the frail earthen vessel, that he might once again worship in the
earthly sanctuary, ere he entered into that which is heavenly.
When with an effort he raised himself up to speak the place was indeed a
Bochim, for the weepers were everywhere. One illustration used by him
has lingered with me through all these years. He said: "I am in body
like the old wigwam that has been shaken by many a storm. Every
additional blast that now assails it only makes the rents and crevices
the more numerous and larger. _But the larger the breaks and openings,
the more the sunshine can enter in_. So with me, every pang of
suffering, every trial of patience, only opens the way into my soul for
more of Jesus and his love."
How he did rejoice as they talked with him and rehearsed the story of
how the Lord had so wonderfully led them out of the darkness of the old
way into the blessed light of the new.
At Astumastao's request Oowikapun told Memotas of his wonderful dream,
and of the deep impression it had made upon him. Memotas listened to
its recital with the deepest interest, and stated what many others have
said, that they believed that still, as in ancient times, the good
Spirit in loving compassion speaks in dreams to help or warn those who
have not yet received enough of the divine revelation to be completely
guided by it. At his feet sat those two happy converts, and, as did
many others, learned from his rich testimony many blessed truths.
Happy Memotas; only a little while longer did he tarry with us. A
little additional cold was all that was needed to finish the work in a
constitution so nearly shattered. When he felt it assailing him there
came very clearly to him the presentiment that the end was near. And
never did a weary traveller welcome his home and bed of rest with
greater delight than did Memotas welcome the grave and the bliss beyond.
The prospect of getting to heaven seemed so glorious that he could
hardly think of anything else. This was now his one absorbing thought.
Like all the rest of these Northern Indians, he was very poor, and had
nothing in his home for food of his own but fish. But there were loving
hearts at the mission house, and so willing hands carried supplies as
needed to his little habitation.
On one occasion, when that dear, good missionary, Reverend John Semmens,
who had gone with me, as together we had lovingly supplied his wants,
said to him: "Now, beloved Memotas, can we do anything else for you? Do
you want anything more?"
"O, no," replied Memotas; "I want nothing but Christ. More of Christ."
When we administered to him the emblems of the broken body and spilt
blood of the dear Redeemer, he was much affected, and exclaimed, "My
precious Saviour. I shall soon see him."
Seeing his intense longing to go sweeping through the gates of the
celestial city, I said to him: "Memotas, my brother beloved, why are you
so anxious to leave us? I hope you will be spared to us a little
longer. We need you in the Church and in the village. We want your
presence, your example, your prayers."
He was a little perplexed at first, and seemed hardly to know how to
answer. Then he looked up at me so chidingly, and gave me the answer
that outweighs all arguments: "I want to go home."
And home he went, gloriously and triumphantly. His face was so radiant
and shining that it seemed to us as though the heavenly gates had swung
back, and from the glory land some of its brightness had come flashing
down, and had so illumined the poor body that still held in its
faltering grasp the precious soul, that we could almost imagine that
mortal itself was putting on immortality. The triumphant death of
Memotas was not only a revelation and a benediction to Oowikapun and
Astumastao, and many other Christian Indians, but it caused the full and
complete surrender of many hard, stubborn hearts to Christ.
So short a time had our hero and heroine been in the way that, happy as
they were in their present enjoyment of the favour of God, they had had
their fears as they thought of the last enemy which is death. In the
quietude of their wigwam home they had asked themselves, and each other,
the solemn question, Will this religion sustain us in the valley and
shadow of death? or, How will we do in the swellings of Jordan? Natural
and solemn are these questions, and wise and prudent are they in all
lands who thoughtfully and reverently ask them.
Comforting and suggestive were the answers which they and others had
learned at the bedside of the triumphant Memotas.
"As thy days, so shall thy strength be," had a new meaning to them from
that time forward, and so as they reconsecrated themselves to God, they
resolved in the divine strength to obtain each day sufficient grace for
that day's needs--and who can do any better?
Very anxious was Astumastao to learn all she could about housekeeping
and other things which would more fully fit her for helping her less
fortunate Indian sisters at the distant Indian village, who, now that
they had become Christians, were also trying to attain to some of the
customs and comforts of civilisation.
Thus very quickly sped the few weeks during which the brigade of boats
waited at Norway House for their return cargo, which had to come from
Fort Garry. When this arrived all was hurry and excitement. Two or
three days only were required to unpack from the large cases or bales
the supplies, and repack them in "pieces," as they are called in the
language of the country. These pieces will each weigh from eighty to a
hundred pounds. The cargoes are put up in this way on account of the
many portages which have to be made, where the whole outfit has to be
carried on the men's shoulders, supported by a strap from the forehead.
It is laborious work, but these Indians are stalwart fellows, and now
being homeward bound, they worked with a will.
Most of them were at this time Christians. So they tarried at the
mission for a little time to say "Farewell" and to take on board
Astumastao and two or three other Indian women, who had been wooed with
such rapidity that ere the short visit of a few weeks rolled round all
arrangements had been made and some pleasant little marriage ceremonies
had taken place in our little church.
These marriages were a great joy to Astumastao as her intensely
practical character saw that the coming to her distant country of some
genuine Christian young women would be very helpful in the more rapid
extension of Christianity. Indeed, "Dame Rumour," who lives there as
well as elsewhere, said that she had a good deal to do in introducing
some of the shy, timid bachelor Indians of the Nelson River brigade to
some of the blushing damsels whom she had, in her judgment, decided
would make good wives for them and also be a blessing in their new
homes. Various amusing stories were flying about for a long time in
reference to some of the queer misadventures and mixing up of the
parties concerned ere everything was satisfactorily arranged and
everybody satisfied. Among a people so primitive and simple in their
habits this could quickly be done, as no long months were required to
arrange jointures or marriage settlements, or a prying into the state of
the bank accounts of either of the parties concerned.
But all these things have been attended to, and the long journey begun.
It was a matter of thankfulness that no boats were smashed on the rocks
or lives lost in the raging waters. The women looked well after the
cooking of the meals and the mending of garments torn in the rough
portages. Every morning and evening they read from the good book and
had prayers. Often in the long gloaming of those high latitudes, when
the day's work was done, they clustered around the camp fire on the
great, smooth granite rocks, with the sparkling waters of lake or river
in front, and the dense, dark forest as their background, and sweetly
sang some of the sweet songs of Zion which they had lately learned or
were learning from these young Christian wives whom the wise Astumastao
had introduced among them.
The three Sabbaths which had to be spent on the journey were days of
quiet restfulness and religious worship. It is a delightful fact that
all of our Northern Christian Indians rest from their huntings and
journeyings on the Lord's Day. And it has been found, by many years of
testing, that the Christian Indians who thus rest on the Sabbath can do
more and better work in these toilsome trips for the Hudson Bay Company
than those brigades that know no Sabbath.
The longest journey has an end. The far-away home was reached at last.
The goods, in capital order, were handed over to the officer of the
trading post. The men were paid for their work, and supplies were taken
up for the winter's hunting, and one after another of the families
dispersed to their different hunting grounds, some of which were
hundreds of miles away.
Oowikapun, with Astumastao and her aunt, went with a number whose
wigwams were so arranged on their hunting grounds that they could meet
frequently for religious worship among themselves. Very blessed and
helpful to them was this little church in the wilderness. And now here
we must leave them for the present. They had their trials and sorrows
as all have. Even if their home was but a wigwam, it was a happy one
with its family altar and increasing joys.
They had never become weary of talking about the wonderful way in which
their loving heavenly Father has led them out of the dark path of the
old life into this blessed way.
The only question on which they differed was which had had more to do in
bringing the Gospel to their people. Astumastao said it was the visit
of Oowikapun; while he declared if it had not been for her true, brave
life and faithful words, and her endeavour to live up to what light she
had received when a little child, they might all have been in darkness
still. And I think my readers will believe with me that I think
Oowikapun was right when he so emphatically argued that to Astumastao
more than to anyone else was to be given this high honour.
So, while in our story we have given Oowikapun such a prominent place,
yet to Astumastao, we think our dear readers with us will say, must be
given the first place among those who have been instrumental in having
the Gospel introduced among the Nelson River Indians.