The camp-fire, generously supplied with fuel from the great forests so
near, lit up the swarthy features of our stalwart men, some of whom were
engaged in preparing the evening meal, while others, in picturesque
groups, were otherwise occupied. This hearty evening meal was enjoyed
by all.
Shortly after, we all assembled for our evening devotions. Some
additional logs thrown upon our camp-fire so brightened it up, that all
who wished could easily follow the reading of the lesson in their own
Testaments and use their own hymn-books in the service of song. The
memories of some of those religious services are very precious. Still
can we hear Big Tom's deep rich voice reading in his musical Cree
language:
"Weya Muneto a ispeeche saketapun uske, ke niakew oo pauko-Koosisana,
piko una tapwatowayitche numaweya oo ga nissewunatissety, maka oo ga
ayaty kakeka pimatissewin." Which is the translation of that matchless
verse, the sixteenth of the third chapter of Saint John's Gospel.
Then after the chapter was read, an appropriate hymn would be sung. The
Indians have but little music of their own, and less poetry that can be
made available for religious worship. The result is, that the
missionaries and teachers have already translated over four hundred of
our choicest hymns into the Indian language, and use with them the tunes
with which they have been generally associated. Upon the occasion to
which we refer, it did seem sweet and appropriate to us to sing, even if
in another language, the favourite evening hymn:
"Glory to thee my God this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O keep me King of kings,
Beneath thine own almighty wings."
When our evening hymn had been sung, we knelt reverently upon the rocks,
while Big Tom, or some other godly Indian, led us in prayer, followed by
one or two others. Then sweet rest was ours, until the early dawn. A
sharp call, to which all promptly responded, was followed by a hasty
breakfast, and earnest prayers, and then the journey was resumed.
Two Sabbaths were spent on this journey. To our Christian Indians, the
Sabbath was indeed a much prized blessing. By scripturally using it as
a day of rest and religious worship, and not as a day of dissipation,
they were physically, as well as spiritually, invigorated; and thus able
to do much better work. We had, in addition to the morning and evening
prayers, two delightful religious services in both the Indian and
English languages. The intervals between were spent in reading the Book
and some sweet song services.
As the years rolled on, with their varied duties, we ever found in Big
Tom, a most valued and trusted assistant. His noble consistent life,
made him a benediction, to both whites and Indians. If disputes arose,
and arbitration was necessary, it was Big Tom who was first thought of
as an arbitrator; and we cannot recall an instance where his decision
was rejected.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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