not then heard of the goodness and mercy of the Great Spirit,-you had not then heard that he was willing to be your Father; but now you have heard this, and if you do not become his children, it is because you will not. Why will you then trifle with your eternal interests ?-and why must I still say of so many, “I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain ?"

During Mr. Crane's discourse, the interpreter, old Kusick, continued by his side, and at the conclusion of every sentence rendered it into the Tuscarora language. A preacher could scarcely desire a more attentive audience. To myself the scene was most interesting. There was something peculiarly solemn in the process, by which important truths were communicated to men of another race, from the lips of a person who was unacquainted with their language. To reflect also, that those who were sitting to receive instruction were the poor Indians of America, the descendants of those who had been hunted from mountain to forest by Europeans of other days; and who perhaps, goaded to madness and despair, had when opportunity served turned upon their destroyers, and with the tomohawk and scalping knife exacted a fearful retribution for the wrongs which had been heaped upon them; to see the white and the red man, sitting together like brothers, "taking sweet counsel" from the same heavenly volume, and cheering each other's hearts with the hopes of futurity and bliss

INDIAN'S PRAYER.

71

was all calculated to give an intensity of interest to the very peculiar scene.

I have mentioned that Mr. Crane prayed in English before the sermon; at its conclusion he desired the interpreter Kusick to call on one of the Indians, named William, to pray. The whole congregation immediately rose from their seats, and William, lifting up his hands, poured out in his native tongue a fervent prayer to God. Thus are the triumphs of the cross extending, and thus are the distinctions of lineage and colour falling before the influence of that gospel, which declares that "in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Gentile, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free!"

"Oh scenes surpassing fable, and yet true!

One song employs all nations, and all sing

Worthy the Lamb! for he was slain for us!'

The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks
Shout to each other. And the mountain tops
From distant mountains catch the flying joy;
Till nation after nation taught the strain,

Earth rolls the rapturous hosanna round!”

But it may perhaps be suspected, that William had previously committed a form of prayer to memory, and was only reciting it as a school-boy does his task. To hear and to see him, were more than sufficient to set this suspicion aside. He commenced in a serious, composed manner, as one who is impressed with the solemnity of addressing the

God of heaven and earth. He became more animated as he went on. His animation gradually increased to fervour-and his fervour to emotionand his emotion became stronger, and stronger, till at last it overpowered him, and for a moment he was silent. Struggling to repress his feelings, he endeavoured to proceed. A sentence or two more, and he could restrain himself no longer, his breast heaved-his whole frame was agitatedhe sobbed aloud-and the big tears rolled down his dark coloured cheeks.

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Nor were William's the only tears that flowed. Many of the Indians were equally affected, and most of the whites, though ignorant of the language of the prayer, felt the touch of sympathy at their breast;-who indeed, who was not cold as statuary, could have resisted it? If prayer be the offering up of the heart's desires unto God, surely this was a prayer. I cannot indeed offer you any stract of its petitions, but I think we cannot far err in supposing, that these unwonted tears which this 'Stoic of the woods' poured forth, were wrung from him in powerful intercession for the men of his nation, that none of them might remain insensible to the voice which spoke to them from God. effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," and surely this was a fervent prayer.

"The

When William concluded, another Indian arose and voluntarily addressed the meeting. He was dressed in a style somewhat superior to most of

LONGBOARD'S ADDRESS.

73

them, and wore at his breast a large silver medal, bearing the bust of Washington. I learned afterwards that he was a chief, named Longboard. Longboard folded his arms as he rose, and addressed us in a speech of about ten minutes. It was evident that he did not speak under the influence of any peculiar emotion, for his drawling accents presented a striking contrast to the impassioned prayer of William.

I was subsequently informed that Longboard's address, though professedly in favour of Mr. Crane and the instructions which he gave, was secretly intended to prop his own authority; that when a fitting opportunity offered, it might be exerted in an opposite way.3 He was formerly a chief of considerable influence in the nation, and his inclinations were strongly opposed to the introduction of christianity, but finding that it was obviously gaining ground, he for a time trimmed to the current ; he often said that it was altogether in consequence of his addresses, that any improvement had taken place in the character and conduct of the Indians.

3 Longboard was not slandered in the character which was given of him. He and some others have since made a vigorous effort to emancipate the nation from the new doctrines, and to expel Mr. Crane and the teacher of the school. The result has been as every good man would wish. The pagan chief and his adherents found it necessary to retire into Upper Canada, leaving the christian Indians, and all who favoured them, in undisturbed possession of the village. The contest occasioned considerable confusion for a time, but it has been succeeded by peace and harmony. (1822.)

At the conclusion of Longboard's address, the Indians united in singing another hymn; after which Mr. Crane pronounced the usual benediction, and the congregation separated.

What I had seen and heard among the Tuscaroras only excited a desire to know more, and although a stranger to Mr. Crane, I thought that in such circumstances the want of a letter of introduction was but a trifling difficulty; I stepped up to him therefore as he left the church, and mentioning my name, and the occasion of my visit, said that I should be happy to have an opportunity of acquiring some farther information. Mr. Crane shook hands with me with the utmost cordiality, and introducing me to Mrs. Crane invited me to accompany them home. This invitation I very willingly accepted; not the less so, that some of the Indians, among whom were William and his wife Nancy, were to accompany us.

On reaching Mr. Crane's house, dinner was set before us; but as is usual here in many places on the Sabbath, it was both dinner and tea combined into a single meal. William, by his pastor's desire, asked the blessing in his native tongue, for the benefit of his red brethren, and Mr. Crane on behalf of the whites returned thanks in English. The Indians behaved at table with as much propriety as any others present. Some of them could speak a little English, but they were shy of doing it before a stranger; and the conversation was left