CHAPTER X.
MRS. WOODS MEETS LITTLE ROLL OVER AGAIN.
One day Rev. Jason Lee came up from the Cascades, in a boat, to visit Mr.and Mrs. Woods on their donation claim. Mr. Lee at this tine was inspiredwith missionary zeal for the Indians, and he remembered Mrs. Woods kindlyas an ignorant but earnest and teachable woman, whom the influence of hispreaching had brought to his spiritual flock. He knew her needs of counseland help, he pitied her hard and lonely life, and he came to visit herfrom time to time.
He had once given her a copy of Wesley's Hymns, and these hymns she hadunconsciously learned, and delighted to quote on all occasions. Herfavorite hymn in the collection was written by Thomas Olivers, one ofWesley's coadjutors, beginning--
"The God of Abrah'm praise."
She used to sing it often about her work; and one approaching the cabin,might often have heard her trying to sing to the old Hebrew melody of_Leoniel_--a tune perhaps as old as the Jewish Temple itself--such sublimethoughts as these--
"The God of Abrah'm praise, At whose supreme command From earth I rise, and seek the joys At his right hand; I all on earth forsake, Its wisdom, fame, and power; And him my only portion make, My shield and tower.
"He by himself hath sworn, I on his oath depend; I shall, on eagles' wings upborne, To heaven ascend: I shall behold his face, I shall his power adore, And sing the wonders of his grace Forever more."
Another favorite hymn, in an easy metre, was John Wesley's triumphantreview of life in his middle age. The tune, although marked in themusic-books C.P.M., and thus indicating some difficulty, was really assimple as it was lively, and carried the voice along like the music of ameadow stream:
"How happy is the pilgrim's lot, How free from every anxious thought, From worldly hope and fear! Confined to neither court nor cell, His soul disdains on earth to dwell-- He only sojourns here."
Mrs. Woods was singing as usual about her work, when Jason Lee rapped ather door.
"Father Lee," said Mrs. Woods, "can I trust my eyes!--come again to seeme, away out here in the timber? Well, you are welcome. I have gotsomething on my mind, and I have long been wanting to have a talk withyou. How is the mission at the Dalles?"
"It is prospering, but I regard it as my duty to leave it and go back tothe East; and this may be my farewell visit, though I expect to come backagain."
"Why, Father Lee, what has changed your mind? You surely can not think ityour duty to leave this great country in the Oregon! You are needed hereif anywhere in this world."
"Yes, but it is on account of this country on the Oregon being great, asyou call it, that I must go away. It was once my calling in life to becomea missionary to the Indians of Oregon, and to see this wonderful land. Thesame Voice that called me to that work calls me again to go back to tellthe people of the East of their great opportunity here. I owe it to mycountry's future to do this. I have eaten the grapes of a promised land,and I must return to my own people with the good report. I believe thatthe best life of America will yet be here--it seems to be so revealed tome. My mission was to the Indians; it is now to induce colonies to come tothe Oregon."
"Well, each heart knows its own calling and duty, and none of us are ledalike. Father Lee, Gretchen has been reprovin' me, though she shouldn't,perhaps, being a girl. She was sassy to me, but she meant well. She is awell-meanin' girl, though I have to be hard on her sometimes--it is myduty to be, you know.
"Well, some months ago, more than a year, an Injun ran away with my bestsaw, and that gave me a prejudice against the Injuns, I suppose.Afterward, Young Eagle's Plume--Benjamin, the chief's boy--insulted mebefore the school by takin' a stick out of my hand, and I came to dislikehim, and he hates me. There are many Injuns in the timber now, and theyall cast evil looks at me whenever I meet them, and these things hint thatthey are goin' to capture me at the Potlatch and carry me away. I hateInjuns.
"But Gretchen has told me a thing that touches my feelin's. She says thatBenjamin he says that he will protect me on account of his love for themaster; and that, on account of my love for the good Master of us all andhis cause, I ought to show a different spirit toward the Injuns. What doyou think?"
"Gretchen is right, although a girl should be modest with her elders.Hatred only multiplies itself; when one overcomes his evil passions hegains others, and loses nothing. Do you see?"
"But I am always good to those I like and those who treat me well. Thinkhow I used to take care of the sick folk on our way out here, and what Ihave tried to do for Gretchen!"
"'If ye love them that love you, what thank have ye?' All people lovethose who love them--the savages do. To give up one's evil desires, and tohelp others by returning love for hate, is the true life. The best friendsin the world that we can have are those that we have drawn to our heartsby forgiveness. Do something good to every Indian that hates you, and youwill never be carried away captive."
"But Whitman, remember Whitman: he showed the right spirit, and the Injunskilled _him_!"
"His death was caused by a misapprehension, and it made him a martyr. Hiswork lives. Men live in their work."
"Well, Father Lee, if Benjamin can overcome his evil feelin's for hismaster, I ought to do so for mine, as Gretchen says. My bad spirit in thismatter has long troubled me; it has caused a cloud to come over me whensingin' hymns. I will give it all up now--I will give up everything, andjust follow the better spirit. I want to do right, so that I can singhymns."
When Father Lee left the cabin, Mrs. Woods accompanied him to his boat onthe river.
As they were passing along under the tall spruces whose tops glimmered inthe sun, and whose cool shadows made the trail delightful and refreshing,a black she-bear suddenly rose up before them, and a cub started up by herside. The great bear and the little bear both stood on their haunches,with their fore-feet outstretched like arms, as in great surprise. Mrs.Woods stopped and threw up her arms, and Parson Lee drew back.
Mrs. Woods looked at the little bear, and the little bear at her.
"Roll over, roll over!" she suddenly exclaimed. A strange event followed,very strange indeed in the eyes of the startled missionary. The littlebear rolled itself into a ball, and began to turn over and over, and tocome toward them in its somersaults.
The mother bear made a peculiar noise, dropped upon her four feet and ranoff into the timber; and the little one, hearing the noise and movement,leaped up and followed her.
"What _does_ that mean?" asked the missionary, in astonishment.
"That is Little Roll Over. I taught him that trick myself. He was once apet of mine, and he ran away."
"Extraordinary!" said the missionary; "and it seems to me, if you havesuch a good influence over bears, you might do a great deal of good amongthe Indians."
"And I will," said Mrs. Woods. "I mean to live so I can sing hymns, andfeel right about it."
On the return home, Mrs. Woods looked everywhere for her pet bear. She didnot fear the old bear, for these animals are generally harmless ifunmolested. She called, "Roll Over! Roll Over!" when she came to the placewhere she had had the adventure. But there was no answer except from theblue jays that piped out their shrill call in the tall trees.
Mrs. Woods came home to have a long battle with herself. Her idea ofhappiness seemed to be the freedom to sing hymns with a clear conscience,and the poor pioneer woman's philosophy was not very far from right.