Her golden tresses, parted for the blow, 6. An instant, and the dazzling gleam of steel 66 I SECTION XIV. I. 49. GARACONTIE PART FIRST. T was a fine thing for the white man that Columbus dis covered Aměrĭca; but, Uncle George, it was a sad thing for the Indians. See how we have acted toward them! They have lost all their broad hunting-grounds. Their chiefs are no longer respected, and they are treated as if they had no souls and no rights. If I were an Indian, I should wish that Columbus had never sailed from the port of old Palos, in Spain." 2. "If you were a pagan Indian, Edward, you might wish this; but certainly no Catholic Indian would do so for a moment. I will tell you a true story of one Indian chief which will make this easier for you to comprehend. 3. "The French Jesuits of Canada had founded a mission among those fierce tribes in the State of New York known as the Five Nations. They were called the proudest and the most eruel of all the Indian tribes, but they were also very wise. In fact, they were justly characterized as the Romans of the West. 4. "The first missionary to these people was the martyr,2 'The Sea of Glass, an allusion his vision, before the throne of God. to "the sea of glass like to crystal' 2 Mar'tyr, one who dies for the which St. John the Apostle saw in true faith. Father Jogues. Father Brébeuf and Father Lallemant were also martyred by them in the most cruel manner. But the Jesuits, instead of being afraid of martyrdom, longed for it; for by shedding their blood, they hoped to gain at once the souls of these fierce warriors and their own eternal crown. 5. "At last they founded a mission among the Onondaga Indians, which they called St. Mary's. They were driven off, and then asked to come back, time and again. But the good Jesuits never stood on their dignity. They wanted to save the souls of these proud, fierce Indians, and that consideration 1 alone inspired their every action. 6. "Among the Onondaga chiefs was one who watched everything the Jesuits said and did; and he soon became sure that if the Indians wished to be a great people, and a good people, and to live long in their pleasant land, they must become Christians. 7. "From that moment all his efforts were directed to preserving peace between the Indians and the French; and he did all in his power to aid the Jesuits in their pious labors. He gave his own cabin for a chapel, and would buy both white and Indian captives, in order to save them from torture. His noble form was always seen on the side of the Christians; his clear voice was always heard in their behälf. And yet this chief did not call himself a Christian: he was as yet only a patriot.3 8. "But time rolled on, and when, in the year 1670, a council was held by the French and the Indians at Quebec, the chief, Garacontie, arose, and addressed the assembly with all the eloquence for which he was famous. The Governor of Canada and the Bishop of Canada were both before him. When he had praised the Jesuit Fathers for their zeal in behalf of the Indians, the noble chief turned to the bishop, and, before all the assembly, asked for baptism! 9. "No one could doubt Garacontie's sincerity. The rite of baptism was performed in the cathedral of Quebec with the greatest solemnity. The descendants of the old French erysaders were there, and men of noble rank in their native land; 1 Con sĭd'er a'tion, reason; motive of action. that wilfully inflicted by others. 2 Torture,extreme pain, especially country and defends its interests. and beside them stood noble sachems 1 from the Hurons of Lake Huron; Mohegan chiefs and braves from the banks of the Hudson; Algonquins from the valley of the St. Lawrence; Chippeways from Lake Superior, and Iroquois from every tribe along the Mohawk and Genesee rivers. 10. "Bishop Laval baptized the chief, and the governor stood sponsor. Just as the bishop poured the water of baptism 1 Sa'chem, a chief of a tribe of American Indians. 2 Sponsor, a godfather or god. mother. on his head, the cannon of Fort St. Louis thundered forth a salute to the greatest Iroquois of his time, now to be called by his Christian name, Daniel Garacontie!' "YOU II. 50. GARACONTIE PART SECOND. YOU will find, Edward, whenever you read the annals of the Catholic missions among the Indians, that so far from depriving the red man of his rank among men, or of his honor in his own tribe, they increased it. How much nobler was Garacontie as a Christian than he would ever have been had he lived and died a pagan! These tribes were always engaged in petty wars. But when their Christian teachers came among them, wars almost ceased. Instead, there were councils of peace, like the one in which Garacontie made his open confession of faith in Christ and sought admission to His Church. 2. "Besides the public benefits which even the world was compelled to acknowledge as following in the footsteps of the devoted missioners, think how many souls were saved! The souls of so many children who died in their baptismal innocence! The souls of so many Indians who practised their religion with as much fervor as the Catholics of any civilized country!" 66 3. "Oh, Uncle George, I never thought of these things when I spoke of the discovery of America. I merely thought of the poor tribes we read about in the newspapers, who seem to be hunted from one forest and one territory to another, as if there were not room for the natives of America in our broad country." 4. What you say, Edward, is indeed too true; but those Indians who have the gift of faith, those who are under Catholic rulers, and even those who are under the care of Catholic priests, are happy in spite of their wrongs. They love their religion, and know they are happier in being Christians, even while treated as they are, than if they had the same free range of the forests as before the white man set foot on these shores. But you must hear how Garacontie died. 5. "After his baptism, he was never guilty of a wilful fault. He was the stay of the good Fathers and the comfort of all the Christian Indians. This great chief, after enduring many hardships for the good of his people, and manifesting1 by his whōle life his fervent love for Christ, died the death of the just. 6. "He took a severe cold while going to Midnight Mass on Christmas, 1675. On that very day, at a feast given in his cabin to honor the Sacred Nativity of Jesus, he took up a picture of our Lord, covered it with kisses, and exclaimed: 'Our dreams do not give us long life! But Thou, Jesus, born of a Virgin, Thou who art peerless in beauty, art only and indeed the true Master of our lives. Grånt that we may sit near Thee in Heaven!' Then, turning to his assembled guests, he said : Christians! remember what we promised Him in baptism.' 7. "When he found his recovery hopeless, he gave his last counsels to his family, ordered his death-banquet 2 to be prepared according to the custom of his people, and invited to it the sachems and chiefs of all the surrounding tribes. When they assembled in response to his call, he exhôrted them to become Christians, and to banish from their tribes the deadly fire-water. 3 8. " Then, after a few farewell words to the Christians who surrounded him, he exclaimed: 'Behold! I die!' Instantly all present fell on their knees, and amid their prayers he expired, full of faith and charity, beloved, lamented, and esteemed. 9. "Contrary to Indian customs, but in accordance with his expressed wish, he was placed in a coffin and buried in a grave, like the French Christians, with all the rites of the Church. No weapons of chase or war, no robes of ceremony were placed beside him; no steed's warm life was shed above his grave. But the lofty cross that crowned his resting-place was long a landmark to his people, a memorial of the great chief who was at once patriot, sage, and exemplar 5 of Christian holiness. 10. "This good man learned to read and write when he was quite old in order to encourage his people to do so, and from the 1 Măn i fěst'ing, showing; making plainly evident. 2 Banquet (bank'wet), a feast; an entertainment. 3 Re sponse', the act of answering or responding. 4 Ex hort'ed, urged; entreated. 5 Ex ĕm'plar, a model to be copied. |