" I formed a different opinion."
" Why then did you ask me the cause of her leaving so abruptly ? "
" Merely to see if you suspicioned the same as I that, if so, my own fancies might have the surer foundation. Often when she thought herself unnoticed, have I, by turning suddenly upon her, caught her soft, dark eye fixed earnestly upon me, with an expression of deep, quiet, melan choly tenderness, which I could not account for, other than an affectionate regard for myself ; and the more so, that when my eye caught hers, she ever turned her gass away, blushed, and seemed much confused. It was this which first divided my thoughts between herself and you, and awakened in my breast a feeling of sympathy and affec tion for her in return."
" You may be right," I answered, as I recalled her strange manner of the day previous, when I spoke to her of my friend and I proceeded to detail it to Huntly 4 "But I am truly sorry it is so," I added, in conclusion.
" Why so, Frank ? "
" Because it will only render her unhap py for life."
"What! if I "
" Well, say on ! If you what, Char ley?"
" I was going to add a marry her," he replied in some confusion.
" Marry her ? Are you mad, Huntly ? "
" Only a little deranged."
" Not a little, either, if one may judge by such a remark. Why, my friend, you talk of marrying as if it were the most tri fling thing in the world. You cannot be
ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST.
75
In earnest, surely ! and it is a bad matter for a jest."
" 1 am not jesting, at all even ts," he re plied. " But why not marry her, if we both love ? Is there anything so remark able in marriage ? "
I looked at him earnestly, to detect, if possible, some sly curl of the lip, some lit tle sign which I could construe into a quiz- ical meaning ; but no ! the expression of his countenance was uncommonly serious, if anything, rather melancholy. He was sincere beyond a doubt, and the very thought kept me dumb with surprise.
" You do not answer," he said at length. " Perhaps you do not believe in my sin cerity ?"
" Ay, too truly I do," I rejoined ; " and the very knowledge made me speechless. Why, my dear friend, what are you think ing of? You, the young, wealthy, aristo cratic Charles Iluntly, prating seriously to me of marriage, and that to a nameless Indian girl of whose history you know no thing, ami whose acquaintance you have made within a week ! What ! can this be the same wild, reckless school-mate of mine, whose mind six months ago rarely harbored an idea beyond uttering a jest or playing a prank upon some unsuspecting individual ? Surely you are not in your sober senses, Charley ! or this is a land of miracles, indeed."
" I am not what I was," sighed my friend, "though, I believe, not the less in my senses for that. That I was a gay, wild youth once, is no evidence I should always remain one. To me there appears nothing remarkable, that one whose life has been a scene of folly, should become changed by the near approach of death. I have suffered too much within the past week, both in body and mind, not to have had very serious reflections. As regards Prairie Flower, I acknowledge, as before, I am totally ignorant of her history ; that, as you say, I have known her barely a week ; but I cannot forget that I am her debtor, both for my own life and yours. That she is a rare being, too good almost to grace a world so cold and uncharitable as this, none who have seen and conversed with her as much as I, can doubt for a mo ment Regarding marriage, I am very far from thinking it a trifling affair on the
contrary, one of the most serious of a man's life It is an event to make or mar his happiness ; and for that reason should be considered with all due solemnity, and everything pertaining to it duly weighed, that none may afterward be found want ing. Had I proposed to you to unite my self with a lady of fine accomplishments and fortune, would you have asked the question if both loved if she was one to make me happy ? Probably not ; for her wealth would prove the ' silver vail,' to conceal all her defects. Should a man take the solemn vows of marriage to please himself or friends ? Should he do so mere ly to make a display in public, and render his heart in private the seat of misery ? Of what value is gold, if it add nothing to a man's happiness ? Riches are unstable, and often, as the proverb has it, ' take to themselves wings and fly away.' And then, to him who has made these his god whc has wedded them and not the woman what is the result ? A few days of misery and an unhappy end. Do not conclude from this, my dear Frank, that I have re solved to marry Prairie Flower ; for until it was suggested by your own remarks, such a thought never entered my head ; and even now such a result is highly im probable. I merely hinted at the possibil ity of the thing, to ascertain what effect it would have upon you."
" Well, I am happy in knowing the mat ter is not so serious as I was at tirst led to suppose. Take my word, Charley, it is only a mere whim of the moment, which will pass away with a return of health and strength. When the body becomes dis eased, it is not uncommon for the mind to be affected also ; and though the idea you have suggested may seem plausible now mark me ! you will yet live to think it pre posterous, and laugh at your present folly."
" Then, Frank, you think my mind unsound ? "
" Not in a healthy state, certainly or, with your quick sense of perception, you would have become aware ere this, that, no matter how deep her love, Prairie Flower is one to reject even Charles Huntly."
" Reject me, Frank, say you? reject me?" cried Iluntly, auickly, with a look 1 of surprise.
r*
THE PRAIRIE FLOWER; OR
" Ay. reject 3-0x1 even you the rich, educated, and polished Charles Huntly."
" And why, Frank ?"
" First, because her proud, retiring nature would rebel at the thought of an alliance with one whom the world might consider her superior. Secondly, because her sense of duty would not allow her to depart from her tribe, to which she be longs either by birth or adoption. Third ly, and conclusively, because she is one who has evidently resolved to remain sin gle through life. She is a girl possessed of a remarkable mind, which once fixed upon a point, remains unchangeable for ever. That she loves you, I now believe ; that you return the passion, in a measure, you have acknowledged ;' but that she would consent to leave her tribe and pledge herself to you for life, I believe a thing impossible."
" You perhaps have reasons for thinking thus?"observed Huntly.eyeingme sharply.
" Nothing more than what I have gath ered from noting her closely, during the brief period of our acquaintance. I may be wrong, but time will show. At all events, my friend, I warn you, if you feel an increasing passion or affection for this girl, to suppress it at once, and leave the vicinity as soon as the health of both of us will permit."
" I will think of it my dear friend ; and "in the mean time, do you watch Prairie Flower closely as I will myself to learn if your surmises be correct ; and should a convenient opportunity offer, fail not to use it to find out the true state of her feelings
regarding myself. I But enough
she comes."
As he spoke, Prairie Flower entered the lodge to put an end to our conversation, lest harm might be done me by too much excitement. I now observed her narrow ly, and saw their was a constraint in her manner, which she only the more exposed by trying to conceal and appear perfectly natural. She gently reminded IluntJy it was time for him to withdraw ; and though lie strove hard to catch the soft glance of IILT darli beaming eye, yet all his efforts Droved fruitless ; and pressing my hand, with a hearty " God bless you!" and a deep, earnest prayer for my speedy recov pry, he quitted the apartment.
Asking me one or two questions regard* ing the effect produced upon me by my friend's visit, and finding instead of injury it had resulted to my benefit, Prairie Flow- 1 er bade me seek instant repose in sleep; : and promising that Huntly should see me ! again on the following day, she turned, i and in a musing mood, with her head drop ped upon her bosom, and slow steps, dis- : appeared.
There was no mistaking it ; Prairie
j Flow
er was in love with my friend ; and I
! sighed at the thought, that the hour of her
friendship to us, might prove the data of
her own unhappiness.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CONVALESCENCE THE MYSTERIOUS OR GREAT
MEDICINE TRIBE THEIR MANNERS THEIB
DAILY MODE OF WORSHIP THEIR MORNING,
NOON, AND EVENING SONGS A WSDDING A FUNERAL, ETC.
TIME rolled on slowly, each day adding something to my convalescence, and the expiration of a month found me so far re covered as to venture on a short stroll in the open air. During this long period of confinement, (to me it seemed a year,) Prairie Flower and Huntly visited me ev ery day, though rarely together ; and to ward the last, my friend became an almost constant companion.
Never shall I forget the emotions of gra titude and joy which I experienced on be holding once more the green leaves and blades, the bright flowers and glorious sun shine, feeling again the soft, balmy breezo of heaven upon my emaciated frame, and hearing the artless songs of the forest warb lers. Earth, which for a time had seemed cold and dreary, now appeared changed to a heavenly paradise, and I could not realize I had ever seen it look so en- chantly beautiful before. In this I was doubtless correct ; for never before had I been absent from it so long ; and the con trast between the grim, rude walls of my late abode, and all I now beheld, wa* enough to have put in ecstacies a far less excitable and enthusiastic individual than myself.
I
ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST
The village of the Mysterious or Great Medicine Tribe, I found to consist of some fifteen or twenty lodges, situated on the side of the mountain so as to overlook a beautiful valley some quarter of a mile be low, through which flowed a murmuring stream that formed one of the tributaries of the Platte. The cabins, though only temporarily erected, were very comforta ble, and placed so as to form a complete circle, in the center of which stood the Great Medicine lodge of Cha-cha-chee-kee- hobah, where I had been confined, and by which, as I now learned, I had been high ly honored, inasmuch as not a soul besides its owner and Prairie Flower, unless by special permit, was ever allowed to cros its threshold. This then accounted for nay not having seen any of the tribe dur ing my confinement in bed. The Great Medicine lodge, and one other, were dis tinguished from the rest by their whitish appearance, done probably by a limish composition found on the mountains. This other alluded to, was the residence of Prai rie Flower, and two young, dark-skinned, blaok - haired, bright - eyed, pretty - faced Indian girls, whose countenances and costumes bespoke in telligence and supe- rioi ity.
Among this tribe were some twenty fe males and as many children, and the bal ance males, all of whom were decently dad, and clean and tidy in their appear ance. Save Prairie Flower, but very few of them wore any kind of ornaments, and their dark, clear skins were not in the least bedaubed with paint. Most of them spoke the English language, and some quite flu ently ; and I observed many an old well- thumbed book generally a bible lying about their wigwams. In their intercourse with myself and friend, they displayed a dignified courtesy, and not one of all the children did I ever observe to behave in a rude or unbecoming manner.
They were, take them all in all, a re markable people, and rightly named the Mysterious Tribe ; and, as far as I could judge, very zealous in the cause of Chris- h&nity. Three times a day did they col lect for public devotion to the Great Spi rit ; and their ceremony, though simple, was one of the most impressive I ever witnessed. It was in the following manner:
At sunrise, noon, and sunset, Prairie Flower and her two Indian companions would come forth from their loda;e, arrav-
^
ed in neat and simple attire, each bearing in her hand a kind of drum, or tamboriuo without the bells, and approaching the Great Medicine Lodge, would arrange them selves in its front. Then bowing 10 the east and west, the north and south, they would beat the tamborines with their fin gers whereupon the whole village men, women and children would hastily quit whatever occupation they might be at, and assemble around them, their faces ex pressive of the importance and solemnity which they attached to the occasion. The tamborines would continue to beat until all were gathered together, when a deep and impressive silence would ensue, during which each face would be turned upward, as if to solicit the Great Guardian of all to be with them in their devotions. Then the maidens would strike out into a clear, silvery song, and at the end of each stanza would be joined in the chorus by all of both sexes, young and old, during which each would kneel upon the earth, and con tinue there until the commencement of the next, when all would again rise to their feet. These songs, of which there were three, were translated to me by Prairie Flower, at my request, and I herewith give them if not in language, at least in spirit anl sentiment commencing with the
MORNING SONG. The day is up, the sun appears, That sun of many thousand years, And morning smiles through evening's tears:
Thanks ! thanks ! thanks ! To Thee who made the earth and and sky, The hosts that go revolving by, And all that live and all that die- God ! God ! God !
CHORUS.
Kneel ! Kneel ! Kneel ! O, bless us, Spirit, That doth inherit The earth and air, And everywhere, And save us, Thou, To vH )m we bow, All h.imbly now, Our Great and Heavenly Father !
The day is up, and through our aiep
We've felt no visitations deep,
And nothing wherefore we should weep
Thanks ! thanks ! thanks ! Preserve us still throughout the day, Teach us to senk the better way,
THE PRAIRIE FLOWER; OR,
AfiC. never let us gc. astray God I God ! God !
CHORUS.
Kneel ! kneel ! kneel ! (), bless us, Spirit, That doth inherit The earth and air, Aii.l everywhere ! Aih! save, us, Thou, To whom we bow, All hurnblj now, Our Great and Heavenly Father!
NOON-DAY SONG. The day moves ou und all goes well, More blessings now than we can tell, With giatituJe our hearts do swell:
Thanks ! thanks ! thanks ! Bless and preserve us still, we pray, With food and raiment line our way, A'ir. keep us to the close cf day
God ! God ! God !
CHORUS.
Kneel ! kneel ! kneel ! Father of Heaven, To Thee be given Unbounded praise, Through endless days ! And like the sun,
In Heaven above, Pour on us now
Thy warmth of love ! And may our feet
Forever press Th-j virtuous paths
Which Thou doth bless! To Thee all praise, Lord, God, our Father !
T!K noon-day breezes now go by,
The forest gives a welcome sigh,
The murmuring streamlets sweet reply :
Thanks ! thanks ! thanks ! The birds carol, the insects sing, And joy beams out in everything, For which all praise to Thee we bring
God ! God ! God !
CHORUS.
Kneel ! kneel ! kneel ! Father of Heaven, ^o tliee be given Unbounded praise, Through endless days ! And like the sun,
In heaven above, Pour on us now
Thy warmth of love ! And may our feet
Forever press, The virtuous paths
Which Thou dost bless ! To thee all praise, Lord, God, our Father !
EVENING SONG. The day is dying, wood and wold Are growing dim, as \'e behold, And night will soon us all enfold :
Thanks ! thanks ! thanks ! lhat Thou the day hath kept us through, Taught each his duty right to do.
And made us all so happy too - God ! God ! God !
CHORUS.
Kueel ! kneel ! kncei . All heaven, and earth, and sea, and at), Are marked by' His all-seeing eye, Which will look deep into ihe night, To note if each one doeth right, And watch us in our dreams of sleep, On all our thoughts and actions keep : So may each thought, each deed we d«^ Be one that will bear looking through !
And bless us, Thou,
To whom we bow,
All humbly now, Most great Lord, God, Almighty !
The sun hath set in yonder wi-st, The beasts and birds are seeking re
st, All nature is in sable dressed :
Thanks ! thanks ! thanks ! Preserve us, Thou, till morning light Doth lift the sable vail of night ! May holy angels guard us right, Our sleep be sweet, our dreams be brightj And not a tiling our souls affiright
God ! God ! God !
CHORUS.
Kneel ! kneel ! kneel ! All heaven, and earth, and sea, and sky, Are marked by His all-seeing eye, Which will look deep into the night, To note if each one doeth right, And watch us in our dreams of sleep, On all our thoughts and actions keep : So may each thought, each deed we do, Be one that will bear looking through.'
And bless us, Thou,
To whom we bow,
All humbly now, Most great Lord, God, Almighty !
It is impossible for me to convey the iweet and plaintive melody which accom panied each song, and which, before I inew a word that was uttered, produced upon my mind, and that of my friend, the most pleasing and solemn effect particu- arly as we noted that each was accompa nied with an earnestness and sincerity of manner, such as I had rarely witnessed in Christian churches within the borders of civilization. At the end of each of these longs, and while the assemblage remained n the kneeling posture of the chorus, the Old-Man-of-the-Mountains would suddenly make his appearance, and hooping his arms H'fore him and bowing, after the Turkish "ash ion, would utter a few words as a sort » f benediction whereupon all would rise, ind eacli depart quietly to his ledge, or hi » revious occupation.
The devotional scenes just mentioned
ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST.
were of every day occurrence, when no thing of importance had transpired to elate the actors with joy, or depress them with grief in either of which events, the songs and manner of worship was changed to suit the occasion.
Bennett, Emerson - Prairie Flower 01 Page 17