THE INDIAN.

THE following is related by Dr. Dwight, who states that he considers the facts to be substantially true :

Soon after the county of Litchfield, in America, began to be settled by the English, a strange Indian arrived at an inn, and asked the hostess, as the evening was advancing, to provide him some refreshment; at the same time observing, that, from failure in hunting, he had nothing to pay, but promising compensation whenever he succeeded.

The plea was, however, in vain; the hostess loaded him with opprobrious epithets, and declared that it was not to throw away her earnings on such creatures as himself that she worked so hard. But as the Indian was about to retire, with a countenance expressive of severe suffering, a man who sat by, directed the hostess to supply his wants, and promised her full remuneration.

As soon as the Indian had finished his supper, he thanked his benefactor, assured him that he should remember his kindness, and engaged that it should be faithfully recompensed whenever it was in his power. For the present, he added, he could only reward him with a story, which, with the permission of the hostess, he wished to tell. This being given, from complacency in the prospect of payment, the Indian

having found that his benefactor read the Bible, thus proceeded:

"Well: the Bible say God made the world, and then he took him, and looked on him, and say, It's all very good! Then he made light, and took him, and looked on him, and say, It's all very good! Then he made dry land and water, and sun and moon, and grass and trees, and took him, and looked on him, and say, It's all very good! Then he made beasts, and birds, and fishes, and took him, and looked on him, and say, It's all very good! Then he made man, and took him, and looked on him, and say, It's all very good! Then he made woman, and took him, and looked on him! and he no say one such word!"

The feelings of the hostess as the Indian now withdrew, may be easily imagined. The arrow which had been so acutely barbed, could not fail to penetrate her bosom. "Acts of unkindness," says the proverb, "are like young birds; they always come home to roost." She had violated the law of benevolence, and deep mortification was one of the forms in which the penalty was to be paid.

The spectator of her punishment had occasion some years after to go into the wilderness between Lichfield and Albana, where he was taken prisoner by an Indian scout, and carried to Canada. On his arrival at the principal settlement of the tribe, it was proposed by some of

the captors that he should be put to death; but during the consultation, an old woman demanded that he should be given up to her, that she might adopt him for a son who had been lost during the war. Accordingly, he was given up to her, and he passed the succeeding winter in her family, amidst the usual circumstances of savage hospitality.

While, in the course of the following summer, he was at work alone in the forest, an unknown Indian came and asked him to go to a place he pointed out, on a given day; and to this he agreed, though not without some apprehension that mischief was contemplated. His fears

increased, his promise was broken; the same person repeated his visit; and after excusing himself in the best way he could, he made another engagement, and kept his word. On reaching the appointed spot, he found the Indian provided with ammunition, two muskets and two knapsacks: he was ordered to take one of each, and followed his conductor, under the conclusion that had he intended him injury, he might have dispatched him at once. In the day-time, they shot the game that came in their way, and at night they slept by the fire they had kindled but the silence of the Indian as to the object of their expedition, was mysterious and profound. After many days had thus passed, they came, one morning, to the top of an eminence, exhibiting a number of houses rising in the midst of a

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cultivated country. The Indian asked his companion if he knew the ground, and he eagerly replied, "It is Lichfield." His guide then recalled the scene at the inn some years before, and bidding him farewell, exclaimed, “I that Indian. Now, I pay you, go home!"

Here, then, the kindness received its reward. But when does it fail? The answer is, Never. An ample recompence invariably comes. Sometimes, as in this instance, it is signally conferred; but though it be not, yet it pours a stream of ineffable delight into the bosom. No one doubts the advantage of him who accepts the boon, but that of the donor is unquestionably greater. Among the words of our Lord Jesus were these: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

THE NEW ZEALAND CHIEF.

WHEN the Nagapuli came to attack his Pa, he one morning went out to reconnoitre their camp; and while in concealment among the fern, he perceived the principal Chief of the enemy advancing toward him: he was coming with a similar intention. The enemy was well armed, but he had no weapon with him; yet, not deterred, he continued for some time in his place of concealment, until he observed the Chief sit down on the shore at a little distance, with his back toward him he then crept unperceived, and, springing suddenly upon him

like a tiger, he in an instant turned him over, wrested his mery from his hand, deprived him of his double-barrelled gun, and tying his arms behind, made him march before him to his Pa. When he had nearly reached it, he ordered his prisoner to stand: he did so, expecting it to be the signal for his death: instead of which, the conqueror unbound his arms and restored his weapons, bidding him to bind him and drive him in the same way, as a prisoner to his camp; which was accordingly done. When they entered it, the people set up a shout on beholding their Chief leading in so distinguished a prisoner; and it was with difficulty that he could preserve him from being instantly put to death. He bade them have patience until he had told them the story of his capture, when they might put him to death if they wished after some hesitation they consented, and sat down in a circle around them. whole story was then told; which not only raised a general feeling of admiration in favour of their prisoner, but was the means of an immediate peace being proclaimed."

CHILDREN IN THE WOODS.

The

Most of our little readers have, no doubt, heard of the old English tale, about two children being left in a wood and dying there, with a story about the robin redbreasts covering them