Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-04-04

Carlo aud company he turned my worn-ou, ami
mails loose, and loaded my packs upon his own
gave me a splendid saddle horse to ride and init
mated by significant, gestures tina, we would GO
short distance tina, afternoon, in order to arrive al
the mission early the mex, day | gave my as.
sent, and we were soon on the way Our course
was norheaserly over sharp swels, among
which ran many clear and beautiful brooks soil
gravel, loan, sand, and clay, and well covered
with dry bunch grass, incapable Of producing the
grains without, irrigation. The swells and streams
run nor,hweserly from the Blue Mountains Our
course was diagonally across them. Having made
about 10 miles al sunst we encamped for the
night, noticed, drrSsqp tbs drive, degree of
forbearance towards the animals whenever they
erred, and of affection and benevolence towards
each other, in this family Of savages which had
never before observed in that race When we
halted for the night the two boys were behind
They had been frolckng with the horses and as
the darkness came on, lost the trail II was
halfhorr before they made their appearance, and
during this time the worthy parers exhibited the
most afectionate solicitude for them One ofthem
was but three years old, and was ashed to the
horse he rode the other only seven years of age.
Young pilots in the wilderness a, night But the
elder true TO the sagacity of his race, had taken
his course and struck the brook ON which we had
encamped, within three hundred yards of us The
pride of the parents at this feat, and heir ardent
attachment to their children were peiceptble in
the pleasure with which they received them at
their evening fire, and heard the relation of their
childish adventure
The weather was so pleasant that no tent was
pitched The willows were bent, and he buffalo
robes spread over them. Underneath were laid
other robes, on which my Indian host seated him
self with his wife and children on one side, and
myself on the othe. A fire burned brightly on
front Water was brought, and the evening alb,
uons having been performed, the wife presented
a dish Of meat 10 her husband and ole to myself
There was pause. The woman seated herself
between her children. The Indian then bowed
his head and prayed to God wandering saw
age in the Oregon Territory calling upon Jeho-
yah in the name of Jesus Christ after the pray
er, he gave meat to his children, and passed the
dish to his wife
While eating, the frequent repetition of,he words
Jehovah and Jesus Christ, in the most reverential
manner, led me 10 suppose they were conversing
on religious topics; and thus they passed an hour
Meanwhile, the exceeding WEAKNESS Of long
days travel admonished me to seek rest
! 1 had sIumbered, know not how long when a
strain of music awoke me- | was about Using to
ascertain whether the sweet notes of Talliss Chant
came to these solitudes from earth or sky, when a
full recollection ofmy situation, and of the relic
ious habits of my host, easily solved the rising in
quiry, and induced me to observe instead of dis
turbng. The Indian family was engaged in its
evening devotions. They were singing hvm in
Nez Perces language Having finished it, they
all knelt and bowed their faces upon the buffalo
robes, ard Crickie prayed long and fervently AZ
forwards they sang another hymn and retired
This was the first breathing of religious feelings
hat had Loo, Al
ant evidence that the Oregon wilderness was be-
ginning to bear the rose Of Sharon on its thousand
hills and that on the barren soil of the Skvuse
heart was beginning to bud and blossom and RI
pen the golden fruits Of faith in Jehovah, and hope
In an after state.
We were on our way before the sun rose The
dawn on an Oregon sky, the rich blue embank
ment OF mountains over which the great day-star
raised his glowing rim, the bldndness of the air
the lively ambllng of the caravan toward the
neighborlng abode of my countrymnn impaired
10 my mind and body most agreeable exhilera
ton. Crickie and his wife and children also. an
peared to enjoy the atmosphere and scenery o
their native valley; and we went on together mer
rily over the swelling plains and murmurine
streams TIL about eight o'clock. when Crickic
spurrcd his horse, and moloned me to follow
him
We lpbS 'Nil ldpiulY lot dDOullnIce nOufS owe
a country gently undulating, well set with buncl
grass, and In,ersec,ed with small str cams fowine
northwest. The dust had risen in dark cloud
and rendered 1t necessary to battle before present
ing ourselves al the mission. We therefore bal
ted on the bank ola little brook overhung will
willows, and proceeded to make our toilet Crick
les paraphenalia was ample for the purpose, an,
showed tina, among his other excellences clean
illness held prominent place. a small mirror
pocket-comb soap and towel were immediael,
produced and the dust was taken from his persoi
aud wardrobe with nicely that wonld have sal
ished an exquisite on pavements
a ride of five miles aierward brought us il
sight Of the groves around the mission Th,
plains far AMI near were dry and brown Ever,
form Of vegetation was dead save the forest trees
whose roots drank deeply Of the waters Of IN,
stream, We crossed the river, passed the Indiar
encampment hard by, and were at the gate of,ht
mission fields in presence Of DR. Whitman II.
was speaking Skyuse at the top Of his voice t.
some lazy Indians who were driving their caul,
from has garden and giving orders TO others t.
yoke their oxen, g, the axes and 90 into the for
est for the lower sleepers Of the new mission
house. Mr. Hall printer aithe Sandwich Island,
soon appeared in working dress, with an axe OF
his shoulder; next came Monger, pullingthe min,
shavings from his oreplane All seemed desirou,
to ask me how long a balloon line had been run
ming betwecn the States and the pici6c by which
single individuals crossed the continent The OK
en- ho,y,ver were VOked end sNes oFs,c,.J 4,