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Jacob Hamblin, a narrative of his personal experience, as a frontiersman, missionary to the Indians and explorer, [microform] disclosing interpositions of Providence, severe privations, perilous situations and remarkable escapes. Fifth book of the faith-p - Page 32 |
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Show 30 THE DREAM FULFILLED. to my fingers, and the more I endeavored to brush it off the brighter it became. This dream made such an impression on my mind, that I took my blankets, gun and ammunition, and went alone into their country. I remained with them several days, hunting deer and duck, occasionally loaning them my rifle, and assist-ing to bring in their game. I also did all I could to induce them to be at peace with us. One day, in my rambles, I came to a lodge where there was a squaw, and a boy about ten years old. As soon as I saw the boy, the Spirit said to me, " Take that lad home with you ; that is part of your mission here, and here is the bright substance which you dreamed of picking up." I talked with him and asked if he would not go with me. He at once replied that he would. The mother, naturally enough, in a deprecating tone, asked me if I wanted to take her boy away from her. But after some further conversation she consented to the arrangement. At this time I had not learned much of the language of these In-dians, but I seemed to have the gift ofmaking myselfunderstood. When I left, the boy took his bows and arrows and accom-panied me. The woman appeared to feel so bad, and made so much ado, that I told the lad he had better go back to his mother ; but he would not do so. We went to the side of a mountain where I agreed to meet the Indians. His mother, still anxious about her boy, came to our camp in the evening. The following morning, she told me that she heard I had a good heart, for the Indians told her that I had been true to what I said, and the boy could go with me if I would always be his father and own him as my son. This boy became very much attached to me, and was very particular to do as he was told. I asked him why he was so willing to come with me the first time we met. He replied that I was the first white man he ever saw ; that he knew a man would come to his mother's lodge to see him, on the day of my arrival, for he was told so the night before, and that when the man came he must go with him ; that he knew I was the man when he saw me a long way off, and built a smoke so that I would come there. |