Letter XX,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRECIS HISTORIQUES, BRUSSELS.
Tributes to the Flat-Heads.
To the Mother Superior of the Convent and Academy of Erps-Querbs, between Brussels and Louvain.
BRUSSELS, FEAST OF ST. XAVIER, December 3, 1856.
REVEREND MOTHER:
The festival of to-day renews in my mind the recollection of the pleasant time I spent at Erps, last Monday.
I must again thank you for the kind reception I received at your convent and academy.
The repeated invitations you have extended to me, since my return to Belgium, through Father Terwecoren, who took me there, made it a duty on my part to go. I owed you this visit also personally, Reverend Mother, on account of the ties which always have existed, and still exist, between your family and mine. This recommendation was made to me at Termond. It was, indeed, pleasant for me to meet you, after thirty-five years' absence, and especially to find you consecrated to God by the vows of religion. During my long travels over the world, I have always found in religious communities the greatest amount of happiness to which man can aspire here below.
But independent of this personal motive, the Academy of the Servants of Mary would leave, in my mind, a most pleasing recollection. I shall never forget this little family festival, the charitable and pious words addressed to me by one of your scholars, in the name of her companions; the earnest attention paid by them to my accounts, and the prayers they promised me for my poor Indians ; that beautiful hymn in honor of St. Francis Xavier, the patron of missionaries; the happiness of the little village-children, gathered in the dayschool, where their hearts learn to love God and serve him by labor; the respectful deference of all the sisters, and of your worthy director.
I thank you, then, Reverend Mother, for this welcome; .and, in the name of the Indians, I thank you especially for the alms which the convent has confided to me for them, and the vestments which you prepare. The Indians pray for their benefactors ; they will pray especially for the Servants of Mary, and for their young pupils, as soon as I tell them all.
As an anticipated testimony of their gratitude, and that the remembrance of this day may abide, your community ever prosper more and more, your young ladies, when they come forth from that house of the Lord, preserve preciously the inappreciable gift of piety and the pure lustre of all virtue, I propose to give to the first little Indian girls that I baptize after my return, the Christian names of the religious and pupils whom I saw assembled, that they may pray for their benefactresses. Please to prepare a list, and send it to Father Terwecoren, who is collecting all that is offered for ` the mission.
I add to this letter a -copy of the tributes of admiration paid to the Flat-Heads, as well as the Pater and Ave in Osage. It is a little souvenir, for the Academy of Erps-Querbs.
I. Tribute of admiration rendered to the Flat-Heads, by an officer of the United States army, sent with Governor Stevens to explore St. .Mary's Valley. These lines are drawn from a report recently issued by order of government. Explorations, &c., from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, p. 308. Lieutenant Mullan says:
When I arrived at the camp with my guide, three or four men came out to meet us, and we were invited to enter the lodge of the great chief. With much eagerness they took care of our horses, unsaddled them, and led them to drink. As soon as the camp had been informed of the arrival of a white man among them, all. the principal men of the tribe collected at the lodge of the chief.
"All being assembled, at a signal given by the chief, they prayed aloud. I was struck with astonishment, for I had not the least expectation of such conduct on their part. The whole assembly knelt. In the most solemn manner, and with the greatest reverence, they adored the Lord. I asked myself: Am I among Indians? Am I among people whom all the world call savages t I could scarcely believe my eyes. The thought that these men were penetrated with religious sentiments, so profound and beautiful, overwhelmed me with amazement.
" I could never say enough of those noble and generous hearts among whom- I found myself. They were pious and firm, men of confidence, full of probity, and penetrated at the same time with a lively and religious faith, to which they remain constant. They never partake of a repast without imploring the blessing of Heaven. In the morning, when rising, and at night, when retiring, they offer their prayers to Almighty God. The tribe of the Flat-Heads among the Indians is the subject of their highest esteem ; and all that I witnessed myself justifies this advantageous opinion"
Here is another testimony from the Hon. Isaac J. Stevens, governor of Washington Territory. Giving orders to Lieut. M. he says:
"Tell those good Flat-Heads that the words of Father De Smet in their behalf have been received by their Great Father, the President of the United States, and that all good people are devoted to them. I would like to rebuild St. Mary's. Let them know that I am attached to them, and ready to aid their old benefactors in their well-being. This would be most pleasing to me."
He wrote to the Indian agent:
"You are already aware of the character of the Flat-Heads. They are the best Indians of the mountains and the plains-honest, brave, and docile, they only need encouragement to. become good citizens-they are Christians, and we are assured that they live up to the Christian code."
This passage is from the report to the President, in 1854: You see, reverend brother, that my eulogium at Erps-Querbs, on the Flat-Heads, is also in the mouths of the Americans. It is the same with the other Indians. The sisters and the pupils may then rely on the prayers and gratitude of the little girls who bear their names. May those children of the desert have the same means of salvation as the children of Belgium.
II. Pater and Ave, in Osage.
Intatze ankougtapi manshigta ningshe, shashe dichta
(Father our in heaven who art, name thy)
ouchoupegtselou,wawalagtankapi dichta tshighselou. Hakistse
(be hallowed. kingdom thy come. Will)
ingshe manshingta ekionpi, manshan lai ackougtsiow.
(thy in heaven be done on earth be it done likewise.)
Humpale humpake sani watsutse ankougtapi wakupiow.
(To-day and day every bread our to us give.)
Ouskan pishi wacshiegchepa ankionle ankale, aikon
(Action bad to us which has been done, we it forgive, so)
ouskan pishi ankougtapi waonlapiow. Ouskan pishi
(action bad ours us forgive.. Action bad)
ankagchetapi wasankapi ninkow. Nansi pishi ingshe
(to do by us lead us not. But evil from)
walietsi sapiow. Aikougtsiou.
(deliver us. Amen.)
Hawai Marie, Wagkonda odikupi odishailow.
(Hail Mary, of the Great Spirit of gifts thou art.)
Wagkonda shodigue acchow. Wakoki odisanha
(The Great Spirit with thee is. The women among them)
odichoupegtsiow. Jusus tsaitse oulagran ingshe
(thou art blessed. Jesus of the womb the fruit thy)
ougoupegtsiow. Walagui Marie Wagkonda, . Ehonh,
(is blessed. Holy. Mary, of the Great Spirit the Mother,)
wawatapiow, dekousi antzapi aitchanski. Aikougtsiou.
(pray for us now and at the moment of our death. Amen.)
Accept, reverend Mother, this trifling homage of my gratitude, and express the same sentiments to your worthy Director, community, and pupils.
Your servant in Christ,
P. J. DE SMET.