‘One of those who opposed the Gospel said: “I would not give up my children to you for baptism on any account. My eldest child has been twice so ill that I thought she would die, but an Indian, by his charms, saved her; and recently a spirit appeared to me, telling me to take heed and never give up my children, for if I did, he would no longer take care of them, and they would die.”
‘I remained at Brunswick until the Indians departed to Michipicoton for supplies of flour. I went with them a little way, and then on to Flying Post by a road untrodden by any save the Indian on his hunting expeditions. I found it a terrible route—the worst I have ever travelled—but having no one to think of but myself, I did not mind it—I was about my Master’s business. In due time we reached Flying Post. Our last portage was eight miles of truly horrible walking; it cost us many weary hours.
‘The Indians of Flying Post evinced a great desire for instruction. This was my first visit; I baptized seventeen persons. From Flying Post I went on to Matawakumma. At Matawakumma the Indians are decreasing, as at Flying Post. The decay of a people brings sad reflections, and the Indians seem doomed to extinction. I found a church partly built under the guidance of their trader, Mr. Richards, who takes a deep interest in his Indians’ welfare. A bell and a set of communion plate I hope to get out next ship time; the little church in the wilderness will then be tolerably well furnished.
‘I here made the largest comparative collection I have ever made in my life, no less than 8l. 2s. 8d. The poor people were truly liberal in their poverty, and some of these poor sheep for the first time approached the table of the Lord. Some of them are very intelligent, can read well, and thoroughly understand their Christian responsibilities and appreciate their privileges. And now, my work done, I turn my canoe-head Mooseward, and pass over grand lakes, down a large river, run the rapids, admire the falls, carry over the portages, hurrying towards the sea, and after an absence of between eight and nine weeks I found myself once more in the bosom of my family.’
CHAPTER IX
DAYS OF LABOUR
Nothing perhaps could give a better idea of Mr. Horden’s gigantic labours than an account of a day’s work at different times. A Sunday in the winter of 1871 is thus spent by him.
‘While it was yet dark,’ he says, ‘at half-past six o’clock the church bells summoned us to the house of prayer; the cold was severe, but I found a tolerable congregation awaiting me, and the service was very enjoyable. The congregation dismissed, I returned home to breakfast, and soon afterwards went to the church again for our English service. This is conducted precisely as in a church at home; the full service is read, and we use one prayer which you do not, for the Governor-General of Canada and the Lieutenant-Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Territories. The congregation is composed of the deputy-governor, his family and his staff of clerks, and the doctor—not one of whom is ever absent, and all but one are communicants—my own family, and the servants European and native of the Hudson’s Bay Company. After the sermon a general offertory was made, and then the communicants met around the Lord’s table, there to renew their vows, and to partake of that spiritual food which was ordained to strengthen them in their heavenly course.
‘At a quarter to two the bell was rung for school, and a few minutes after I was with the scholars, on my knees seeking a blessing on our meeting together. School over, our second Indian service commenced with a larger congregation than in the early morning, for young children can be brought out now. There is again a departure from the church, yet some remain, and those, as their English-speaking brethren had done in the morning, commemorate their dying Saviour’s love. In all thirty have communicated. The shades of evening are falling as I leave the church, after a fatiguing, but blessed day’s work.’
The necessity was laid upon Mr. Horden of being like St. Paul, ‘in journeyings oft,’ and the day’s work we have now to speak of was one of journeying.