(3) God, His paper—
His Bible is good;
For all English people
It is very good.
By changing a single word in the third line to Pa sai ooks (French), China, Klale man (black men, or negroes), we had other verses.
In time I, however, became satisfied that the Indians would be better pleased if they could sing a few songs in their native languages; but it was very difficult to make them, as I could not talk their languages, and so could not revolve a sentence over until I could make it fit a tune. The Indians, on the other hand, were too young or too ignorant of music to adapt the words properly to it for many years. I had, however, written down about eighteen hundred words and sentences in each of the Twana, Clallam, and Squaxon dialects of the Nisqually language, for Major J. W. Powell at Washington, and could understand the Twana language a very little, and this knowledge helped me greatly. Some of the older school-boys became interested in the subject, and so we worked together. After some attempts, which were failures, we were able in 1882 to make a few hymns which have become quite popular. Some the Indians themselves made, and some they and I made. The following samples are given of one in each language:—
TWANA.
Tune, “Balerma.”
(1) Se-seéd hah-háh kleets Badtl Sowul-lús!
Se-seed hah-háh sa-lay!
Se-seéd hah-háh kleets Badtl Sowul-lús!
Se-seed hah-háh sa-láy!
(2) O kleets Badtl Wees Sowul-lús,
Bis e-lál last duh tse-du-ástl
A-hots ts-kai-lubs tay-tlía e-du-ástl;
Bis-ó-shub-dúh e du-wús!
TRANSLATION.
Great Holy Father God!
Great Holy Spirit!
Great Holy Father God!
Great Holy Spirit!
O our Father God,
We cry in our hearts
For the sins of our hearts;
Have mercy on our hearts!