“I think we have some good girls among us,” said Henry Jackson, with a kind look at his cousin Ann.
“True,” said the grandmother, who noticed and applauded that look, “very true; though few persons may be so situated as to perform brilliant actions, yet all may have opportunity to do many good ones. We cannot tell what might be done by what is done; but we must believe that a truly generous and virtuous heart will act nobly in all situations.
“But to return to Mary. She rose and dressed herself very quickly; and wrapping a little blanket about her, she fell on her knees a moment, and prayed God to keep her from all harm, and to forgive her for leaving the house without her parents’ knowledge; for Mary was a very obedient and faithful child; and this was the first time she had ever done any important thing without the consent and approbation of her parents. She opened a door which led from her little room into a narrow entry, and passed, without observation, into the open air. The moon was nearly at the full. Heavy and rich masses of clouds were continually floating over its surface, and, sometimes, almost obscuring its light; but then they would pass away, and the moon would shine out brighter than before; and the waters of the river flashed like diamonds; and all the leaves of the wilderness, as they waved in the stirring wind, shone as if they had been dipped in molten silver. Mary clapped her little hands and forgot to be afraid, for her spirit was worshipping that God who maketh night so very glorious.
“And now let me tell you, my children, a good child never need be afraid in the darkness more than in the open day; for, as the Scriptures say, ‘He knoweth all the lambs of his fold;’ and again, ‘A sparrow falleth not to the ground without his knowledge.’
“The way was familiar to Mary, and soon she came to the rock where she had left Anawon. When her steps were heard, the old chief started to his feet and uttered a low cry, and, directly, several Indians stood by his side. Mary was not afraid, even then; for though the Indians were the enemies of her nation and her kindred, they were not her enemies—they were her friends: for there was hardly one among them who had not, at some time or other, felt the kindness of the sweet child. So she walked directly into the midst, fearless of the tomahawks that were lifted at her approach, and holding up her little hand to Anawon, said, in her low, sweet voice, ‘Father—fly—thy enemy is at hand!’
“The old Indian seemed, at first, almost choked with emotion; for he well knew that his enemies were the friends of Mary; and laying his hand on the child’s head as she bent before him, he only said, ‘The God of the white man and the Great Spirit of the Indian be with thee!’ and his followers, who, from the moment she was known, had fallen back from the centre of the rock, as they leaned upon their bows and looked upon the child, repeated, at once, a word in the Indian tongue, which was as much as to say, ‘Amen.’
“Then Anawon unbound a wampum bracelet from his arm, and giving it to Mary, said, ‘Daughter! in the hour of sorrow bring this to Anawon; and ask what thou wilt, and it shall not be denied thee!’
“Then Namoina (whom we will henceforth call Rachel) took the child in her arms and kissed her, and wrapped her little blanket about her; and Mary ran swiftly toward home. She reached her room in safety, and soon she fell asleep, for she was very tired. Soon after this Mrs. Gray came into the room, and saw that Mary was asleep, and that her pillow was wet with tears; she could not think what had caused them, for she had never known Mary to be very unhappy. Just at this moment William came in on tiptoe; and, as he bent down to kiss his sister’s cheek, he saw the bracelet, which had fallen to the floor, and examining it by the light of the moon, he thought he had seen it before; and taking it to his father, Mr. Gray said that he remembered it very well, for he had seen it on the arm of Anawon.
“‘I will wake Mary instantly,’ said William, ‘and perhaps she can tell us where he is; and we will have the cunning old savage before morning!’
“‘Thou art much too hasty,’ said Mr. Gray, laying a hand on his son’s arm; ‘this token was given to thy sister in peace and love. Thou knowest boy,’ he continued, with difficulty restraining his son, ‘thou knowest the child’s heart would be broken, if she were obliged, in any way, to be made an instrument of evil. Alas!’ he added, giving way to the natural tenderness of his heart, ‘alas! that we are compelled, by cruel necessity, to slay, ay, murder each other!’ and Simon Gray folded his dark, bony hands upon his breast and was silent.