Part 20 (1/2)
CHAPTER XI.
THE CABIN NEAR CHICAGO.
Jasper and Waubeno crossed the prairies to Lake Michigan. It was June, the high tide of the year. The long days poured their sunlight over the seas of flowers. The prairie winds were cool, and the new vegetation was alive with insects and birds.
The first influence that Jasper tried to exert on Waubeno was to induce him to forego the fixed resolution to avenge his father's death.
”The first thing in education,” he used to say, ”is conscience, the second is the heart, and the third is the head.”
He had planned to teach Waubeno while the Indian boy should be teaching him, and he wished to follow his own theory that a new pupil should first learn to be governed by his moral sense.
”Waubeno,” he said, in their long walk over the prairie, ”I wish to teach you and make you wise, but before I can do you justice you must make a promise. Will you, Waubeno?”
”I will. You would not ask me to do what is wrong.”
”It may be a hard thing, but, Waubeno, I wish you to promise me that you will never seek to avenge your father. Will you, Waubeno?”
”Parable, I will promise you any right thing but that. I have made another promise about that thing--it must hold.”
”Waubeno, I can not teach you as I would while you carry malice in your heart. The soul does not see clearly that is dark with evil. Do you see?
I wish it for your good.”
”The white man punishes his enemies, does he not? Why should not I avenge a wrong? The white fathers at Malden” (the trade-post on Lake Erie) ”avenge every wrong that is done them by the Indians, do they not?”
”Christ died for his enemies. He forgave them, dying. You have heard.”
”Then why do his followers not do the same?”
”They do.”
”I have never seen one who did.”
”Not one?”
”No, not one.”
”Then they are false to the cross. Waubeno, I love you. I am seeking your good. Trust me. I would make you any promise that I could. Make me this promise, and then we will be brothers. Your vow rises between us like a cloud.”
”Parable, listen. I will promise, on one condition.”
”What, Waubeno?”
”You say that right is might, Parable?”
”Yes.”
”_When I find a single white man who defends an Indian to his own hurt because it is right, I will promise._ I have known many white men who defended the Indian because they thought that it was good for them to do it--good for their pockets, good for their church, good for their souls in another world--but never one to his own harm, because it was right; listen, Parable--never one to his own harm because it was right.
When I meet one--such a one--I will promise you what you ask. Parable, my folks did right because it was right.”
”Waubeno, I once knew a boy who defended a turtle to his own harm, because it was right. The boys laughed at him, but his soul was true to the turtle.”