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Tous las autres exemplaires origlneux aont filmte en commenpant par la pramlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impreaslon ou d'illustration et en terminent par la dernMre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un dee symbolas sulvants apparattra sur ia darnlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon Ie ces: Ie symbols -^ signifle "A SUIVRE", Ie symbols ▼ signifle "FIN". Les cartea, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmia A dee taux de rMuctlon diff Arents. Loisque Ie docum<^nt est trop grand pour Atre reprodult en un seul cliehA, 11 est film* A partir da I'angia aupArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en baa, en prenant la nombre d'Imagas nteessalra. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 IHr H / «' A MEMORIAL or ii' TH B UOHiWZ UilHU Who perished in the Rail Road dieaster at Deposit, N. Y., February, 18, 1852, CONTAINING, I. Obituary Notice by Hon. C. P. Avery. II. Sermon preached in St. Thomas' Church, Hamil- ton, Feb. 29, 1852, by S. H. Norton, Rector. III. Poem by W. H. C. Hosmer, Esq. »■•♦- — ^•---v.,*.,-.^-vy\,*t HAMILTON : WALDRON & BAKER, PRINTERS, 1862. nr,t'- » _.5V«^i"5'%Vi'v— TO THE MEMO lY OF SA-SA-NA I.OPT, NOBLK, LOVELY, SELF-DEVOTED-EARLY MOURNED AND TO TH09K WHO LOVE AND CHERISH HER MEMORY, THESE BRIEF PAGES ARE DEDICATED. — 'Ss*»t^M»*^V»'%— . ! » ^^P^fJrP' 'r' ^mmmm K A MEMORIAL \y-\ ^^yA„^N/-\^>.^>..'*\ >■%-/"• .^'N^'x-.'^ /N-^'N.y t^yxW^N xxy^ •%.>'> /'X-^'v ^ " They heard the story of the Crow Beneath the evening torches' flare, And of their people'8 grief and loss, And all the sad reproach they bear — Their moumAiI people, and the Cross, The pains and perils of the Cross, They gave themselves to serve, and share." M. H. p. N OP 8A-SA-NA. •"V.,^ ^-\^\,^/\/\r^/-K/-'\y\- v/'N/^/v.-v/N.-'N /"N/^-vy-N r^/x<'-\/-\/'k> > mmiL OF nwiL «>./■^•»..'^rf^ J "It is the spot I came to seek, My fathers* ancient burial-place, Ere fi-om these vales, ashamed and weak, Withdrew our wasted race. It is the spot — I know it well. Of which our old traditions tell." —[Bryant. There comes a time when the Morn shall rise. Yet charm no smile to thy filmed eyes. There comes a time when thou liest low. With the roses dead on thy frozen brow. With a pall hung over thy tranced vest. And the pulse asleep in thy silent breast. There shall come a dirge through the valleys drenr, And a white-robed priest to thine icy bier." «♦*»•• "Woe is me when I watch and pray. For the lightest sound ' f thy coming foot. For the softest note of thy summer lay, For the faintest chord of thy vine-strung lute ! Woe is me when the storms sweep by And the mocking winds are my sole reply." — [Edith May. The announcement of the appalling tragedy upon the New Y«rfc and Erie Railroad, at Deposit, on Wednesday of last week, following so soon the fearful aceident near Equinunk, fell solemnly upon the ears of all. When it was known that one of the Mohawk sisters, Miss Sa-sa-na Loft, the elder of the two, who with their worthy ♦First published in the Owcgo Gazette, of Feb. 26th. J"_ '« I t f-- Wf- A M K M O R I A L l)rothor, had so recently visited our place, on their benevolent mission, had been stricken down in the dawn of her usefulness, a feeling of sorrow, too intense for utterance, sunk to the heart, saddening every fireside circle where her unobtrusive merit, and the desolate condition of the survivors had become known. On Tuesday evening, the 17th, they had given one of their interesting Concerts at Deposit, and on the following day, upon the arrival of the mail train at that station, from the West, the two sisters took seats in the rear car, while the brother went to the offce for the purpose of procuring tickets for his party. That being the usual dining station, the larger part of the pas- sengers were at the table, which will account for tho loss of but three lives, although the rear oar was almost entirely to^n in pieces. The alarm was given by some one who saw the freight train, which had been passed by the passenger train, eight miles back, at "The Summit," dashing forward under the fearful momentum gained by having become unmanageable on the downward grade — some portion of it being more than sixty feet to the mile. Having rashly lost control of his train, the engineer, finding the collision inevitable, in dismay aban- doned his post — leaving the train to its wild fury. Upon the alarm being given of its approach, the two sisters made an ef- fort to escape ; both reached the platform of the station, but by some mysterious providence, the elder sister fell back upon the doomed car, which was then crumbling under the iron blows of the uncurbed engine. Her death was instantaneous. Saving ourselves from a contemplation of the other incidents of this mournful mid-day tragedy, let us here draw a veil be- fore the dreadful scene. Full of sadness indeed, arc all the facts of this most distress- ing occurrence ; but there are circumstances of a peculiarly sorrowful character, which enshroud the tomb of the Mohawk maiden with more than the ordinary gloom of the grave. » :'• N OF SA-SA-NA. T » /*». ..f \ / /■■».'• ''\i^/\./%/\/ \./ \ / ■ / \j\y\/\,'*. / Kys ' * ^\ t ,x\/% Oliild of an unfortunati! raco, lior life had bccu spent from early youth, in an unremitted vffori to acquire a knowl"Igo of the Jilngli^h language and its literature, for the purpose of en- abling her, in conjunction witli her brother and sixterH, to dif- fuse civilization and the principles <»f our Christian faith, among the people of their nation in Canada. The Reservation whore the family reside, i« known an The Mohawk Woods, townshi)) of Thayendanegea, on the Salmon river, which empties into the bay of Quinte, extending along both sides of that river, twelve miles in length, and eight in width. Although there are many of the Mohawk nation to be found on the other Reservations in Canada, on this one are found exclusively Mohawks- of unmixed blood, direct descend- ants of those who under the influence of the Great Thaven- DANEOEA, (Brant,) left the valley of the Mohawk river, soon after the breaking out (jf the revolutionary war. At that time the mother of this unfortunate girl left Canajoharie, the place of her birth, in company with the rest of her tribe, and has since then lived in Canada, and reared a family ; at all times expressing a most ardent wish for the civilization and Christian education of her children. The Indian name of the mother, is the same as that of the youngest daughter — Ya-go-we-j» . At the time of the last departure of her three children from home, they left their aged, and now more than widowed mother, in the care of an elder married sister. In the efforts of the deceased to acquire an education, she was guided by the encouraging example of her brother and the elder sister. The school which those two attended having been at a distance of eight mile.»* from their home, it was only by daily and constant exertion, fatigue and exposure of health, that they acquired a knowledge sufficient for them to direct their next younger sister, Sa-.sana, successfully, in her ear- nest efforts to comprehend the abstruse elementary principles i ^STBW W A MEMORIAL ^-' \ '-v/'\-rN/-v*"vy-> ' v^ v^^vv^ > /N^xyxy w ^^■s^\^yy^.r\^ v/ 'wx. m of our language. At he time of the lost visit of the unfor- tunate girl to our place, she had profited by this fraternal and sisterly guidance, and oth^r important aids, so far as to be able to compose in our language, both in prose and poetry, gracefully and well. In this connection, there should not be omitted a commenda- tory notice of the great assistance which both she and her elder sister received, at the hands of Mrs. Givens, the estimable wife of the Episcopal clergyman, formerly of Kingston, Cana- da, who was at one time a resident Pastor upon the Reserve. In his family, at intervals, the two spent several months, en- joying the excellent intelIectuaJ[ and moral training of that devoted lady. Having thus advanced herself by the aid of her elder sister and brother, and by the kind atitntions of Mri. Givens, in those branches most essential to her usefulness, she in turn, became the principal instructress of her younger sister, Ya* oo-wE-A, who was ,7ith her in their last visit among us, and from whose side, she was torn so suddenly — so painfully. By the joint efforts of the brother and sisters, they had caused to be printed, more than four thousand copies of a sim- ple elementary Book, prepared by themselves, in the Mohawk language. Within the last two years, these have been industri- ously distributed among their people, with encouraging results. The object of their late Oonccrts, was to put themselves in possession of a fund sufficient to secure the printing of a greater number of books — for the making a more vigorous and extend- ed effi>rt in the good work to which they had consecrated their energies, and m the prosecution of which, one of this devoted band has now offered up her life — self-saorificed — a pure oblation. It may be interesting to those whose hands this oommnnioa- tion may reach, to know that the translations made many years V «s / ■inoo, by the renowned Mohawk Chieftain, Joseph Brant, (Tiiayendanboea) have been of great servioo in evangelizing this family, if noi; the originating cause. It will bo recolleoted that he was the war-ohief of the Six Nations, and that his name, during our revolutionary strife, Hprond terror through- out our frontier settlements, on the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Mohawk. At his home on the Reservation, soon after his settlement in Canada, he having become a sincere and penitent believer, although his sins had been ''as scarlet,'* turned his attention to the religious improvement of his people. For that purpose, he translated into his native tongue the gospels of St. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Book of Genesis, nnd also the Prayer-Book of the Episcopal Church. These fell into the hands of the family, whose sad bereavement we are now con- tudering. The illustrations^ioh the translations contained, by simple and imperfect pictures of our Saviour's suffering, awakened inquiry, and it became the parent of a fixed determi- nation to know more. The result has been the diffusion of intellectual, moral and reli^ous light, where darkness only reigned before. Another interesting fact may be also appropriately stated in this place. So great has been the zeal of this and other con- verted &milies upon the Reservation, that a handsome Church has been erected there, at a cost of $9,000. To ocure the funds to meet so heavy a liability, no personal sacrifice has been too great for them — no exertion too discouraging. It stands on the northerly bank of the river, upon which the Reserve is situated, a monument of the zeal and active faith with which they adore the Great Spirit, Ho-wen-nee-yu, whom we call, with like reverence, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe: The surviving brother and sister felt deeply the kindness of our citizens, as evinced by their sympathizing attendance Hi B \1 at their cister's funeral. They also appreciated the kind services of those ladies of our village, who assisted so ma- terially in the painful duties of the earlier part of the day. After the impressive and appropriate ceremonies at the Church and the grave, had been concluded, their grateful feel- ings found expression in a single sentence of the brother, "one half the load is lifted from our hearts." They found such universal sympathy — so much of kind intention on the part of every one, that the dark cloud of sorrow which seemed at first to have enveloped them hopelessly, was relieved of much of its gloom. Sa-sa-na Loft — a youthful ;Btranger — who had seen but twenty-one summers — of a different race from the present occu- pants of the soil — a timid alien }fjfon the domain or her ances- tors, over which for more than two centuries, they had exer- cised a Roman prowess and control — ^in the sight of the beau- tiful river, christened by her forefathers, the Goo-kwa-oo branch of the Delaware— died — cruelly died by the white man's negligence. An accomplished, gifted, and noble-hearted lady has fallen, in the midst of her great work — ^prostrate upon the altar — a precious sacrifice. "Hark ! in the holy grove of palms, Where the stream of life runs free, Echoes, in the Angels' psalms, ;tr . m- Sister Spirit ! Hail to thee !" ...„,, I . . . / -«r yf**'i Djsl. ifi OF SA-SA-NA. 11 A time to weep — a time to mourn. — [Eccles. Ill : 4. These words have plaoa among the aphorisms put forth by the preaoher-king of Israel, under the general proposition, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every pur- pose under the heaven." The whole discourse owes its ut- terance to the ripe experience of old age, directed and con- trolled by the Spirit of inspiration. Its deckrations arc not to be taken as mere truisms — ^ word of God deals not in such — ^but as containing a seed of Divine truth, needful to be sown in the hearts of men, unto spiritual and heavenly wisdom. This appears, indeed, from their connection in the sacred preacher's discourse ; for they lead very directly with him, to the consideration of the glorious works, the gifts, the sove- reignty, the eternity, the mysterious Providence, and the right- eous judgments of God. They must be regarded, therefore, as expressive of general laws of this life, according to the Di- vine ordinance, and, at the same time, indicative of human necessity, duty and wisdom. These three things arc clearly involved in the propositions of our text. For tears and mourning are, in their season, and for their causes, of the necessity of our common nature. The ties of kindred, of friendship, of brotherhood in the faith, nay, of common humanity — that wide brotherhood in which we all meet — ^make tears and mourning our duti/j as well as our neces- sity. And that they arc tha part of wisdom^ too, we may fitly own, in the words of the inspired author of the Book of «- 9 f' ( wmf^ Ml R 12 A MEMORIAL Ecclesiastcs, in another place : "It is better," says he, "to go t.0 the house of moar.iing, than to go to the house of feast- ing ; for that is the end of all' men, and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better Hian laughter, for by the sad- ness of the countenance, the heart is made better." And again, "The heart of the wise is in the the house of mourning."* I do not purpose now to enter upon the exposition of thes3 several truths, but suggesting them only, as demanding our solemn acknowledgment in the fear of God, at all times, and especially at this present,— >let mci turn with you to the contem- plation of the melancholy event which has prompted the pres- ent discourse. My office will appropriately be, to give expres- sion — so far as I may be able— to our common sorrow over a departed young sister, stricken down in the bloom of youth, in the flush of joyous hopes, and at the entrance upon a career of distinguished usefulness, — our mourning sympathy with her bereaved relatives, — and our religious sense of so afflictive a visitation of God's All-wise Providence. Your hearts, breth- ren and friends, bear witness that it is for tM, with many others, "A time to weep — ^a time to mourn." You will be beforehand with me, in the thoughts which call for utterance on this occa- sion, and in the unaffected sympathy which would gladly min- gle sorrow and tears with those, who under ciroumstanoei so fearful and distresuag have been visited with afflicdon. Two months ago, a little company of Indian singers — ^b/other and two sisters, from the Mohawk Woods, G. W.— came among us, in their way through the coimtry giving Concerts. Their appearance was marked by great simplicity and modesty. In their public performances, they sought no aid— as they readily might, if they had chosen — from fantastic displays of the garb and the customs of their wild forefathers. They made no high •Ecd. VII 2-4. I . m u pretensions to musical accomplishments. But they endeavored to please their audiences by a variety of simple songs and sa- cred melodies, and trusted to the presentation of the objed for which they had left their distaiit and retired home, to commend their efforts to our people. This object was the benefit of oth- ers, who greatly needed their help, and ours. They wished to procure religious and other useful books, for their people at home, and for the native tribes still bqyond them, in the wilds of Canada. Such a work could not fail to enlist a general feel- ing of interest, and to secure for them, if it had needed, a gen- erous allowance for any deficiencies in the Concert-Room. But it did not need. They succeeded far beyond their professions of ability, in delighting the crowds who listened to their musio. There was a sweet breathing ' of native melody throughout it all, that brought thoughts of Nature's own waving woods. There were some warbled strains (hushed now, till they wake again in the angel choir,) that were free and clear and inspir- ing, as the song of the oriole. ., But still farther were these interesting strangers commended to us. Their life and conversation while among us, were such as not only to draw out approbation and interest, but also a deep and affectionate regard. I may speak for many others as well 88 for myself in saying, that never, in so short a time, and with so transient opportunity of acquaintance, was a more cor- dial esteem and love awakened, than toward this little family band. A Missionary band they might with propriety be term- ed ; for however the nove% and interest of travel, and the opportunities of cultivated society, thus opened to them, may have served in a degree to prompt their zeal, and to sustain it, the object set before them in their enterprise, appears to have been earnestly, constantly and disinterestedly pursued. Indeed, the advantages they derived from society throughout our coun- try, were designed, no less than their pecuniary profits, to be m . . m>mi^etaf3f»»iHMti,nutmmwmfA iM ft 14 A MEMORIAL turned to account for the benefit of th^ir own less favored na- tion. Thut sincere religious principle was a controlling motive in their whole life and pursuits^ none could doubt who had the opportunity of discourse with them, in the social and family circle. A peculiar interest could not but be felt in these visitors by those of our own household of faith, from the fact that they were all members of our Communion- in the Church in Canada, and that on the sacred festival of Christmas, they participated with us in public worship and in the Holy Communion, — finding in our house of prayer, the same wredthed evergreen upon the wall, and the same familiar services and customs so dear to them at Christmas-tide in their own church in the Mohawk Woods. It was the hearty ejaculation of one of them, as they entered the church on Christmas morning, "We are at home now !" — It was a glad thing for us, thus to have these children of the forest with us, to share the hallowed joys of this ever dear fes- tival, in the Courts and at the Table of our common Lord. It was something to call forth anew devout thanksgivings for the wide-reaching mercies of the Gospel, and to stimulate the missionary spirit, — the essential spirit of Christianity. But not to us was interest in this company confined. They found it in the whole community. Tkey found it especially, and with the most kindly and cordial manifestations, among Christian friends of other communions. The same was true, not only of their experience in our town, but throughout their extended circuit of travel. I kno»that they deeply appreciated all this, and were delighted and thankful. After a few days sojourn among us, they went on their way, carrying with them the respect and well wishes of all— the hearty God-speed and fervent blessing of some. Two of this littie band may be expected to read the words I am now ad- dressing to you. Let me not speak more particularly of them. t- ■f^.y-y^ \y\^ \y^y'\y~\y ra*! OF SA-SA-NA. 15 Of the third I freely may, for no words of mine, can now reach I [ her ear, to wound with praises, the sensitiveness of modesty and humility. ,. Sa-sa-na was one to attract attention and a peculiar interest, I in any society. Every movement and every word were char- : acteristic of the Indian maiden ; — her conversation full of vi- vacity, imaginative, and at the same time, discriminating, shew- ed her to be one of no common mind. She had had considerable advantages of education. Doubtless her opportunities, through society and travel, had served in addition, to give a rapid de- volopoment to her mental powers ; but these must have been naturally strong and brilliant. There was a rich vein of poetry, too, in her thoughts, and language, which added to the charm of her discourse. These peculiarities of mind, prompting alike to the eager acquisition of information, and to the impulsive expres- sion of her own vivid thoiights, led her to throw off very much of the reserve of the Indian girl. But this reserve gave place to a freedom, at once modest and graceful, which won the hearts of all around her, both old and young. And Sa-sa-na was a Christian maiden. So far as we might judge and well believe, hers was a simple, genuine, unostentatious piety, — the piety of one who as a "membfpof Christ, a child of God, and an heir, through faith, of His everlasting Kingdom," could, in the light of such a relationship, look forth upon life and upon Nature ; and, in consistency wkh the penitence and humility of the Christian walk, be ohatrful and joyous in the spring- time of being. The piety of youth — how lovely is it always, and V^w blessed are its fruits ! Oh, that the young might un- derstand^ that pleasures do not vanish by being chastened, nor joy diminish by being sanctified ! Still more — that they might le;;m, that out of humble penitence alone, can be the spring of real and enduring joys ! Let me not attempt, with too much minuteness to sketch '1= a 16 A MEMORIAL i'\>-\-'-^_/-X^ <'\^'^^y\^ •rai»C(I })c O'od, not ho as without the light nnd tho liopcH of our holy Faith. While therefore, we Hcek to »lmre with these nfliictoil friends, some portion of their sorrow, and to communi- cate with them in sympathy and in prayers, let some farther thoughts also be given to the sad event before us, for our es- tablishint; in Divine doctrine, and our comfort of hope ; and, may it please God, for their strengthening and comfort, too . A» Christians we say, and we know, that the ruling hand of od is in every event of mortal life. But we do not always so fully apprehend this truth, as we are allowed, and as it is our wisdom to do. It is fit that we should consider widely, in the light of revelation, the contingent purposes of Infinite Provi- dence, in dark dispensations like this we are now called to oon- tcmplatc ; and especially that we should rest our thoughts* and our faith, on those certain truths which His word gives us to know, in connection with tho outward and visible circum- stances of death, even in its most appalling forms. For the former, let it be enough now to dwell upon two only, among tho most evident and important of the Divine purposes. When the servants of Christ are thus early and suddenly called away, there is this clear voice to surviving relatives and friends, from out the afflictive dispensation. It is a call to them anew, to set their affections supremely there, where yet another treas- ure has been gathered in of God, as it were to draw their hearts on after. And His act of apparent severity, is indeed toward them, but the loosing of one mtye band that bound them to earth, to link it in the chain which binds them to heaven and heavenly things. The Christian poet realized this, when be wrote from the deep calm of spiritual contemplations, " 'Tib swcot, as year by year we lose Friends out of sight, in faith to muso, How grows in Paradise our storp."* *Koble's Christian Year. »i m f m "V^N .^ >•v/-^ *'X^>.-'^ / OP HA-8A-NA. '>'' ^./•X/"V^^^-\./-Vv' XZ-XZ-N / N/^ /"N-'NrN>'X/--. ^-•^y*-' N 19 v^^•■^.--sy■^ Another plain indication of tho gracioutj purposo of God, in taking away ono and another in the niidtit of years and uueful- ncHH, or, as in tho caKe before uh, in the opening day of hope and of distinguished promise, we find in the words of tho prophet Isaiah, "Tho righteous are taken away from tho evil to come." Fr»m how much of sorrow, trial and sin, arc such most certainly removed ; and from what unknown afflictions and extremities of peril may they thus be given escape ! What secret mercy may *hero be, evon in the most saddening instances of iiudden death! — mercy, which, could we see it in all its fulness, as one day it may be permitted us, would cause our bowed hearts to fling the load of grief from off them, to leap for joy, and to cry aloud with thanksgiving ! Our heavenly Father — for our ohastesing — wills not now to open to us all these views. He bids us "walk by faith, and not by siglit"-^to bo still and know that ho is God — that "He doeth all things well"— -that all things — seem they never so grievous- **work together for good to them that love him." In this faith. Ho would have us resign to Him, those whom Ho takes from earth, by what wo are so prone to call, untimely death. Let us then fulfil His will, in owKing tho merciful goodness which we oannot see. Let the faith of it be to us, and especially t9 the bereaved, «, foundation tf jpeace, which no flood of sorrow can remove. And while wo confess the wislom and love of G od, which such views of His providential purposes reveal to us, let us directly regard and apply a doctrine which our holy faith specifically commends to us, for our comfort always ; and which so relieves the contemplation of the terrors of mortality, alike in its gontloit approaches, and when its agencies are sudden and violcrrt. The word of inspiration by tho Psalmist, dcclarcB to such as make the Lord their refuge, "Q(m1 shall charge hia nngcl legions, ! Watch and ward u'cr theo to keep." m 30 A MEMORIAL I And it is of tho Saviour's own teaching, that not alone docs the I soul of tho faithful go forth to try tho mysteries of tho unseen j world, but ministering angels receive it as it parts from its chy ! tabernacle, and carry it home to tho Paradise of God. Tho ; doctrine is one — tho doctrine of the angel ministry to tho heirs of salvation. Brethren, God was not a God afur off— He had not forgotten to be gracious to this child of His — that thus with fearful violence, the silver cord was loosed, the golden bowl broken, the life He gave, taken away. No! in that crushing shock. Ho was present, OS ever, in mighty power, in wisdom and in mercy. And hov- ering above the scene of rushing rage and swift destruction, were those agents of Omnipotence, whom He sometimes makes winds and flames of fire, to do His will ; and who ever go forth at His command, more swiftly than on telegraphic wings, to min- ister to His chosen in their hour of need. Stooping in that moment so dread to mortal nature, those blessed spirits fulfilled their gracious office. Twofold indeed their office was. Two sisters were together — alike in mortal peril, and helpless, be- fore the maddened element. God willed to spare the one, and the broad shield of angel power was interposed, to ward off the impending blow. God willed to take the other to himself, and the fatal shock was suffered. But as the earthly house fell before it in ruins at their feet, angels received the yielded spirit, and bore it heavenward with infolding wing. God be praised, brethren, for assurances liko these — mercy in sparing life, through so glorious, though unseen agencies- equal mercy in taking it away — translating it by the same blessed ministry into realms of light, almost before the shadows of mortality have closed around its earthly phase. And so is it always. They who are truly the servants of God, are never in danger amid the uncertainties of human life . God's commissioned messengers, great in power and wisdom .f - I op 8A-8A-NA. «l k ^Ny-vy^^Kz-v^-v/ Vy^y>-/Ay^/^^X /^ /N A\ /^ /^ '"\ y — oxoollont in Htrongtii— arc sent forth for their dofonco,— a tsiroling hoHt encamped around them. No evil can happen to them, no plague come nigh thcin, but as Qod allowH it for their good. The mortal Bummonn will come indeed, in His own time. It may come when they think not. It may como by terrible messengerH. l^it they need not fear. Nothing can pluck them out of their Futhorcs hand. Nothing can separate them from the love of (Christ. Nothing can deprive them of that guardian ministry, which the abounding goodness of the Lord has vouchsafed them. Death, in seeming to frustrate this, does but give occasion for the crowning charities of angtOs. These truths of our faith — how do they change the aspect of mortal calamities ! IIow they brighten like golden day, upon the darkness of sorrow ! How they pour the divine oil of con- solation into wounded hearts, and infuse joy into the bitterest cup of grief ! How they cause love to pour forth from the welling depths of our souls, to that Almighty Father, lledccm- cr and Sanotifier, whoso love is thus shewed us ! And what glorious conjecture do they cast, as a bow of promise, on that veiling cloud which hides from our vision the surpassing joys of the life immortal— 'those things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man — the things which God hath prepared for them that love him ! May the assurance of all these Divine doctrines be abundantly the portion of our afflicted friends, in this present bereavement. May they think of this departed child and sister, as mercifully removed from the thronging trials and pains of this life, and carried by angels, to a blessed rest in the presence of the Lord. And may their hearts be set supremely on things above, that at length they may be partakers with her of the heavenly kingdom. Mingling thoughts of the Divine consolations with our sor- rowing sympathies, let us also lay to heart,-rand especially let i« » w '22 A MKMOUIAL ' >• ■' vyv/x^s ^\^\^ \^\^*^' ■\^ \^\,y \^ v-.-^^V>^V^\^'V/\.^\/^ mo charge it upon you, my young friumlH— tlio wolonin Ichhou which early and Huddcn death, ho often exeniplifled, iH doHignod to teach ufl. Our 'Mifo w even a vapor, that appoaroth for a little time, and then vaniHhoth nway." "In the midtit of lifo wo are in deatli." No froshnosH of youth, no health, no buoyancy of Hpirits, can give m any nHHuranoo of length of day«i. Wo know not what even a day may bring forth. The slightest flhook may sever the thread of this mortal being. The gentlest breath of the summer breeze, may wing the shaft of death to our bo- soms. We all know this. Wc do not need to have it proved to UH anew. But oh, how many are living as though it wore not so ! Will you not all endeavor to urge this truth nion^ earnestly upon yourselves, with its instant admonition to bo prepared for death .' Will you not try to apprehend, and make your own, the inspired prayer of the Psalmist, "80 teach us to number our days, that wo may apply our hearts unto wis- dom." The Spirit of God is graciously waiting to teach you all that true wisdom, which to know is lifo eternal. "Ask, and it shall bo given you ; Hcek, and yc shall fil)4'" Mi Let a brief glance over the circumstances of the sad event wo have been contemplating, serve, in conclusion, to improM its solemn admonitions upon us, and to draw our hearts out still, toward tho house of mourning. A little while ago, and the heart of the Indian girl was glad in the thought of an early return to her homo in tho woods. And wo heard her tell of the joy it is, to bo at home with Na- ture in the early spring— when the brooks are murmuring again, and the buds unfold, and the soft winds whisper in the troe- tops, and the early birds return, and all nature is beautiful and smiling, beneath tihc hand of our Father, and seems to bo vocal with his praise. — That longed-for season is coming soon ; and its life, its beauty, and its niulody, will spring anew in the Mo- j« i« rt Ol- HA-8A-NA. if*. 'v.^\' vvyv »^v^x*>./^i '^ ''^x^>^y*v.'Ny-^.^^/^ ^v /N^xy^^w^ /^xvyx^sy hawk woo»1k ; hut tlio Iron footBtopH of Sa-ha-na will not lio roaming there, her joyoiw voioo will no nioro thrill in tho hcurtn of loving kindred and fricndH, nor her wnrblings echo the wild bird'rf Hong. ChccrlosH and lonely will bo tho foroHt path — Hilont and Had, will bo "the wigwam at homo."— A little later — perhaps before the green loaf is grown— and in the Christian temple which Indian piety has reared there, there will bo a Horrowful gathering f;om out those wilds, for solemn funeral rites. And prayer will be said, and holy song bo sung, and Chriit proolaimod as tho Resurrection and tho Life— and then in the quiet churchyard, the mortal remains of the Mo- hawk Maiden will be committed to tho ground, — "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,"— and the blessed words of the Faith will be spoken above them : "I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write from henceforth, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord ; even wo sai.h tho Spirit ; for they rest from their labours. " So change tho scenes of life — so fail its visions — so fade its hopes. Ours is the tribute of mourning and tears, liut while wo yield it, on cmr own or others' behalf, let us bless the Word that bids us look beyond these dissolving views, to tlic bright, unchanging scones of the life above. There, sorrows shall be known no moro ; tears shall forever bo wiped away ; and mourning will bo but a dim rcmembraacc, as of the shadow of a cloud on the morning path of existence. In the faith of that life, let pious hands close the grave of this departed child of God, and gently press the turf upon its raised mound. There sleep the precious dust, till in the resurrection at the last day, it is raised in power and glory, spiritual and immortal. "Sweetly their bodies rest Beneath tho green sod, Whoso souls are with tho blo&l) Bosom'dhiGod." May it be ours allj so to lio down to tho long stilly slumber of tho grave— and to wake in the springtime of the life immor- tal, in the likeness of Jesus, and to the joys of His presence, in His everbsting kingdom. I. V- '**■ '■-:; ; ..^ V... -t. 1 • :.t: ' "V^ >^ Vy v^ v_/ *^ \y \^ v^ -^^ v-- N^ OP SA-SA.NA. vy »^ N,/'\^ ^-^ V v^N 35 "^•^ \^ \.' ^^' \^ \^ \^ J liMBNT FOE SA-SHA. BY W. H. C. H08MER. "I dsr« not tnmt a hurg«r U7, But imtber loosen fimn the lip Short ■wallow-flights of sonc. thatdia Their wings in toars."— [TBNNYSOir. When hearts all joy, and cheeks all bloomy 'rhe Paroee mark for an early doom, And ties are clipped by their cmel shears That bound us to the yonng ip /ears— His dirge in vain the Poet nngs, Waking the wildly-wailing strings ; Fo:: die tearless alienee of dec^air, Not words, can loss so dread declare. !,« V ^s >x-A. y-\ /-v y "X 9A A MEMORIAL II. Though sad to witness, day by day, Our loved ones waste with slow decay, While the features warm with a hectic glow, More bright than Painting will ever know — Thrice mournful is the stroke of Fate, Leaving us wholly desolate. That falls, unheralded, to sever ^• An idol from our souls forever. inJ Though mine is not a practiced ear. Oh ! how I loved her song to hear :— . Her teachers were the tuneful rills, And airy voices from the hills ; The lay she breathed was Nature's own, Melting the soul with its liquid tone. And caught from water-fall, and bird. Were notes, by the spell-bound listener heard. »w. IV., Her large, black eye wa9 ev^r bright With flashes of eleotrip %^t, And her cheek with a glo^iifig sian-sdt red Like summer twilight, overspread. 1 OF SA-SA.NA. -^A H a? The shade of woods was in her hair, The blue-bell's grace in her queenly air, And the proudest willing homage paid To the matchless charms of the Mohawk Maid. V. Ah ! gathered was this Rose of ours When Life was in its Moon of Flowers, Ere canker soiled one tender leaf, Or frost had done the work of grief : She perished, like some worthless weed, In the track of the White Man's Iron Steed ; And strangers in the tomb have laid The crushed remains of the Mohawk Maid. ¥1, Poor widowed mother of the dead ! Thou wilt hear no more her bounding tread, But let one soothing thought control The grief that rends thy tortured soul. When sang of Heaven thy forest child. What transport breathed in each 'wood-note wild'; The path of a blamelcH life she trod, And the pure in thought shall look on God. '4 ss MEMORIAL OF 8A-8A-NA. VII. Let velvet mofm o*er the Blumberer creep Where the bones of her red forefvlhera sleep, And the spot be marked wfth no other sign Thftn some old familisr oak, or pine :— Better a quiet place of rest, With the turf of home upon her breast, Than the proudest tomb that trophied Art Could build to cover her mouldering heart.