\"Andbelieveme，myfriend，\"saidI，steppingup，andgraspinghim
warmlybythehand，\"believemeshecanbethesamewithyou。Ay，
more：itwillbeasourceofprideandtriumphtoher—itwillcall
forthallthelatentenergiesandferventsympathiesofhernature；
forshewillrejoicetoprovethatshelovesyouforyourself。There
isineverytruewoman’sheartasparkofheavenlyfire，whichlies
dormantinthebroaddaylightofprosperity；butwhichkindlesup，and
beamsandblazesinthedarkhourofadversity。Nomanknowswhat
thewifeofhisbosomis—nomanknowswhataministeringangelshe
is—untilhehasgonewithherthroughthefierytrialsofthis
world。\"
Therewassomethingintheearnestnessofmymanner，andthe
figurativestyleofmylanguage，thatcaughttheexcitedimagination
ofLeslie。IknewtheauditorIhadtodealwith；andfollowingupthe
impressionIhadmade，Ifinishedbypersuadinghimtogohomeand
unburdenhissadhearttohiswife。
Imustconfess，notwithstandingallIhadsaid，Ifeltsomelittle
solicitudefortheresult。Whocancalculateonthefortitudeofone
whoselifehasbeenaroundofpleasures？Hergayspiritsmightrevolt
atthedarkdownwardpathoflowhumilitysuddenlypointedout
beforeher，andmightclingtothesunnyregionsinwhichtheyhad
hithertorevelled。Besides，ruininfashionablelifeisaccompaniedby
somanygallingmortifications，towhichinotherranksitisa
stranger。—Inshort，IcouldnotmeetLesliethenextmorning
withouttrepidation。Hehadmadethedisclosure。
\"Andhowdidshebearit？\"
\"Likeanangel！Itseemedrathertobearelieftohermind，forshe
threwherarmsroundmyneck，andaskedifthiswasallthathad
latelymademeunhappy。—But，poorgirl，\"addedhe，\"shecannot
realizethechangewemustundergo。Shehasnoideaofpovertybut
intheabstract；shehasonlyreadofitinpoetry，whereitisallied
tolove。Shefeelsasyetnoprivation；shesuffersnolossof
accustomedconveniencesnorelegancies。Whenwecomepracticallyto
experienceitssordidcares，itspaltrywants，itspettyhumiliations—
thenwillbetherealtrial。\"
\"But，\"saidI，\"nowthatyouhavegotovertheseveresttask，that
ofbreakingittoher，thesooneryoulettheworldintothesecret
thebetter。Thedisclosuremaybemortifying；butthenitisa
singlemisery，andsoonover：whereasyouotherwisesufferit，in
anticipation，everyhourintheday。Itisnotpovertysomuchas
pretence，thatharassesaruinedman—thestrugglebetweenaproud
mindandanemptypurse—thekeepingupahollowshowthatmustsoon
cometoanend。Havethecouragetoappearpoorandyoudisarmpoverty
ofitssharpeststing。\"OnthispointIfoundLeslieperfectly
prepared。Hehadnofalsepridehimself，andastohiswife，shewas
onlyanxioustoconformtotheiralteredfortunes。
Somedaysafterwardshecalleduponmeintheevening。Hehad
disposedofhisdwellinghouse，andtakenasmallcottageinthe
country，afewmilesfromtown。Hehadbeenbusiedalldayin
sendingoutfurniture。Thenewestablishmentrequiredfewarticles，
andthoseofthesimplestkind。Allthesplendidfurnitureofhislate
residencehadbeensold，exceptinghiswife’sharp。That，hesaid，was
toocloselyassociatedwiththeideaofherself；itbelongedtothe
littlestoryoftheirloves；forsomeofthesweetestmomentsoftheir
courtshipwerethosewhenhehadleanedoverthatinstrument，and
listenedtothemeltingtonesofhervoice。Icouldnotbutsmileat
thisinstanceofromanticgallantryinadotinghusband。
Hewasnowgoingouttothecottage，wherehiswifehadbeenallday
superintendingitsarrangement。Myfeelingshadbecomestrongly
interestedintheprogressofthisfamilystory，and，asitwasafine
evening，Iofferedtoaccompanyhim。
Hewasweariedwiththefatiguesoftheday，and，ashewalked
out，fellintoafitofgloomymusing。
\"PoorMary！\"atlengthbroke，withaheavysigh，fromhislips。
\"Andwhatofher？\"askedI：\"hasanythinghappenedtoher？\"
\"What，\"saidhe，dartinganimpatientglance，\"isitnothingtobe
reducedtothispaltrysituation—tobecagedinamiserable
cottage—tobeobligedtotoilalmostinthemenialconcernsofher
wretchedhabitation？\"
\"Hasshethenrepinedatthechange？\"
\"Repined！shehasbeennothingbutsweetnessandgoodhumor。Indeed，
sheseemsinbetterspiritsthanIhaveeverknownher；shehasbeen
tomealllove，andtenderness，andcomfort！\"
\"Admirablegirl！\"exclaimedI。\"Youcallyourselfpoor，myfriend；
youneverweresorich—youneverknewtheboundlesstreasuresof
excellenceyoupossessinthatwoman。\"
\"Oh！but，myfriend，ifthisfirstmeetingatthecottagewereover，
IthinkIcouldthenbecomfortable。Butthisisherfirstdayofreal
experience；shehasbeenintroducedintoahumbledwelling—shehas
beenemployedalldayinarrangingitsmiserableequipments—she
has，forthefirsttime，knownthefatiguesofdomesticemployment—
shehas，forthefirsttime，lookedroundheronahomedestituteof
everythingelegant，—almostofeverythingconvenient；andmaynowbe
sittingdown，exhaustedandspiritless，broodingoveraprospectof
futurepoverty。\"
TherewasadegreeofprobabilityinthispicturethatIcouldnot
gainsay，sowewalkedoninsilence。
Afterturningfromthemainroadupanarrowlane，sothicklyshaded
withforesttreesastogiveitacompleteairofseclusion，wecame
insightofthecottage。Itwashumbleenoughinitsappearancefor
themostpastoralpoet；andyetithadapleasingrurallook。Awild
vinehadoverrunoneendwithaprofusionoffoliage；afewtrees
threwtheirbranchesgracefullyoverit；andIobservedseveralpots
offlowerstastefullydisposedaboutthedoor，andonthegrass—plot
infront。Asmallwicketgateopeneduponafootpaththatwound
throughsomeshrubberytothedoor。Justasweapproached，weheard
thesoundofmusic—Lesliegraspedmyarm；wepausedandlistened。
ItwasMary’svoicesinging，inastyleofthemosttouching
simplicity，alittleairofwhichherhusbandwaspeculiarlyfond。
IfeltLeslie’shandtrembleonmyarm。Hesteppedforwardtohear
moredistinctly。Hisstepmadeanoiseonthegravelwalk。Abright
beautifulfaceglancedoutatthewindowandvanished—alight
footstepwasheardandMarycametrippingforthtomeetus：shewasin
aprettyruraldressofwhite；afewwildflowersweretwistedin
herfinehair；afreshbloomwasonhercheek；herwholecountenance
beamedwithsmiles—Ihadneverseenherlooksolovely。
\"MydearGeorge，\"criedshe，\"Iamsogladyouarecome！Ihavebeen
watchingandwatchingforyou；andrunningdownthelane，and
lookingoutforyou。I’vesetoutatableunderabeautifultree
behindthecottage；andI’vebeengatheringsomeofthemostdelicious
strawberries，forIknowyouarefondofthem—andwehavesuch
excellentcream—andeverythingissosweetandstillhere—Oh！\"said
she，puttingherarmwithinhis，andlookingupbrightlyinhis
face，\"Oh，weshallbesohappy！\"
PoorLesliewasovercome。Hecaughthertohisbosom—hefolded
hisarmsroundher—hekissedheragainandagain—hecouldnotspeak，
butthetearsgushedintohiseyes；andhehasoftenassuredme，
thatthoughtheworldhassincegoneprosperouslywithhim，andhis
lifehas，indeed，beenahappyone，yetneverhasheexperienceda
momentofmoreexquisitefelicity。
THEEND。
1819—20
THESKETCHBOOK
TRAITSOFINDIANCHARACTER
byWashingtonIrving
\"IappealtoanywhitemanifeverheenteredLogan’scabin
hungry，andhegavehimnottoeat；ifeverhecamecoldandnaked，
andheclothedhimnot。\"
SPEECHOFANINDIANCHIEF。
THEREissomethinginthecharacterandhabitsoftheNorthAmerican
savage，takeninconnectionwiththesceneryoverwhichheis
accustomedtorange，itsvastlakes，boundlessforests，majestic
rivers，andtracklessplains，thatis，tomymind，wonderfully
strikingandsublime。Heisformedforthewilderness，astheArab
isforthedesert。Hisnatureisstern，simpleandenduring；fittedto
grapplewithdifficulties，andtosupportprivations。Thereseems
butlittlesoilinhisheartforthesupportofthekindlyvirtues；
andyet，ifwewouldbuttakethetroubletopenetratethroughthat
proudstoicismandhabitualtaciturnity，whichlockuphischaracter
fromcasualobservation，weshouldfindhimlinkedtohisfellow—man
ofcivilizedlifebymoreofthosesympathiesandaffectionsthan
areusuallyascribedtohim。
IthasbeenthelotoftheunfortunateaboriginesofAmerica，inthe
earlyperiodsofcolonization，tobedoublywrongedbythewhite
men。Theyhavebeendispossessedoftheirhereditarypossessionsby
mercenaryandfrequentlywantonwarfare：andtheircharactershave
beentraducedbybigotedandinterestedwriters。Thecolonistoften
treatedthemlikebeastsoftheforest；andtheauthorhas
endeavoredtojustifyhiminhisoutrages。Theformerfoundit
easiertoexterminatethantocivilize；thelattertovilifythanto
discriminate。Theappellationsofsavageandpaganweredeemed
sufficienttosanctionthehostilitiesofboth；andthusthepoor
wanderersoftheforestwerepersecutedanddefamed，notbecause
theywereguilty，butbecausetheywereignorant。
Therightsofthesavagehaveseldombeenproperlyappreciatedor
respectedbythewhiteman。Inpeacehehastoooftenbeenthedupeof
artfultraffic；inwarhehasbeenregardedasaferociousanimal，
whoselifeordeathwasaquestionofmereprecautionandconvenience。
Maniscruellywastefuloflifewhenhisownsafetyisendangered，and
heisshelteredbyimpunity；andlittlemercyistobeexpectedfrom
him，whenhefeelsthestingofthereptileandisconsciousofthe
powertodestroy。
Thesameprejudices，whichwereindulgedthusearly，existincommon
circulationatthepresentday。Certainlearnedsocietieshave，it
istrue，withlaudablediligence，endeavoredtoinvestigateandrecord
therealcharactersandmannersoftheIndiantribes；theAmerican
government，too，haswiselyandhumanelyexerteditselftoinculcatea
friendlyandforbearingspirittowardsthem，andtoprotectthem
fromfraudandinjustice。*ThecurrentopinionoftheIndian
character，however，istooapttobeformedfromthemiserable
hordeswhichinfestthefrontiers，andhangontheskirtsofthe
settlements。Thesearetoocommonlycomposedofdegeneratebeings，
corruptedandenfeebledbythevicesofsociety，withoutbeing
benefitedbyitscivilization。Thatproudindependence，whichformed
themainpillarofsavagevirtue，hasbeenshakendown，andthe
wholemoralfabricliesinruins。Theirspiritsarehumiliatedand
debasedbyasenseofinferiority，andtheirnativecouragecowed
anddauntedbythesuperiorknowledgeandpoweroftheirenlightened
neighbors。Societyhasadvanceduponthemlikeoneofthose
witheringairsthatwillsometimesbreeddesolationoverawhole
regionoffertility。Ithasenervatedtheirstrength，multipliedtheir
diseases，andsuperinducedupontheiroriginalbarbaritythelowvices
ofartificiallife。Ithasgiventhemathousandsuperfluouswants，
whilstithasdiminishedtheirmeansofmereexistence。Ithas
drivenbeforeittheanimalsofthechase，whoflyfromthesoundof
theaxeandthesmokeofthesettlement，andseekrefugeinthedepths
ofremoterforestsandyetuntroddenwilds。Thusdowetoooften
findtheIndiansonourfrontierstobethemerewrecksandremnants
ofoncepowerfultribes，whohavelingeredinthevicinityofthe
settlements，andsunkintoprecariousandvagabondexistence。Poverty，
repiningandhopelesspoverty，acankerofthemindunknownin
savagelife，corrodestheirspirits，andblightseveryfreeand
noblequalityoftheirnatures。Theybecomedrunken，indolent，feeble，
thievish，andpusillanimous。Theyloiterlikevagrantsaboutthe
settlements，amongspaciousdwellingsrepletewithelaboratecomforts，
whichonlyrenderthemsensibleofthecomparativewretchednessof
theirowncondition。Luxuryspreadsitsampleboardbeforetheireyes；
buttheyareexcludedfromthebanquet。Plentyrevelsoverthefields；
buttheyarestarvinginthemidstofitsabundance：thewhole
wildernesshasblossomedintoagarden；buttheyfeelasreptilesthat
infestit。
*TheAmericangovernmenthasbeenindefatigableinitsexertionsto
amelioratethesituationoftheIndians，andtointroduceamongthem
theartsofcivilization，andcivilandreligiousknowledge。To
protectthemfromthefraudsofthewhitetraders，nopurchaseofland
fromthembyindividualsispermitted；norisanypersonallowedto
receivelandsfromthemasapresent，withouttheexpresssanction
ofgovernment。Theseprecautionsarestrictlyenforced。
Howdifferentwastheirstatewhileyettheundisputedlordsof
thesoil！Theirwantswerefew，andthemeansofgratification
withintheirreach。Theysaweveryonearoundthemsharingthesame
lot，enduringthesamehardships，feedingonthesamealiments，
arrayedinthesamerudegarments。Noroofthenrose，butwasopen
tothehomelessstranger；nosmokecurledamongthetrees，buthe
waswelcometositdownbyitsfire，andjointhehunterinhis
repast。\"For，\"saysanoldhistorianofNewEngland，\"theirlifeisso
voidofcare，andtheyaresolovingalso，thattheymakeuseofthose
thingstheyenjoyascommongoods，andarethereinsocompassionate，
thatratherthanoneshouldstarvethroughwant，theywouldstarve
all；thustheypasstheirtimemerrily，notregardingourpomp，but
arebettercontentwiththeirown，whichsomemenesteemsomeanly
of。\"SuchweretheIndians，whilstintheprideandenergyoftheir
primitivenatures：theyresembledthosewildplants，whichthrivebest
intheshadesoftheforest，butshrinkfromthehandof
cultivation，andperishbeneaththeinfluenceofthesun。
Indiscussingthesavagecharacter，writershavebeentooproneto
indulgeinvulgarprejudiceandpassionateexaggeration，insteadof
thecandidtemperoftruephilosophy。Theyhavenotsufficiently
consideredthepeculiarcircumstancesinwhichtheIndianshavebeen
placed，andthepeculiarprinciplesunderwhichtheyhavebeen
educated。NobeingactsmorerigidlyfromrulethantheIndian。His
wholeconductisregulatedaccordingtosomegeneralmaximsearly
implantedinhismind。Themorallawsthatgovernhimare，tobesure，
butfew；butthenheconformstothemall；—thewhitemanaboundsin
lawsofreligion，morals，andmanners，buthowmanydoesheviolate？
AfrequentgroundofaccusationagainsttheIndiansistheir
disregardoftreaties，andthetreacheryandwantonnesswithwhich，in
timeofapparentpeace，theywillsuddenlyflytohostilities。The
intercourseofthewhitemenwiththeIndians，however，istooapt
tobecold，distrustful，oppressive，andinsulting。Theyseldom
treatthemwiththatconfidenceandfranknesswhichare
indispensabletorealfriendship；norissufficientcautionobserved
nottooffendagainstthosefeelingsofprideorsuperstition，which
oftenpromptstheIndiantohostilityquickerthanmereconsiderations
ofinterest。Thesolitarysavagefeelssilently，butacutely。His
sensibilitiesarenotdiffusedoversowideasurfaceasthoseof
thewhiteman；buttheyruninsteadieranddeeperchannels。His
pride，hisaffections，hissuperstitions，arealldirectedtowards
fewerobjects；butthewoundsinflictedonthemareproportionably
severe，andfurnishmotivesofhostility，whichwecannotsufficiently
appreciate。Whereacommunityisalsolimitedinnumber，andformsone
greatpatriarchalfamily，asinanIndiantribe，theinjuryofan
individualistheinjuryofthewhole；andthesentimentof
vengeanceisalmostinstantaneouslydiffused。Onecouncilfireis
sufficientforthediscussionandarrangementofaplanof
hostilities。Hereallthefightingmenandsagesassemble。Eloquence
andsuperstitioncombinetoinflamethemindsofthewarriors。The
oratorawakenstheirmartialardor，andtheyarewroughtuptoa
kindofreligiousdesperation，bythevisionsoftheprophetandthe
dreamer。
Aninstanceofoneofthosesuddenexasperations，arisingfroma
motivepeculiartotheIndiancharacter，isextantinanoldrecordof
theearlysettlementofMassachusetts。TheplantersofPlymouthhad
defacedthemonumentsofthedeadatPassonagessit，andhad
plunderedthegraveoftheSachem’smotherofsomeskinswithwhichit
hadbeendecorated。TheIndiansareremarkableforthereverencewhich
theyentertainforthesepulchresoftheirkindred。Tribesthathave
passedgenerationsexiledfromtheabodesoftheirancestors，when
bychancetheyhavebeentravellinginthevicinity，havebeenknown
toturnasidefromthehighway，andguidedbywonderfullyaccurate
tradition，havecrossedthecountryformilestosometumulus，
buriedperhapsinwoods，wherethebonesoftheirtribewereanciently
deposited；andtherehavepassedhoursinsilentmeditation。
Influencedbythissublimeandholyfeeling，theSachem，whose
mother’stombhadbeenviolated，gatheredhismentogether，and
addressedtheminthefollowingbeautifullysimpleandpathetic
harangue；acuriousspecimenofIndianeloquence，andanaffecting
instanceoffilialpietyinasavage。
\"Whenlastthegloriouslightofalltheskywasunderneaththis
globe，andbirdsgrewsilent，Ibegantosettle，asmycustomis，to
takerepose。Beforemineeyeswerefastclosed，methoughtIsawa
vision，atwhichmyspiritwasmuchtroubled；andtremblingatthat
dolefulsight，aspiritcriedaloud，’Behold，myson，whomIhave
cherished，seethebreaststhatgavetheesuck，thehandsthat
lappedtheewarm，andfedtheeoft。Canstthouforgettotake
revengeofthosewildpeoplewhohavedefacedmymonumentina
despitefulmanner，disdainingourantiquitiesandhonorablecustoms？
See，now，theSachem’sgravelieslikethecommonpeople，defacedby
anignoblerace。Thymotherdothcomplain，andimploresthyaid
againstthisthievishpeople，whohavenewlyintrudedonourland。
Ifthisbesuffered，Ishallnotrestquietinmyeverlasting
habitation。’Thissaid，thespiritvanished，andI，allinasweat，
notablescarcetospeak，begantogetsomestrength，andrecollectmy
spiritsthatwerefled，anddeterminedtodemandyourcounseland
assistance。\"
Ihaveadducedthisanecdoteatsomelength，asittendstoshowhow
thesesuddenactsofhostility，whichhavebeenattributedto
capriceandperfidy，mayoftenarisefromdeepandgenerousmotives，
whichourinattentiontoIndiancharacterandcustomspreventsour
properlyappreciating。
AnothergroundofviolentoutcryagainsttheIndiansistheir
barbaritytothevanquished。Thishaditsoriginpartlyinpolicy
andpartlyinsuperstition。Thetribes，thoughsometimescalled
nations，wereneversoformidableintheirnumbers，butthatthe
lossofseveralwarriorswassensiblyfelt；thiswasparticularly
thecasewhentheyhadbeenfrequentlyengagedinwarfare；andmanyan
instanceoccursinIndianhistory，whereatribe，thathadlongbeen
formidabletoitsneighbors，hasbeenbrokenupanddrivenaway，by
thecaptureandmassacreofitsprincipalfightingmen。Therewasa
strongtemptation，therefore，tothevictortobemerciless；notso
muchtogratifyanycruelrevenge，astoprovideforfuture
security。TheIndianshadalsothesuperstitiousbelief，frequent
amongbarbarousnations，andprevalentalsoamongtheancients，that
themanesoftheirfriendswhohadfalleninbattleweresoothedby
thebloodofthecaptives。Theprisoners，however，whoarenotthus
sacrificed，areadoptedintotheirfamiliesintheplaceoftheslain，
andaretreatedwiththeconfidenceandaffectionofrelativesand
friends；nay，sohospitableandtenderistheirentertainment，that
whenthealternativeisofferedthem，theywilloftenprefertoremain
withtheiradoptedbrethren，ratherthanreturntothehomeandthe
friendsoftheiryouth。
ThecrueltyoftheIndianstowardstheirprisonershasbeen
heightenedsincethecolonizationofthewhites。Whatwasformerlya
compliancewithpolicyandsuperstition，hasbeenexasperatedintoa
gratificationofvengeance。Theycannotbutbesensiblethatthewhite
menaretheusurpersoftheirancientdominion，thecauseoftheir
degradation，andthegradualdestroyersoftheirrace。Theygoforth
tobattle，smartingwithinjuriesandindignitieswhichtheyhave
individuallysuffered，andtheyaredriventomadnessanddespairby
thewide—spreadingdesolation，andtheoverwhelmingruinofEuropean
warfare。Thewhiteshavetoofrequentlysetthemanexampleof
violence，byburningtheirvillages，andlayingwastetheirslender
meansofsubsistence：andyettheywonderthatsavagesdonotshow
moderationandmagnanimitytowardsthosewhohaveleftthemnothing
butmereexistenceandwretchedness。
WestigmatizetheIndians，also，ascowardlyandtreacherous，
becausetheyusestratageminwarfare，inpreferencetoopenforce；
butinthistheyarefullyjustifiedbytheirrudecodeofhonor。They
areearlytaughtthatstratagemispraiseworthy；thebravestwarrior
thinksitnodisgracetolurkinsilence，andtakeeveryadvantage
ofhisfoe：hetriumphsinthesuperiorcraftandsagacitybywhichhe
hasbeenenabledtosurpriseanddestroyanenemy。Indeed，manis
naturallymorepronetosubtilitythanopenvalor，owingtohis
physicalweaknessincomparisonwithotheranimals。Theyareendowed
withnaturalweaponsofdefence：withhorns，withtusks，withhoofs，
andtalons；butmanhastodependonhissuperiorsagacity。Inallhis
encounterswiththese，hisproperenemies，heresortstostratagem；
andwhenheperverselyturnshishostilityagainsthisfellow—man，
heatfirstcontinuesthesamesubtlemodeofwarfare。
