That nought but chastened melody I would but deeper things than these, What shall preserve thee, beautiful child, At God's pure thrown to bow ? Who shall be near thee, in thy need, To lead thee up-to Him? He who Himself was "undefiled," With Him we trust thee, beautiful child!— Willis. CANADIAN INDIAN ENCAMPMENT. FEELING Some desire to see these singular people in their winter encampment, I expressed my wish to a friend, who happens to be a great favourite with the Indians, who, as a mark of distinction have bestowed upon him the title of Chippewa, the name of their tribe. ` He was delighted with the opportunity of doing the honours of the Indian wigwam, and it was agreed that he, with some of his brothers and sisters-in-law, should accompany us to the camp in the woods. A merry party we were that sallied forth that evening into the glorious starlight; the snow sparkled as with a thousand diamonds on its frozen surface; and truly, never did I look upon a lovelier sight than the woods presented; there had been a heavy fall of snow the preceding day; owing to the extreme stillness of the air, not a particle of it had been shaken from the trees. The evergreens were bending beneath their brilliant burden; every twig, every leaf, and spray was covered, and some of the weak saplings actually bowed down to the earth with the weight of snow, forming the most lovely and fanciful bowers and arcades across our path. As you looked up towards the top of the trees, the snowy branches seen against the deep blue sky, formed a silvery veil, through which the bright stars were gleaming with a chastened brilliancy. Leaving the broad road, we struck into a by-path, deep tracked by the Indians, and soon perceived the wigwam by the red smoke that issued from the open basket-work top of the little hut. This is first formed with light poles, planted round, so as to enclose a circle of ten or twelve feet in diameter; between these poles are drawn large sheets of birch bark, both within and without, leaving an opening of the bare poles at the top, so as to form an outlet for the smoke; the outer walls were also banked up with snow, so as to exclude the air entirely from beneath. Some of our party ran on before; so that when the blanket, that served the purpose of a door, was unfastened, we found a motley group of the dark skins and the pale faces reposing on the blankets and skins that were spread round the walls of the wigwam. The swarthy complexions, shaggy, black hair, and singular costume of the Indians, formed a striking contrast with the fair-faced Europeans who were mingled with them, seen as they were by the red and fitful glare of the wood fire, that occupied the centre of the circle. The deer-hounds lay stretched in indolent enjoyment, close to the embers; near to whom were three or four dark-skinned little urchins playing with each other. There was a slight bustle among the party when we entered one by one through the low blanket door-way. The merry laugh rang round among our friends, which was echoed by more than one of the Indian men, and joined by the peculiar half laugh or chuckle of the squaws. "Chippewa" was directed to a post of honour beside the hunter Peter; and squaw Peter, with an air of great good H humour, made room for me on a corner of her own blanket; to effect which, two papouses and a hound were displaced. The most attractive persons in the wigwam were two Indian girls, one about eighteen-Jane, the hunter's eldest daughter, and her cousin Margaret. I was greatly struck with the beauty of Jane; her features were positively fine, and though of gipsy darkness, the tint of vermillion on her cheek and lip rendered it, if not beautiful, very attractive. Her hair was of jetty blackness, soft, and shining, and neatly folded over her forehead, not hanging loose and disorderly in shaggy masses, as is generally the case with the squaws. Jane was evidently aware of her superior charms, and may be considered as an Indian belle, by the peculiar care she displayed in the arrangement of the black cloth mantle, bound with scarlet, that was gracefully wrapped over one shoulder, and fastened on the left side by a gilt brooch. Margaret was younger, of lower stature, and though lively and rather pretty, yet wanted the quiet dignity of her cousin; she had more of the squaw in face and figure. The two girls occupied a blanket by themselves, and were busily engaged in working some most elegant shades of deer-skin, richly wrought over with coloured quills and beads: they kept the beads and quills in a small tin pan on their knees; but the old squaw held her porcupine quills in her mouth, and the fine dried sinews of the deer, which they make use of instead of thread, in work of this sort, in her bosom. On my expressing a desire to have some of the porcupine quills, she gave me a few of different colours, that she was working a pair of mocassins with, but signified that she wanted "bead to work mocassin," by which I understood I was to give some in exchange for the quills. Indians never give away any thing when they have learned to trade with white men. She was greatly delighted with the praises I bestowed upon Jane. She told me Jane was soon to marry the young Indian who sat on one side of her, in all the pride of a new blanket coat, red sash, embroidered powderpouch, and great gilt clasps to the collar of his coat, which looked as warm and as white as a newly washed fleece. The old squaw evidently felt proud of the young couple, as she gazed on them, and often repeated with a good tempered laugh, "Jane's husband, marry by and by." We had so often listened with pleasure to the Indians singing their hymns of a Sunday night, that I requested some of them to sing to us; the old hunter nodded assent, and, without removing his pipe, with the gravity and phlegm of a Dutchman, issued his commands, which were as instantly obeyed by the younger part of the community, and a chorus of rich voices filled the little hut with a melody that thrilled through our very hearts. The hymn was sung in the Indian tongue; a language that is peculiarly sweet and soft in its cadences, and seems to be composed of many vowels. I could not but notice the modest air of the girls; as if anxious to avoid observation that they felt was attracted by their sweet voices, they turned away from the gaze of the strangers, facing each other, and bending their heads down over the work they still held in their hands. The attitude, which is that of the Eastern nations; the dress, dark hair and eyes, the olive complexion, heightened colour, and meek expression of face, would have formed a study for a painter. I was pleased with the air of deep reverence that sat on the faces of the elders of the Indian family, as they listened to the voices of their children singing praise and glory to the God and Saviour they had learned to fear and love. The Indians seem most tender parents; it is pleasing to see the affectionate manner in which they treat their young children, fondly and gently caressing them, with eyes overflowing and looks of love. During the singing, each papouse crept to the feet of its respective father and mother, and those that were too young to join their voices to the little choir, remained quite silent till the hymn was at an end. One little girl of three years old beat time on her father's knee, and from time to time chimed in her infant voice; she evidently possessed a fine ear, and natural taste for music. I was at a loss to conceive where the Indians kept their stores, clothes, and other moveables, the wigwam being so small that there seemed no room for any thing besides themselves and their hounds. Their ingenuity, however, supplied the want of room, and I soon discovered a plan that answered all the purposes of closets, bags, boxes, &c., the inner lining of birch bark being drawn between the poles, so as to form pouches all round; in these pouches were stowed their goods; one set held their stock of dried deer's flesh, another dried fish, a third contained some flat cakes. Their dressed skins, clothes, materials for their various toys, such as beads, quills, bits of cloth, silk, with a great number of miscellaneous articles, occupied the rest of these reservoirs. Though open for a considerable space at the top, the interior of the wigwam was so hot, I could scarcely breathe, and was constrained to throw off all my trappings, during the time we stayed. Before we went away, the hunter insisted on showing us a game, which was something after the manner of our cup and ball, only more complicated, and requiring more sleight of hand; the Indians seemed evidently well pleased at our want of adroitness. They also showed us another game, which was a little like ninepins, only the number of sticks stuck in the ground was greater. I was unable to stay to see the little rows of sticks knocked out, as the heat of the wigwam oppressed me almost to suffocation, and I was glad to feel myself once more breathing the pure air.-Back-woods of Canada. I THOUGHT IT SLEPT. I SAW the infant cherub-soft it lay, Deck'd with sweet-smelling flowers. A sight so strange And yet its little bosom did not move! I bent me down, to look into its eyes, But they were closed: then, softly clasped its hand, |