James Evans - Inventor Of The Syllabic System Of The Cree Language (Paperback)

JAMES EVANS INVENTOR OF THE SYLLABIC SYSTEM OF THE CREE LANGUAGE. - 1890. - PREFACE - LONG did we wait for a short biography of the nlan who did so much for the Indian tribes of the great North-West, but it came not. Bluch thought upon our negligence in not doing something to remind the Christian public of the heroism of a brave Canadian Missionary, caused me to assul teh e responsibility, although other minds and hearts could have dox e better in inclitiug a life so full of devotion and courage. In the midst of other duties these pages have been written, a few at a time, with repeated interruptions. I hope that all the iinperfections will be overlooked in the sincere desire to do something that may prove helpful to young and old, and to discharge a duty incumbent upon all friends of Canadian hlissions, and more especially those belonging to the Methodist Church. . JOHN RlcLEAN. MOOSEJAW A, B BINIBOIA, March loth, 1890. CHAPTER I. PAOE CHAPTER 11. THE CANADIAANB ORIGI E . S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 CHAPTER 111. BEGINXIN O O F INDIANM ISSIONS .. ........................ 37 CHAPTER IV. EVANSP KEDECESSO .. R . ............................... 56 CHAPTER V. RICE LAKE . ............................................ 67 CHAPTER VI. THE CREDIT . ........................................... 78 CHAPTER VII. ST. CLAIR. . . . ............................................ 83 viii CONTENTS. CE-IAYTER VIII. IhGlr. EVANSM ISSIONARLYIT ERATUR . E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 06 CHAPTER IX. LAKES UIERIO . R . ........................................ 119 CHAPTER X. Huusoss BAY .......................................... 145 CHAPTER SIT. R SSVILL A E NDBEYOND .. ................................ 175 CIIAYTE R SIII. HOME AT LAST .......................................... 191 LIST OF 1LI. USTRATIONS . T H E RED RIVER VOYAGEUR. Out and in the river is winding The links of its long, red chain Through belts of dusky pine-land And gusty leagues of plain. Only, at times, a smoke-wreath With tlre drifting cloud-rack joins, The sinoke of the hunting-lodges Of the wild Assiniboins Drearily blows the north-wind From the land of ice and silow The eyes that look are weary, And heavy the hands that row. And with one foot on the water, And one upon the shore, The Angel of Shadow gives warning That day shall be no more. Is it the clang of wild-geese Is it the Indians yell That lends to the voice of the north-wind The tones of a far-off bell xii THE RED RIVER VOYAGER. The voyagerlr smiles as he listens To the souud that grows apace Well he knows the vesper ringing Of the bells of St. Boniface. The bells of the Roman Mission, That call fro111 their turrets twain, To the boa. tman on the river, To the hunter on the plain Even so, in our lnortal journey The bitter north-winds blow, And thus upon lifes Red River Our hea. tsa, s oarsmen, row. And when the Angel of Ylladow Rests his feet on wave aid shore, And our eyes grow dim wit11 watching, Aild our hearts faint at the oar. Happy is he who heareth The signal of his release In the bells of the Holy City, The chimes of eternal peace - IVhittier. JAMES EVANS, THE CANADIAN CADMUS. CHAPTER I. PARENTAGE AND YOUTH. ASTER missionaries are born, not made...