Chapter 12

If our religion is not a sham, we must meet the question as it has never been met before. Infidelity has no surer or more deadly weapon than that which it wields to-day against our professions of love for the souls of our fellow-men, while we content ourselves with expressions only of that love. It is hollow, superficial, and full of cant. If our religion does not take a deeper form, and go out in active sympathy and work, it will surely perish, and deserves to perish. Men ask for results, and it is right they should. The tree is known by its fruits. We cannot gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles. This is Christ's standard. Do we belong to Him, or are we false, hypocritical children of the Evil One?

Our Saviour said, "It must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" Now, if so be that God, who is just, shall require that we atone for all the wrongs perpetrated upon the red men ever since the Mayflower landed her pilgrims on the shores of New England (for there is no repentance for nations at the day of judgment), or that our children shall suffer in some way for it,--who shall say it is not a righteous retribution? "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord."

LORD'S PRAYER IN SIOUX LANGUAGE.

Ate-un-yan-pi, Mar-pi-ya, ekta, nan-ke-cin, Ni-caje, wa-kan-da-pi, kta, Ni-to-ki-con-ze, ukte, Mar-pi-ya, ekta, ni-taw-a-cin, econ-pi, kin, nun-we; au-pe-tu, kin, de, au-pe-tu, iyoki, aguyapi, kin, un-ju, miye.

Qu, un-kix, una, e-ciux-in-yan, ecaun-ki, con-pi, nicun-ki-ci-ca-ju-ju-pi; he, iye-cen, wau-ur-tan-ipi, kui, un-ki-ci-ca-ju-ju, miye. Qa, taku, wani-yu-tan, kin, en, unkayapa, xui, pa, Tuka, taku, vice, cin, etanhan, eunt-da-ku-pi. Wo-ki-con-ze-kin, no-wax-a ki, kin, ga, wouitan, kin, hena-kiy, a, ouihanke, wanin, nitawa, heon. Amen.

The name of God is Wakantanka. The name of the Lord is Itankan.

APOSTLES' CREED.

Wakantanka iyotan Waxaka Atezapikin parpia, maka iyahna kage cin, he wicawada:

Qua Jesus Christ Itankan unyapi, he Cinhintku hece un Mary eciyapi kin, utanhan toupi; Pontius Pilate kakixya, Canicipauega, en okantanpi, te qua rapi; Wanagi yakonpi etka I, Iyamnican ake kini; Wankan marpiya ekta iyaye. Qua Wakantanka, ateyapi iyotan waxaka yanke cin, etapa kin eciy atanhan iyotanka; Heciyatankan meaxta nipi, qua tapi kin, hena yuuytaya nicayaco u kta, Woniya Wakan kin he wicauada; Omniciza, wakan Owaneaya kin Owaneaya kin, Wicaxta Wakan Okodakiciye kin; Woartani kajujupi kin; Wicatancan kini kte cin; Qua wicociououihanke wanin ce cin; Hena ouasin wieawada. Amen.

DISTANCES.

From Omaha to Cheyenne is five hundred and sixteen miles; Cheyenne to Greeley, on Cache-la-poudre River, fifty-four miles; Cheyenne to Denver, one hundred and eleven miles; same to Golden City; Cheyenne to Sherman, thirty-three miles (this is eight thousand two hundred and forty-two feet above the level of the sea); to Fort Sanders, fifty-four miles; Laramie City, fifty-six miles; Salt Lake, five hundred and thirty-five miles; Salt Lake to Lake's Crossing, Truckee River, four hundred and ninety-nine miles; Truckee to Sacramento, one hundred and nineteen miles; thence to San Francisco, one hundred and twenty-four miles; Omaha to San Francisco, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two miles.

Cheyenne, northwest to Fort Fetterman, one hundred and seventy miles; Fort Reno (abandoned), two hundred and seventy-four miles; Fort Phil. Kearney (abandoned), three hundred and thirty-nine miles; Fort C. F. Smith, four hundred and twenty-nine miles; Helena, Montana, six hundred and nine miles; Junction of Bear River to City of Rocks, one hundred and eighty-one miles; to Boisé City, three hundred and ninety-three miles; to Idaho City, four hundred and forty miles; to Owyhee, four hundred and seventy-five miles; to Fort Ellis, Montana, six hundred miles; to Fort Brown, Sweetwater, four hundred and forty-two miles.

THE END.

End of Project Gutenberg's Three Years on the Plains, by Edmund B. Tuttle