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CHAPTER

IV.

THE DISARMING FORCE OF KINDNESS.

"It is very true, as mother used to tell me, if you want to love people, or almost to love them, just do them a kindness, think how you can set about to make them happier, and the love, or something that will answer the purpose, will be pretty sure to come."-RICH POOR MAN-P. 11.

The object of this Chapter, is to present an additional number of instances from the workshop of human life, to exhibit the power of kindness in subduing enmity and changing foes into friends. And it will be observed here, as in the last Chapter, that these instances are not dreams, the mere outbreakings of fancy or falsehood; but they are tangible facts, as far beyond doubt as they are excellent in spirit. It is well known that Quakers, or Friends, have adopted the non-resistance principle, or the law, overcome evil with good." The founder of Philadelphia, William Penn, was completely armed with the spirit of this principle. When he visited this country, he came without cannon or sword, and with a determination to meet the Indians with truth and kind

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ness.

He bought their land and paid themhe made a treaty with them and observed it— and he always treated them as men. As a specimen of the manner in which he met the Indians, the following instance is very striking. There were some fertile and excellent lands, which, in 1698, Penn ascertained were excluded from his first purchase-and as he was very desirous of obtaining them, he made the proposal to the Indians that he would buy those lands, if they were willing. They returned for answer, that they had no desire to sell the spot where their fathers were deposited-but to

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please their father Onas," as they named Penn, they said that he should have some of the lands. This being decided, they concluded the bargain, that Penn might have as much land as a young man could travel round in one day, "beginning at the great river Cosquanco,' now Kensington, and ending at the great river Kallapingo,' now Bristol;" and as an equivalent, they were to receive a certain amount of English goods. Though this plan of measuring the land was of their own selection, yet they were greatly dissatisfied with it, after it had been tried; "for the young Englishman chosen to walk off the tract of land, walked so fast and far, as to greatly astonish and mortify them.The governor observed this dissatisfaction, and

asked the cause.

The walker cheated us,"

said the Indians.

'Ah, how can it be?' said Penn; 'did you not choose yourselves to have the land measured in this way?'

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'True,' replied the. Indians, but white bro ther make a big walk.'

Some of Penn's commissioners, waxing warm, said the bargain was a fair one, and insisted that the Indians ought to abide by it, and if not, should be compelled to it.

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'Compelled!' exclaimed Penn, 'how can you compel them without bloodshed? you see this looks to murder?'

Then turning

with a benignant smile to the Indians, he said: 'Well, brothers, if you have given us too much land for the goods first agreed on, how much more will satisfy you?'

This proposal gratified them; and they mentioned the quantity of cloth, and number of fish hooks, with which they would be satisfied.— These were cheerfully given; and the Indians, shaking hands with Penn, went away smiling. After they were gone, the governor, looking round on his friends, exclaimed, 'O how sweet and cheap a thing is charity! Some of you spoke just now, of compelling these poor creatures to stick to their bargain, that is, in plain

English, to fight and kill them, and all about d little piece of land.' "*

For this kind conduct, manifested in all his actions to the Indians, he was nobly rewarded. The untamed savage of the forest became the warm friend of the white stranger-towards Penn and his followers, they buried the warhatchet, and ever evinced the strongest respect for them. And when the Colony of Pennsylvania was pressed for provisions, and none could be obtained from other settlements; and which scarcity arose from the increassng number of inhabitants not having time to raise the necessary food; the Indians cheerfully came forward, and assisted the Colony by the fruits of their labors in hunting. This kindness they practiced with pleasure, because they considered it an accommodation to their "good father Onas" and his friends. And though Penn has long been dead, yet he is not forgotten by the red men, for many of the Indians possess a knowledge of his peaceable disposition, and speak of him with a tone and feeling very different from what they manifest, when speaking of those whites who came to them with words of treachery on their tongues, and kegs of "fire-water" in their hands, and oppression in their actions.

* See the Advocate of Peace.

+ See the Life of Penn.

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An intelligent Quaker of Cincinnati, related to me the following circumstance, as evidence that the principle of non-resistance possesses great influence, even over the savage. During the last war, a Quaker lived among the inhabitants of a small settlement on our western frontier. When the savages commenced their desolating outbreaks, every inhabitant fled to the interior settlements, with the exception of the Quaker and his family. He determined to remain and rely wholly upon the simple rule of disarming his enemies with entire confidence and kindness. One morning, he observed through his window, a file of savages issuing from the forest in the direction of his house. He immediately went out and met them, and put out his hand to the leader of the party. But neither he nor the rest gave him any notice they entered his house, and searched it for arms, and had they found any, most probably would have murdered every member of the family. There were none, however, and they quietly partook of the provisions which he placed before them, and left him in peace. At the entrance of the forest, he observed that they stopped and appeared to be holding a council. Soon one of their number left the rest, and came towards his dwelling on the leap. He reached the door, and fastened a simple white

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