Then their hearts overflowed
with thankfulness.
With her arms clasping her children Mrs. Ripley looked devoutly
upward, and murmured:
"I thank Thee, Heavenly Father, for Thy great mercy to me and
mine. Bless Omas and To-wika and Linna, and hold them for ever in
Thy precious keeping."
The events which had taken place were strange; but Mrs. Ripley
maintained, to the end of her life, that those which followed were
tenfold more remarkable.
You will remember that when Omas, after conducting the little company
some distance from Wyoming, showed a wish to leave them, the good
woman had no doubt what his purpose was: he wanted to take part in
further cruelties against the hapless settlers.
Omas had fought hard in the battle of July 3rd, 1778, and his
friendship for the Ripleys drew him away before the dreadful doings
were half completed. He yearned to go back and give rein to his
ferocity. Mrs. Ripley tried to restrain him, but in vain.
Such were her views; but she was in error. She did not read the
heart of the terrible warrior aright.
For weeks Omas had been sorely troubled in mind. He had visited the
Christian brethren of his own tribe at the Moravian settlement of
Gnadenhutten. He had listened to the talk of the missionaries, and
heard of One who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; who, when
He was smitten and spat upon, bore it meekly; and who finally died
on the cross, that the red men as well as the white children might
be saved.
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