The Deerslayer (Barnes & Noble Classics) - James Fenimore Cooper [248]
“I do expect to see mother,” returned the truth-telling and simple girl, “but what will become of father?”
“That’s a nonplusser, Delaware,” said the hunter in the Indian dialect; “yes, that is a downright nonplusser! The Muskrat was not a saint on ‘arth, and it’s fair to guess he’ll not be much of one hereafter! Howsever, Hetty”—dropping into the English by an easy transition—“howsever, Hetty, we must all hope for the best. That is wisest, and it is much the easiest to the mind, if one can only do it. I ricommend to you trusting to God, and putting down all misgivings and fainthearted feelin’s. It’s wonderful, Judith, how different people have different notions about the futur’, some fancying one change and some fancying another. I’ve known white teachers that have thought all was spirit hereafter; and them, ag‘in, that believe the body will be transported to another world, much as the redskins themselves imagine, and that we shall walk about in the flesh and know each other, and talk together, and be fri’nds there as we’ve been fri’nds here.”1
“Which of these opinions is most pleasing to you, Deerslayer?” asked the girl, willing to indulge his melancholy mood, and far from being free from its influence herself. “Would it be disagreeable to think that you should meet all who are now on this platform in another world? Or have you known enough of us here, to be glad to see us no more?”
“The last would make death a bitter portion; yes, it would. It’s eight good years since the Sarpent and I began to hunt together, and the thought that we were never to meet ag‘in would be a hard thought to me. He looks forward to the time when he shall chase a sort of spirit-deer, in company, on plains where there’s no thorns, or brambles, or marshes, or other hardships to overcome; whereas, I can’t fall into all these notions, seeing that they appear to be ag’in reason. Spirits can’t eat, nor have they any use for clothes; and deer can only rightfully be chased to be slain, or slain, unless it be for the venison or the hides. Now I find it hard to suppose that blessed spirits can be put to chasing game without an object, tormenting the dumb animals just for the pleasure and agreeableness of their own amusements. I never yet pulled a trigger on buck or doe, Judith, onless when food or clothes was wanting.”
“The recollection of which, Deerslayer, must now be a great consolation to you.”
“It is the thought of such things, my fri’nds, that enables a man to keep his furlough. It might be done without it, I own; for the worst redskins sometimes do their duty in this matter; but it makes that which might otherwise be hard, easy, if not altogether to our liking. Nothing truly makes a bolder heart than a light conscience.”
Judith turned paler than ever, but she struggled for self command and succeeded in obtaining it. The conflict had been severe, however, and it left her so little disposed to speak, that Hetty pursued the subject. This was done in the simple manner natural to the girl.
“It would be cruel to kill the poor deer,” she said, “in this world or any other, when you don’t want their venison or their skins. No good white man and no good redman would do it. But it’s wicked for a Christian to talk about chasing anything in Heaven. Such things are not done before the face of God, and the missionary that teaches these doctrines can’t be a true missionary. He must be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I suppose you know what a sheep is, Deerslayer?”
“That I do, gal; and a useful creature it is to such as like cloths better than