One of the most touching and beautiful expressions of the Indian faith and true piety is found in the following hymn, composed long ago by one of these converted warriors of the prairie. His name was William Apes, born in Massachusetts, a descendant of the Indian warrior king, Philip.
“I shall never forget", writes an old laborer for God among the Indians, "the effect that the hymn produced upon a crowd of working men when it was sung in the open-air by a native, his dark face beaming with heavenly joy as known only to those who have Christ dwelling in their hearts.”
In de dark wood, no Indian nigh,
Den me look heaben, send up cry,
Upon my knees so low,
Dat God on high, in shinee place,
See me in night, with teary face;
De missionary tell me so.
God send Him angel take me care;
Him come He self and hear un prayer,
If Indian heart do pray.
God see me now, He know me here,
He say, poor Indian, never fear,
Me wid you night and day.
So, me lub God wid inside heart;
He fight for me, He take my part.
He save my life before.
God lub poor Indian in de wood;
So me lub God, and dat be good;
Me pray Him two times more.
When me be old, me head be gray,
Den He no lebe me; so He say,
Me wid you till you die.
Den take me up to shine place,
See white man, red man, black man's face,
All happy like on high.
Few days, den God will come to me,
He knock off chains, He set me free,
Den take me up on high.
Den Indian sing His praises blest,
And lub and praise Him wid de rest,
And neber, neber cry.
“He that has received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." John 3:33.