University of Virginia Library

PICTURES OF GOD BEFORE AND AFTER HE MADE THE WORLD.

About forty years ago two Indians, who were cutting cord-wood near Little Traverse village, one day returned in great haste, pale and excited, to Kaw-kee, their employer, saying, "Oh Kaw-kee, we cut down this morning a large maple-tree; and when we had sawn off the butt cut, behold, we found painted on the end of the log a figure of God before He made the world! It seemed so strange and wonderful that we dared not stay longer on the work; feeling sure that something awful would happen if we did." I will complete the story as it was told me by Kaw-kee about the time it occurred:

"Well," said he, "I laughed at them for such foolish superstition. They then tried to get me to return with them and examine the strange picture. I was sick at the time, and persuaded them to go back and saw off a thin piece of the log, and bring it to me, that I might see the picture for myself.

They started off very reluctantly. Returning in about two hours more excited than before, they exclaimed, 'Oh Kaw-kee, we have cut off the end of the log as you requested; and, as it fell picture-side to the ground—Na! Mash-kee! On the other side was a plain figure of God after He had made the world. And we do not dare to meddle further with it, for we feel that something dreadful will happen if we do.' On

the following day I went with them to see what had so alarmed them, and to soothe their fears, if possible.

I must confess that as we approached the fallen tree I felt a curious sort of awe about my heart. I picked up the slice of wood which they had sawn off, and looked it carefully over on both sides. I was indeed astonished; for on each side Nature had traced a wonderful picture!"

At this point I became so intensely interested in his wonderful story, that I said, "Kaw-kee, what has become of that piece of wood?"

"Here it is," he replied; handing it to me as he stepped to one corner of his wigwam.

It was indeed a natural curiosity, well calculated to deceive anyone. On one side appeared the figure of a man with folded arms, and with a blanket wrapped about him, standing in what appeared to be the outlines of the segment of a rainbow. This had been regarded as a picture of God before He made the world. On the other side, appeared the same figure, with the right arm extended at full length, holding in his right hand a large ball, apparently in the act of throwing it. This had been considered to be a picture of God after He had made the world.

On close inspection, I saw that these pictures were caused in some way by the growth of the timber. The heart, or red part, of the wood forming the figures was surrounded by the white of the wood, which made the outlines clear. As I looked first at one side, and then at the other, I said to myself, "Those pictures might deceive the very elect."