The following hymn, found in some very old hymn-books of New England, was written by a converted Indian, William Apes, born in Massachusetts, a descendant of King Philip, the Indian warrior.
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 priest, he tell me so.
God send Him angel take me care;
Him come Heself and hear urn prayer.
If Indian heart do pray.
God see me now, He know me here.
He say, Poor Indian, neber 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 shinee 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.