The Pioneers

Inside the academy, the room is laid out sparsely for the sermon, and the men and women are separated onto either side of the room. There is a wide variety among the congregation; there are people from Templeton as well as those living on the frontiers who have come to town for the Christmas sermon, and there are Americans alongside “half the nations in the North of Europe” (119). All are dressed in different fashions, but wear their favorite and best clothes. After everyone settles down and takes their seats, Mohegan, Leatherstocking, and Oliver arrive. Mohegan takes a seat up front alongside the Judge, Oliver sits among the crowd, and Leatherstocking sits alone by the fire with his gun.

Grant delivers a formal Episcopalian service, but none of the townsfolk, except for three, know how to give the proper responses. Elizabeth, accustomed to sermons in New York, knows, but mouths the responses silently, feeling awkward that nobody knows how to participate. However, she is shocked to hear that Oliver, as well as another young beautiful woman, are audibly giving the proper replies. Hearing that she would not be the only one, Elizabeth joins in as well.

Grant, realizing that his listeners don’t share his sect and are set in their ways, and knowing that challenging them would only be met with jealousy or disgust, tailors his words to his audience. He gives a generic sermon, which everyone listening takes to confirm their own particular notions about religion and worship. He concludes by preaching about the necessity of faith, because not all of God’s truth is revealed to man. He argues that the various Christian sects should unite along what they have in common, and have humility, rather than “the pride of reason” (124).

Though Hiram shares a look of dissatisfaction with some members of the congregation, everyone seems pleased with the sermon and they disperse in silence and with decorum.

While the congregation is leaving, Grant approaches Temple and Elizabeth, introducing the other young woman who knew responses to the sermon as his daughter, Louisa. Elizabeth and Louisa instantly feel a strong connection to one another and make numerous plans for the future. However, Grant points out that Louisa manages his domestic affairs since he is widowed, so she, his only child, can’t be kept too busy elsewhere. Elizabeth offers the hospitality of the Mansion House, but Grant declines, saying that he can’t be seen as too close to the Judge, lest people become envious or distrustful. Richard interrupts the conversation to brag about his singing voice, and Temple bids Grant and Louisa good night.

After the sermon, Mohegan remains in his seat, as does Leatherstocking (despite his clear discomfort) out of respect for Mohegan. After everyone else has left, save for Oliver, Mohegan rises and thanks Grant for the service. Grant thanks Oliver for his help with the sleigh and for being one of the few to participate in the service. He remarks that it is quite unusual for his age, living as a woodsman, to be acquainted with Episcopalian worship. Oliver admits that he was baptized in the Church, which thrills Grant, who invites the three woodsmen to accompany him and Louisa home. Leatherstocking refuses, saying he needs to return to his hut, but he encourages Oliver and Mohegan to go. Grant says Leatherstocking needs to prepare his soul for death, but Leatherstocking is unconvinced, calling himself a simple man unconcerned with scholarship, and expresses his doubts about formal religion.

As the four walk, Grant remarks on Oliver’s excellent education and upbringing, and asks where Oliver is from and why he has such a clear dislike for Temple. Oliver says he is from New York, but refuses to say anything more. Mohegan then interrupts, telling Grant that Oliver, whom he calls Young Eagle, has the blood of a Delaware chief in his veins. At Grant’s home, Mohegan says that Oliver has the right to this land, stolen by the settlers, as a child of the Delaware. However, Oliver angrily refuses the suggestion that neither this, nor the accidental gunshot, is why he hates Temple. Oliver then apologizes to Louisa for his outburst, and Grant speaks about the virtues of forgiveness before Mohegan and Oliver take their leave.

The Bold Dragoon tavern, owned by Captain and Mrs. Hollister, is the second-most prominent building in Templeton after the Mansion House. Its position, and the Hollisters’ friendliness, have made it quite popular, but competition looms: Across the street, the Templeton Coffee House is being erected.

After the sermon, The Bold Dragoon quickly fills up with the townspeople, intending to drink after the service. There is a great communal spirit in the drinking—no one drinks alone, glasses are shared between drinks, and toasts are frequent. Dr. Todd speaks with the lawyer, Squire Lippet, about the operation he performed, and Lippet argues that Oliver can and should bring charges against Temple for wounding him, thinking that he can win a large settlement. Lippet also tries to convince Todd to sue Temple for payment, but the crowd is awkward at the prospect of challenging the Judge.

Leatherstocking’s entrance breaks the awkward silence and causes some commotion. Mrs. Hollister contends that the law should not be used to try such trivial matters and says that Oliver can drink for free until his shoulder heals. Leatherstocking then reminisces about his own past battles and Mohegan’s honor and combat skills. He speaks with sadness about how the coming of civilization has changed the land for the worse, and how Mohegan has been Christianized and civilized, falling far from his former position as a great Indian chief. Leatherstocking argues that, had the tribes been left alone by the settlers, the land would have remained a good hunting ground. Mohegan and Temple’s group then enter, interrupting him.

The new guests’ entrance causes another commotion, during which Lippet sneaks away. All of the guests get up to greet the Judge and shake his hand, after which he takes a seat beside Hartmann. Richard forces himself into the most comfortable seat in the tavern, and Mohegan takes a seat at the bar and is given whiskey. Temple asks Mrs. Hollister what she thought about the sermon, and she says that Grant seems like a good and devout man but criticizes him for delivering a pre-written sermon instead of speaking without notes. Temple then speaks to Jotham Riddel, who travels from place-to-place and business-to-business seeking easy money, and is currently planning to take over the school until the old teacher returns.

Hiram asks Temple about recent political developments from the legislature, and Temple explains that they have passed much-needed laws to prevent fishing and hunting in the off-season, as well as the unlawful cutting of trees. Upon hearing this, Leatherstocking begins to laugh derisively. Leatherstocking tells Temple that he can make his laws, but that there will be no one to enforce them, and that all that matters is the natural law that what a man finds and needs, he may kill. Furthermore, Leatherstocking argues that no hunter would ever kill a deer out of season unless absolutely necessary for survival. Temple counters that magistrates, “armed with the dignity of the law” (159) can prevent evil, and that these laws are necessary to prevent the over-hunting and over-fishing which is already taking place. Leatherstocking argues that it is farmers and settlers who make game scarce, not hunters.

Richard drinks a toast with Mohegan and Dr. Todd, celebrating their work on Oliver’s shoulder, then launches into a drinking song. Hartmann encourages Leatherstocking to join in, but he responds that he no longer has a heart for singing after seeing what the settlers have done to the land. Mohegan, now quite drunk, begins singing in his language which is understood only by himself and Leatherstocking. Leatherstocking calms down Mohegan and takes him to the barn to sleep.

In the meantime, Richard encourages everyone to keep drinking. Though the guests drift away, Hartmann suggests that they return to the Mansion House to continue drinking, and the party makes its way home, singing and drunkenly swerving through the snow.

After the sermon, Elizabeth returns to the Mansion House, where Pettibone continues to look on Elizabeth with jealousy and resentment. Pettibone refuses to be considered a servant to the household now that Elizabeth has returned and will take charge of domestic affairs, but she finds herself unable to speak to Elizabeth about this change. Elizabeth goes to her room, leaving Ben and Pettibone in the hall.

As soon as Elizabeth’s door closes, the two servants sit together by the fire and begin talking about what her arrival means for them and the household. Pettibone worries audibly that there will be great changes, and Ben responds with long rambling stories about his naval experience, much of which is incomprehensible to her. Pettibone claims that she is not a servant, but rather she simply offered to help Temple after his wife died, and has since stayed with the family and been allowed to run the household in her own way. She complains that Elizabeth desires privacy and to run the household, which she interprets as being snobby and haughty. A now-drunken Ben accidentally insults Pettibone, who angrily retires to her room. Ben then falls asleep in his chair until Temple’s party’s return wakes him, and they all fall asleep for the night.