Part 4

In the AMERICAN MISSIONARY for April we gave a statement relating to the transfer by the American Board of its Dakota mission to the A. M. A., and published a list of the missionaries. Among these were Miss Illsley, Mrs. Steer, Miss Voorhees and Miss Webb, who were laboring at the Santee Agency. We have gleaned from their circular letters in the _Word Carrier_ the following extracts which indicate the importance and success of woman’s work for the Indians.

Miss Illsley says: “As each one who writes will naturally tell of her own work, it becomes my pleasure to speak especially of our life at the Bird’s Nest. Miss Brown and I think we have seventeen as interesting little girls to look after as can be. Our oldest is twelve, and our youngest five years of age. All are doing well in school. Our little girls love to learn their Bible verses, and while we teach them the words, we hope and feel that God impresses the truths on their hearts as we cannot. Many of them say, ‘I am going to read the Bible to mamma when I go home.’”

Mrs. Steer writes: “I deem it one of the highest privileges granted to me in this life to be numbered among the Dakota missionaries, although with the care of my family I can do but little definite missionary work. Yet I would be loath to stand as an outsider. God granting me the strength of body, I hope soon to take a more active part in this grand work. We have strong evidence that God’s Spirit is with us at this time, and a number of our young people have been led to think seriously of their spiritual condition, and have entered the fold which has Christ for its Shepherd.”

Miss Voorhees writes: “I have had nineteen boys in my care, until the Poncas left. Seven are now in bed with the measles. Some of them are very sick, but all are so patient and obedient that it makes the work of caring for them comparatively easy. The three Berthold boys are very interesting, and I think promising boys. Miss Calhoun, Mrs. Hall’s sister, is associated with me at present. Though our boys are too small to see any decided results just yet, one of them has expressed a desire to unite with the church.”

Miss Webb says: “The amount there is to be done and overcome too often discourages and overwhelms us, and it seems to me in a letter like this, a few thoughts on points of progress and improvement may be helpful. There seems to me to have been progress in spiritual, mental and physical aspects. There is a hidden principle in our girls to which we can effectually appeal, which has been developing, and makes dealing with them by force and various contrived punishments less and less necessary. They are more open to reason, and are more influenced by kind talks, and a knowledge of our desires for them. There is not the clannishness among them, which made it so hard to discipline one, because all would rebel and side with the erring one. These are a few of the indications which show the heart is being educated, and the seed is taking root. There is also more gratitude manifest, more diligence in study, and more real live interest shown. We hear less frequently, and more reasonably, ‘give me this or that,’ which seemed to come so continually, and in such a way as to make us feel all they thought or cared about was what they could get out of us, and there is less fault-finding with what they receive. Looking at them in a physical aspect it would almost seem as if some of them had new bodies, so much have they improved by their regular life and habits.”

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CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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A LITTLE MERCHANT.

BY MISS E. E. BACKUP.

It could hardly be called a village; there were a few houses, a few stores, and a mammoth hotel. During “the season” all the life of the place seemed to centre about the hotel. The building covered considerable space, and two sides were inclosed with glass, which gave it quite an Oriental air. The hotel was known for miles around, and when the house was full a pleasurable excitement pervaded the little hamlet. It extended to the little pickaninnies who rolled and tumbled in the log cabins which dotted the landscape in every direction as far as the eye could reach. What a scramble there was to see the gentlemen and ladies as they walked or drove by, and a party on horseback was a sight sufficiently imposing to warrant extra efforts.

To these little folks, who never pored dreamily over enchanting fairy tales, Denis Hotel was a veritable fairy palace inhabited by choice fairies from the dim and shadowy Northland, whose pockets contained a never failing supply of gold. This latter was almost an article of faith among the youthful colored population of K., and developed a very large eye for business. The roads swarmed with colored urchins desirous of selling various wares. One class of infants had an inexhaustible supply of gourds which they offered at remarkably low rates to the “Yankee” ladies. Another class of juveniles was of a geological turn, and enough arrow-heads and other Indian “remains” were offered for sale to stock several national museums. Then, when all else failed, there were the sweet wild flowers which seemed softly to plead for the dark little fingers which had lovingly brought them forth into the light.

General Grant was one of the most indefatigable and successful of the little merchants, as was befitting the namesake of a great General. Intelligence beamed from the General’s dark face, and there was no resisting the mute appeal of his large, lustrous eyes.

“What, more flowers!” we exclaimed, one day, “and jessamine, too! five cents? Oh, yes, we’ll take them. Really, General, you must be growing rich.”

“I does right smart, thank you,” with a smile and a bow, the graceful native politeness more than atoning for the defective speech.

“We rejoice in your success, General,” chimed in Mr. Brown. “Two or three little rascals have tried to make us believe that their pennies all went straight into the contribution box. It’s likely we should believe such nonsense! Now we would just like to know what you do with your money. Buy candy, I’ll be bound.”

The large eyes grew a trifle larger as their little owner unflinchingly encountered Mr. Brown’s steadfast gaze. “We chillens are mighty fond of candy,” he said, “and it’s seldom we get a bit. I did buy some candy once for the young uns, but the rest has done gone for homespun.”

“What do you do with homespun?”

“Why, mammy makes dresses for the girls. Sally looked mighty peart last night when she put on her new dress, and didn’t she dance ’round though,” and the kind eyes grew moist at the recollection.

“Then you don’t put money in the contribution box?” Mr. Brown continued.

“We put a cent in ‘most every Sunday. But we get our Sunday-school money ‘knocking up Jerusalem.’”

“The dickens!” exclaimed Mr. Brown, quite forgetting himself, “and how do you ‘knock up Jerusalem’?”

“‘Knocking up Jerusalem’ is a song, sir,” our little hero respectfully replied; “and we shall be right proud to sing it to you sometime if you’ll come to the cabin. And you ain’t to give us anything, neither.”

“We’ll come,” said Mr. Brown. “We want to see Sally’s new gown, and I wouldn’t fail to hear ‘Knocking up Jerusalem.’”

We went, according to promise, and were most hospitably received at the little cabin. We admired Sally’s blue and white homespun, and when that subject was exhausted we listened to “Knocking up Jerusalem.” The five children stood in a row with Gen. Grant at their head, and kept time with their feet as they sang. It was evidently one of the old-time spiritual songs, a queer mixture, and we listened with mingled feelings of interest and regret—interest in the dark, earnest little faces, and the sweet, pathetic strains, regret at the words and gestures, alike meaningless.

The song ended, we talked of Jesus, and these little ones, ignorant and untaught, yet knew of Him as the children’s Friend.

Gen. Grant was actively engaged as long as we remained in K., but it was slow work after all, and we became so interested in his unselfish efforts, that we determined to aid him. Enough homespun for several dresses was privately left at the cabin, together with a few simple papers and books, of which the cabin was utterly destitute. The day we left, Gen. Grant was at the station to present us with a beautiful bouquet, and we almost cried ourselves as he bade us a tearful good-bye.

Our chief regret for K. is that we can do so little to improve the condition of the colored people there. Poor and ignorant, they need what they have never had, an educated teacher. We wish the A. M. A. was rich enough to sustain a school in every Southern village.

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RECEIPTS FOR JUNE, 1883.

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MAINE, $210.86.

Bangor. First Cong. $20.56 Dennysville. Peter E. Vose, 8; Mrs. Samuel Eastman, 5 13.00 Eastport. Bbl. of C., _for Raleigh, N.C._, 1.50 _for Freight_ 1.50 Foxcroft. Mrs D. Blanchard 5.00 Machias. Centre St. Ch. and Soc., 6.96; Sab. Sch., 5.11 12.07 Portland. Seamen’s Bethel, 34; St. Lawrence St. Ch. and Soc., 9.73 43.73 Saco. Ladies’ Sew. Soc. of Cong. Ch., Box and Bbl. of C., _for Atlanta U._ Warren. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00 Washington Co. “Washington Co. Bible Soc.,” _for Bibles_ 100.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $378.24.

Amherst. “L. F. B.” 20.00 Bristol. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.00 Derry. Young People of First Cong. Ch., _for Student Aid, Bird’s Nest, Santee Agency_ 50.00 Dover. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Gilsum. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 17.75 Hanover. Dart. College Ch. 87.71 Henniker. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. DEA. S.Q.A. NEWTON L. M. 30.00 Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.44 Hollis. Cong. Ch. 10.74 Hopkinton. Bbl. of C., _for Raleigh, N.C._ Nashua. Pilgrim Ch. and Soc. 88.10 Pittsfield. Mrs. Emily Hill, _for Atlanta, Ga._ 5.00 Short Falls. J. W. Chandler 2.00 Temple. Cong. Sab. Sch. 36.50 Wakefield. Rev. N. Barker, 2; Mrs. M. J. Barker, 1 3.00 ——. “A Friend of the Freedmen” 3.00

VERMONT, $479.15.

Benson. “J. K.” 2.00 Danby. Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch. 2.27 Danville. Cong. Sab. Sch. 20.00 Dorset. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 East Hardwick. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.28 Lyndon. Dr. L. W. Hubbard 1.50 New Haven. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 50.00 Norwich. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 10; Mrs. B. B. Newton, 5 15.00 Orwell. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.50 Pittsford. “D.” 1.00 Rutland. Box of C., _for Raleigh, N.C._, _5 for Freight_ 5.00 Springfield. A. Woolson, 200; Mrs. E. D. Parks, 100 300.00 Townsend. Mrs. H. Holbrook 2.50 Wallingford. Cog. Ch. and Soc. 37.10 Windham. Cong. Sab. Sch. 7.00

MASSACHUSETTS, $5,475.95.

Abington. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., 33.62; First Parish Sab. Sch., 10 43.62 Andover. Teachers and Pupils, Abbots Academy 62.00 Belchertown. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. ADDISON H. BARTLETT AND FREDERICK L. STEBBINS L. Ms. 67.00 Bellerica. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Kindergarten, Atlanta_, Ga. 2.50 Beverly. Dane St. Ch. and Soc. 136.00 Boston. Shawmut Cong. Ch., 451.15; Mrs. E. C. Ford, 20; Central Ch., 10; “Friend,” 1 482.15 Boston. Walnut Av. Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 56.99 Boylston. Mrs. John B. Gough 2.68 Brookline. Harvard Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 50.00 Brookline. “Harvard Wide Awakes,” 6.50; and Pkg. Papers, _for Raleigh, N.C._ 6.50 Cambridge. Young Ladies’ Working Party of Shepherd Ch., Bundle of C., _for Indian Children in Bird’s Nest, Santee Agency_ Charlemont. Edward Graves 1.00 Chelsea. Arthur C. Stone, _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 60.00 Chelsea. Ladies Union Home Mission Band, _for Lady Missionary, Chattanooga, Tenn._ 60.00 Colerain. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00 Curtisville. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.00 Dalton. First Cong. Ch. 30.33 Dorchester. Stoughton St. Baptist Sab. Sch., Two Pkgs. Picture Cards, _for Indian Children_ East Granville. Cong. Ch. 24.00 Fitchburg. “A Friend” 2.00 Georgetown. Memorial Ch., $42.08; First Cong. Ch. and Soc., $30.75 72.83 Georgetown. Woman’s Mission Soc., _for Dakota M._ 6.54 Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. 60.00 Holliston. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00 Hopkinton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 79.64 Ipswich. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 35.00 Lawrence. “Merry Workers” Mission Circle of Lawrence St Ch., _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 5.00 Littleton. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 26.00 Lynn. Central Ch. and Soc., $70; First Cong. Ch. and Soc., $39.54, to const. JOHN W. DARCY L. M. 109.54 Malden. Rev. W. H. Willcox, D.D., _for Furnishing Room, Stone Hall, Atlanta U._ 100.00 Malden. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 36.40 Marblehead. Hon. J. J. H. Gregory, Box of Garden Seeds _for Talladega C._, and two packages _for Raleigh, N.C._ Marshfield. First Cong. Sab. Sch. 20.00 Medfield. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 82.20 Medway. Village Ch. and Soc. 96.80 Newbury. First Ch. and Soc. 30.00 Newburyport. “Friends,” Cask and Bbl. of articles, _for Mission Schools, Charlotte, N.C._ Newton. Ladies Aid Soc., Bbl. of C., _for Macon, Ga._ Newton Centre. Ladies Benev. Soc., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 43.50 Newtonville. Mrs. J. W. Hayes, 5; ——, 5; ——, 2, _for Raleigh, N.C._ 12.00 Northampton. “A Friend” 100.00 Norton. Trin. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 33.25 Orange. Cen. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.32 Orleans. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00 Peabody. Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 50.00 Pepperell. Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch., for Student Aid, Fisk U. 50.00 Pittsfield. South Cong. Ch. and Soc. 42.08 Rutland. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.53 Salem. Tabernacle Ch. and Soc., 250.15; George Driver, 2 252.15 Saundersville. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00 Somerville. Prospect Hill Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 70.00 South Hadley. Teachers, Mt. Holyoke Sem. 20.00 South Weymouth. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. JOSEPH E. TORREY and MRS. ANNA M. TIRRELL L. Ms. 52.00 Stockbridge. Miss Alice Byington, 48; “A few Ladies,” Basted Work, _for Raleigh, N.C._ 48.00 Stoneham. Basted Patchwork, _for Raleigh, N.C._ Sturbridge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 44.80 Taunton. Union Ch. and Soc. 13.32 Taunton. Winslow. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 50.00 Taunton. Sewing Soc. of Broadway Ch., _for Atlanta U., Freight_ 1.00 Tewksbury. Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid. Fisk U._ 10.00 Topsfield. Philena Stevens 1.00 Townsend. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.50 Townsend Harbor. Dea. John Proctor 1.00 Upton. Mrs. Austin Putnam 1.50 Watertown. Phillips Ch. and Soc., to const. MISS ABBIE B. CONANT, FRANK M. CONANT, MRS. ABIGAIL G. CONANT and MRS. ELIZABETH A. KEYES L. Ms. 130.00 Watertown. Ladies of Phillips Ch., Bbl. of C., _for Atlanta U._ Westminster. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. DR. G. B. SWASEY L. M. 60.70 West Pelham. “X.” 1.00 Williamstown. Rev. Mark Hopkins, D.D. 25.00 Winchendon. North Cong. Ch. and Soc. 86.81 Winchendon. Atlanta Soc., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 35.00 Worcester. Plymouth Cong. Ch. and Soc., 128.24; Central Ch. and Soc., 91.53 219.77 Worcester. Piedmont Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 25.00 ——. “A Friend,” to const. CHARLES W. HOWLAND L. M. 30.00 ——. Package Picture Cards, etc. ——. Herbert H. Dole, Bundle Papers and C. ——. “Pansy,” 7 “Pansy” books, _for Talladega C._ ---------- $3,475.95

LEGACY.

Whitinsville. Estate of E. W. Fletcher, by Charles P. Whitin, Ex. 2,000.00 ---------- $5,475.95

RHODE ISLAND, $3.52.

Westerly. Women’s Benev. Soc., 3.52, _for Raleigh, N.C., Freight_ 3.52

CONNECTICUT, $1,956.49.

Bethlehem. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Tillotson C. & N. Inst._ 10.00 Bristol. Mrs. S. T. Smith 1.50 Colchester. First Cong. Ch. 86.05 Colebrook. Cong. Ch. 26.59 Coventry. First Cong. Ch. 46.38 East Haddam. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 88.75 East Hartford. Cong. Ch., 15; A. Williams, 5 20.00 Ellsworth. Cong. Ch. 13.78 Essex. First Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 32.50 Granby. South Cong. Ch. 6.00 Greenville. Cong. Ch. 27.82 Guilford. Third Ch., _for Student Aid, Tillotson C. & N. Inst._ 32.00 Hartford. First Ch., 500.25; “A Friend in Asylum Hill Cong Ch.,” 15; Miss Mary Herrick, 5 520.25 Kensington. Miss E. Cowles, 2; Mrs. M. Cowles, 1 3.00 Kent. Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch. 30.00 Little River. A. Doolittle 10.00 Manchester. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 57.08 Middlebury. Cong. Ch. 23.98 Middletown. First Ch. 75.56 Mill Brook. Mrs. E. Pinney, 1; Mrs. E. R. Allen, 50c 1.50 New Britain. “A Friend” 15.00 New Haven. Dwight Place Cong. Ch., 29.22; Ch. of the Redeemer (ad’l), 10; Mrs. Sylvia Johnson, 10 49.22 New London. “Church of Christ” 34.62 New Preston Hill. Cong. Ch., 15.40, and Sab. Sch., 3.60 19.00 Norfolk. Cong. Ch. 50.00 Norwich. John A. Rockwell, M.D., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 10.00 Plymouth. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Talladega C._ 25.00 Putnam. Second Cong. Ch., to const. GEORGE S. BRADLEY and CHARLES H. RATTHEI L. Ms. 83.00 Riverton. Cong. Ch. 2.00 Saybrook. Cong. Ch. 12.50 Sharon. Cong. Ch. and Soc., _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 62.18 Stamford. First Cong Ch. 57.83 Thomaston. Cong. Ch. 35.61 Thompson. Cong Ch. and Soc. 29.56 Unionville. First Cong. Ch. 25.73 Westford. Cong. Ch. 3.00 West Haven. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 23.50 Wethersfield. Rev. G. J. Tillotson, _for Tillotson C. & N. Inst. Land._ 250.00 Winsted. First Ch. Sabbath Sch., for Furnishing Room, Talladega C. 35.00 Woodbury. North Cong. Ch. 21.00

NEW YORK, $7,529.56.