Chapter 3

On Sunday morning the president preached before the students the closing sermon of the year. On Tuesday evening the annual concert and exhibition was given to a full house and an enthusiastic audience. The commencement exercises of Wednesday, consisting of essays, original orations and musical pieces, not only brought out the ability and attainments of the students, but seemed to impress patrons, friends and visitors present, with the quality of the work done and the standard maintained at Tillotson.

In spite of some disappointment caused by the great severity of last year's drought, our numbers have somewhat increased and the year has been a good one.

Never has the work of _Christian_ education, in which the A.M.A. is engaged, seemed so absolutely necessary as at this hour in uplifting the people and purifying the churches.

H.L.H.

* * * * *

THE INDIANS.

We are in the midst of the closing exercises of school for the year past. Some three or four hundred Indians, chiefly relatives of pupils, are now encamped about us. These have come some as far as ninety miles, and some few a hundred and twenty-five miles, to attend the exercises and take their children home.

T.L. RIGGS, OAHE, DAK.

* * * * *

SEWING WOMEN AT FORT BERTHOLD.

To one coming in sight of the Berthold Mission, curiosity would be aroused by the sight of blanketed forms, two or three together, not walking side by side, but gliding along, one after another, with rapid steps toward the mission-house.

It is the afternoon of the Women's Sewing Meeting, and, although it does not begin until two o'clock, by one the room is generally full--yes, crowded, so that, in passing around among them, one has to stumble quite often over feet which have no place of retreat. We do not pretend to offer chairs to all. The floor holds as many without chairs as with, even tables and wood-box do not remain empty, but perched on each are the blanketed forms, from many of which the blankets have not fallen, at least not more than to show the face or head. Here the women sit patiently.

After sewing about two hours, the thimbles and needles are gathered up, the names taken, or something to designate each one, and each one's desires discovered: tea, sugar, or coffee, for this is a strong point where these women show their heathenism.

Some portion of God's truth and some help to a better life is then given to them in Gros Ventres and Ree; prayer offered, and they receive their little bag or package of tea, coffee or sugar. It has been a busy afternoon, and we are all tired, but it pays, O, how it pays, a thousand times over!

AN INDIAN CHURCH SOCIABLE.

Do Indians have sociables? Indians like to visit, and they do enjoy a good supper. With these two qualifications, what else is necessary for a sociable? Some women to do the work. The women of the Women's Native Missionary Society, of Yankton Agency, are not lazy, nor are they slow in devising ways and means of making money; therefore, on the evening of Feb. 22, they had a sociable and charged 25 cents for supper. The cooking was done at the homes of Mrs. Brazeau, Mrs. Aungie, and Mrs. Williamson. The provisions were donated by the members of the society. A number of the women gave chickens, others flour, coffee, ham, potatoes, canned fruit, sugar, and some gave money with which to buy whatever was needed. Each one that gave something had her supper free. The moving of the printing office furniture to Santee left a large empty room; and as this room joins the school-room, it was a very convenient place in which to have the supper. A barrel of water was hauled; a woman hired to scrub the floor, and table and table-cloths were borrowed. The trader very obligingly lent dishes out of his store. Janet, Gertie and Esther were busy all the afternoon setting tables, and getting ready for the evening's reception. Towards evening the provisions came. Each woman was then to take her place--one to cut meat, one to cut pie and cake, another to wash dishes, and others to wait on the tables. Angie Cordier and Janet Strieker, who have been away to school, were quite expert in waiting on tables, and some of the young gentlemen who have been away were quite expert in calling for this and that. But none could equal the old man who had never spent a day of his life in school. This old man had borrowed 50 cents to take himself and friend to supper. He ate all that was given him, then called for potatoes. His plate was filled again and again with potatoes--and still he called for potatoes.

During the afternoon two young braves are riding around on their ponies. They halt before the windows. At last they gather up enough courage to ask if they can have supper and pay for it in the future. They have no money now, but are going to work and get some money, then they will pay. "No. We do not sell on credit." Soon after dark, the school-room began to fill up with women and their babies. A man comes with his little girl and mother-in-law, and borrows 50 cents to pay for the supper. He would also have brought his wife, but she could not leave home. Some eat their supper and leave. Others are sitting in the school-room looking at pictures and talking a very little, but it is rather stiff. The door opens and in walk the Doctor and Agency Clerk. No more stiffness after this. Those would be hard hearts indeed that would not thaw in the presence of these genial countenances. Other white people come. The Captain with his family take supper. He also brings in some of the outsiders who are looking in at the windows, and pays for their suppers. The Issue Clerk is quick to see the day-school children, who are peeping in at the window, and calls them in to give them their suppers. The ladies from the Government Boarding School come, bringing some of the larger children with them. These boys and girls, however, have earned money and pay for their own supper.

A lady from the store building passes around some tiny round blocks. "What is it, candy?" "No. Put it in your mouth," "Gum! Do you chew gum?" "No, but a gentleman who was visiting us a short time since left us a supply as his parting gift."

When the fire is stirred with a long stick, one gentleman remarks that he admires that poker very much. A few days afterwards a handsome new iron poker comes to the school-room. The whole school give a vote of thanks to the donor of the poker.

During the evening there is music and reading of selections. Talking can be taken part in by all, and laughing is done in a common language. Whether the name of it is English or Vernacular, we do not know. The evening passes all too quickly, and one by one they depart to their homes. The money is counted, $21.50 cleared. The women feel that their supper has been a success. The last one but the school-teacher has left. There is something sublimely grand in being alone at midnight in a house that was only a short time before full of life and mirth. One has a desire to sit and look on the moonlight and dream. But it is more practical to straighten up the school-room and go home.

FROM THE WORD CARRIER.

* * * * *

THE CHINESE.

*ITEMS.*

1. The item of greatest importance to us is the establishment of a mission at Los Angeles. The A.M.A. was first on this field, having had a prosperous and useful mission school there, more than fourteen years ago. But early in 1876 Rev. Ira M. Condit, a missionary returned from China, well versed in the Chinese language, went with his family to that city to open a mission under the Presbyterian Board. In the belief that, with such advantages, better work could be done by them than by us, we transferred our mission to them, pupils, teacher and all. I have seen much reason since to doubt the wisdom of this step, and to feel that I should never repeat it. But the open doors have been too numerous, and the pressure from points where there seemed to be none to care for these souls, has been too great, for me to think of using any of our limited resources for the purpose of crowding in where brethren of another name were working. And it is only because the city has now become so large, and the Chinese population in it covers so great an area, and the number of our own brethren there is so considerable, and their appeal for a mission so urgent, and their assurance so full that it could not now be a rival to other missions, but rather a welcome co-worker with them, that I consented to resume. The result is gratifying indeed. No less than seventy-five were enrolled as pupils the first month. An Association of Christian Chinese has been formed, having already a large membership, and the purpose and promise of vigorous Christian work. The teacher in charge of the mission is Mrs. C.A. Sheldon, long connected with our work in San Francisco, and than whom no teacher ever employed by us endeared herself more to her pupils or wrought more successfully on their behalf. We have reason to believe that from the start the evangelistic spirit will be strong in this mission, and I look to see many turning from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.

2. The next item of greatest interest relates to our new mission at Tucson, Arizona. It closed its operations for this fiscal year with the month of May, not because of any decrease of interest, but for the reason that the extreme heat of the summer months at that place forbids exertion, and compels alike in things religious and things secular, a long vacation. Here, too, an "Association" has been formed of eleven members, who in joining it, forsake idolatry and profess themselves followers of Christ. The work has been greatly furthered through the deep interest taken in it by the pastor, Rev. H.H. Cole, and many members of his church. Yong Jin, one of our evangelists, has spent nearly two months with this mission, and I give in his own language an account of the closing exercises: "Last evening we had a pleasant time, and invited all of the Sunday-school teachers and some other friends to come to the school-room with us. It has over forty Americans and over twenty Chinese, make the room full of people. Our brethren or scholars recite some Scriptures, and I read a report on what I think." Then follows his report, from which I quote a few sentences: "This school was founded on the 24th of January, 1888, and now has twenty-three scholars, but only fourteen or fifteen usual attend. Several of these scholars have improved greatly. I think that Mr. J. Kavanagh is a very good teacher, and hope God will give him good health when he goes to Hot Springs. And also, they had very good and kind Sunday-school teachers, who taught them how to read and sing. They sing on Wednesday evening, too. You help our Chinese very much, for which we thank you, and we never will forget you or your kindness. I think Mr. Cole is a kind and faithful pastor. He called our Chinese to come to church to hear him pray and preach, and sometimes he came to the school-room, and talked to them and taught them the words of the Lord Jesus." The programme for the evening had no less than twenty-six different exercises, each one, of course, brief, but there was much prayer, much singing both in English and Chinese, one or two brief addresses, much reciting of Scripture and to close with, refreshments abundant and toothsome, provided by the pupils for their guests. The work will be resumed when the heats of summer are past, and I believe that the next year's work will be even more fruitful than this.

3. My items become chapters in spite of me. I must content myself with one more, a brief extract from a letter from Mrs. Carrington, our devoted and successful teacher at Sacramento. "I asked you a few months ago to pray for Fong Bing. Through the blessing of God, he has come into the light, and is one of the earnest ones. Now I wish you to especially remember Lee Young, who wishes to be a Christian, but thinks he must wait till he returns from China. I hope he will not wait, but will soon be one with us in Christ." Will our readers join us in this prayer?

WM. C. POND

* * * * *

BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.

MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.

WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS.

CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

ME.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, Woodfords, Me.

VT.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. Henry Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury. Vt.

VT.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Ellen Osgood, Montpelier, Vt.

CONN.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.

N.Y.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. William Spalding, Salmon Block, Syracuse, N.Y.

ALA.--Woman's Missionary Association, Secretary, Mrs. G.W. Andrews, Talladega, Ala.

OHIO.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Flora K. Regal, Oberlin, Ohio.

IND.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Rogers, Michigan City, Ind.

ILL.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151 Washington St., Chicago, Ill.

MICH.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Warren, Lansing, Mich.

WIS.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead, Wis.

MINN.--Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs. H.L. Chase, 2,750 Second Ave., South, Minneapolis, Minn.

IOWA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Miss Ella E. Marsh, Grinnell, Iowa.

KANSAS.--Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs. Addison Blanchard, Topeka, Kan.

NEB.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, President, Mrs. F.H. Leavitt, 1216 H St., Lincoln, Neb.

SOUTH DAKOTA.--Woman's Home Miss, Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.E. Young, Sioux Falls, Dak.

* * * * *

We would suggest to all ladies connected with the auxiliaries of State Missionary Unions, that funds for the American Missionary Association be sent to us through the treasurers of the Union. Care, however, should be taken to designate the money as for the American Missionary Association, since _undesignated funds will not reach us_.

* * * * *

We are glad to note that the ladies of Vermont in organizing a State Missionary Union, have been careful of the interests of the American Missionary Association in the support of the McIntosh school, the following resolutions having been passed by a rising vote.

"RESOLVED, That the ladies of the Congregational churches of Vermont desire to express their appreciation of the service rendered by the committee appointed five years ago to have in charge funds for the McIntosh school, under the care of the American Missionary Association. The members of that committee have done their work faithfully and effectively, and we feel that we cannot honor them more than by asking them to continue in the work, and thus assist officers of the newly-formed Union, pledging ourselves anew to help them bear the burden and to respond heartily to their calls."

* * * * *

*NOTES FROM MISS COLLINS.*

Elias, our native helper, preached a good sermon this morning. Usually on each Saturday night he comes here to ask questions in regard to the meaning of the parables or stories of the Bible. To-day, however, he quite outdid himself. The lesson was from the story of the Wise Men and the Star. He read the story and explained it. Then he said, "Christ is not on earth now in bodily form. There is no bright star placed in the heavens to guide us to him, or to show us the way to him, but, (holding up the Bible) here is our guiding star. This is the only light that can enlighten our dark minds. This will show us where to find Christ. We may try to civilize men with law, but it can only be done with the Gospel. You do not care to be told that you are sinners, but you rejoice to hear that you may be saved." His exhortation was really fine, and yet he seems ordinarily a very common-place man. His little girl has been near the gates of death, but has been miraculously spared, and it has been a means of grace to the parents. The little baby, Mary Clementine, (my only namesake), is not yet very strong; a relapse may take her off at any time. If it is God's will I hope she may be spared. This afternoon Elias went up to hold services at the Upper Station and I took charge of the meeting here. I told them something of the mission work in Africa. All seemed greatly interested.

A son-in-law of Sitting-Bull and wife came here to-day with their sick baby. They drove twenty miles to see me. The poor baby is very sick and suffered very much. I can hear its moans and cries now. I did all I could for it, but it is a forty-mile ride to visit it and I had to give medicine for a week. They will bring it again in a week. O, how I pity these poor helpless people! This man, One-Bull, has been baptized by the Catholics. He is the Chief of Police. His wife is Sitting-Bull's daughter or niece. Sitting-Bull is called the greatest medicine-man they have, and now in their helplessness they come here to me. Surely God is opening these homes and hearts very wide.

* * * * *

OUR YOUNG FOLKS.

THE TRUE BLUE CARD.

BY SARAH MAY.

"Why are you laughing so here all alone, Auntie?" said Ralph Hill, as he came into a room where Inez Hill sat reading a letter and laughing till the tears ran down her cheeks. "Do tell me, please. It must be so funny--and what are all these blue cards?"

"One thing at a time, Ralph," said Aunt Inez. "I'll read you the letter I was laughing at and then tell you about the blue cards, for they go together. The letter is from a dear friend who is teaching the colored children in the South. It tells of her first attempts with them. I'll not read it all. Listen:"

_My Dear Old Friend:_ I must tell you to-day about my promising pupil, Nan. _I_ am learning patience whether she learns anything or not. One day I overheard Nan and Lila (the pretty mulatto girl I told you about) talking together about like this:

"Nan," said Lila, "do you want to learn to read like white folks?"

"Course I do," laughed Nan. "Hi yi, ho yo, but how's I ever goin' to?"

"Miss Kitty learn us," said Lila. "Heard her tell Miss Lizzy so. Me and you are going to her room after sun-down, and she'll learn us a lesson. I've learned right smart now. Know the a b c, and can spell a heap. It's 'mazin' good."

Nan opened her big eyes as Lila went one, than gave a quick toss of her head and said: "Feels mighty peart and proud like, Lile, over your larnin'. Reckon some other folks can learn too, if they wants to."

Nan is not a very quiet pupil. She has queer remarks to make about each letter as I point it out. I told her the first letter was A. She made a funny courtesy, and said:

"Mighty glad to make your 'quaintance, Massa A. Been wantin' to know you long time ago."

"That is B, Nan," I continued.

"B," she screamed, "Oh! I feared of him. Will he sting? Done got my eyes all stunged up with them bees once. Couldn't see nothin' for a week. Fac--Miss."

"I don't like X," she burst forth, "he's like Miss Lizzy when I's done broke sumthin', so cross."

* * * * *

In spite of her chattering and her capers, Nan learned all her letters that night. Teacher and scholar were astonished and delighted at her success. The next evening, however, showed that Nan could forget as quickly as she learned.

"Nan! What is that letter?" I asked, pointing to A.

"Dunno, Miss."

"What is that round letter?"

"Done forgot, Miss Kitty."

"Well, what is that letter that looks like Miss Lizzy when she's cross?"

"I disremember."

And thus it was all through the alphabet. Nan had forgotten the whole. She could not be persuaded to try again.

"Laws, Miss Kitty," she cried. "I'se done learnt 'em onct. Does white peoples learn 'em twicet?"

"Yes, Nan," said I. "If they forget the first time."

"Sho," said she with a queer twist of her black face. "I'd be 'shamed to learn it twict. Ef 'twont stay in dis head first time, 'tan't no good."

So I concluded to let the alphabet go for awhile and try spelling.

Nan learned this also quickly at first. After she had learned to spell cat and many other words, I said, "Now, Nan, I'll teach you to spell 'Kitty.'"

"Oh, I knows. Miss Kit," she interrupted, "Lemme spell, Ise-self. Must be cat wid de tail cut off. C--A--Kitty."

* * * * *

After awhile as Lila progressed and read stories to Nan, the little rogue "wisht" she could read too. "Couldn't see no use in dat yaller gal gittin' so fur ahead." When she found she could only read by learning those little things that "bobbed so spry into a body's head and hopped out a heap quicker," then she reckoned she'd have to come to it. She tried once more. It was a long time before she could call the letters and spell out words, and it was many months before she could read at all without spelling. It was hard work for Nan and harder for her teacher. Before she had half looked at a word she would hear a blackbird or see a hawk after a chicken, or she thought "sure, Miss Lizzy called." I tried to have patience and in the end I conquered. Nan was "mighty proud" when she read the last page of her primer.

"Don't think much of that ole book, no how," she said. "Got it all in here now. Spect I'd better be spry an' git inter nex' book fore I disremember this ere."

I begin to hope that both Lila and Nan are beginning a Christian life. But oh! it takes so long for seed to grow in soil that has been trampled on for years. But I hear Nan now singing the chorus of an old war song, still sung by the colored folks:

"We're coming, Father Abraham, Three hundred thousand more."

And I will believe it. There are more than three hundred thousand just such ignorant girls and boys. They "will come" if we go after them.

Do "pray and pay" for us. Yours,

KITTY.

Ralph enjoyed the letter so much that he forgot for once to ask a question until his aunt took up a blue card and handed it to him.

"Oh, yes," he exclaimed. "Now tell me about the cards."

"Read it," said his aunt.

Ralph read as follows: "The A.M.A. True Blue Card."

"Oh, I know," said Ralph. "A.M.A. (ama) means love those. I had it in my Latin lesson this week."

"Love those, is it?" questioned Miss Hill. "Pretty good meaning that for our abbreviations. A.M.A.--the Love Them Society; it means just that. Love your neighbors, love your brothers."

"What brothers?" inquired Ralph. "I haven't any; wish I had."

"Yes, you have, my boy," answered Miss Hill. "You have red, white, black, and yellow brothers, and this 'A.M.A.' is to help them to read, to work on the farm and in the house, to learn trades, and to know the best things. Your black brothers are the negroes who live in all the South, the yellow are the Chinese in California, the red are the Indians in the Territories, in the schools of Hampton, and the whites are in the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. All these little books that I will show you tell about these brothers and sisters. Now read the card. Read it all.

THE A.M.A. "TRUE BLUE" CARD.

SPACED FOR COLLECTING FIVE CENTS.

For each five cents collected, prick a hole with a pin in one of the squares below--each space representing that sum.

Letters from the "Children's Missionary" will be sent to each collector upon returning the card with amount of collection--not less than Five Dollars.

Six of these cards will entitle the collector to a Life Membership in _The American Missionary Association_.

"GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS, THAT NOTHING BE LOST."

[Following this is a large square containing one hundred small squares, which are the ones to be pricked.]

Ralph read the card very distinctly and carefully, and then said,

"O Auntie, may I have one to prick."

"Indeed you may," answered Miss Hill. "I was just wishing for a young collector. When will you begin?"