and sometimes quite hard; but, through the goodness and mercy of God, our usual health continues, and Sister Requa's experience can testify that even delicate females may bear fatigue, and wet, and cold, under circumstances quite alarming to those who have never been thus exposed, and yet not have their health impaired in the least. The evening meet there is full as much (if not more) of a Missionary spirit and ardour of feeling here as there is in our family. They avoid as little labour on the Sabbath as possible, even less than we do, notwithstanding their early rising on that day. Our food yesterday was cold meat and bread with tea or coffee, morning and evening. But what might surprise you most was, There seems, so far as I can learn, that to avoid on the Sabbath the lato have been very active exertions bour of washing so many dishes, none made to get Brother Requa's house were placed upon the table excepting done before he should return with his the cups for tea. lady. Brother Vaill had been draw- ing was pleasant. Br. Vaill preached ing clay, and Brother Chapman, stone, to the hired men. Others of the for the chimney, and Dr. Palmer was family met together for a conference. putting it up. This seems to me like This morning, while I write, I believe having matters as they should be--all are out at business. Br. Palmer "all striving together;" and I would fain hope they have none among them who think themselves above such labour when called to it, or who feel that they can do little or nothing but what belongs to their particular appointment. The family here are in health, and so far my communications with them have been sweet and agreeable. Domestic Concerns of the Mission. Sabbath, Oct. 27.-Although we may think ourselves before this family in economy and calculation, I am not so confident of its being true. And I already know that in one or two things they are before us. The fowls are this moment crowing for day; yet the bell has rung for all to rise; and before it will be light enough to see without candles breakfast will be upon the table. This looks like economy of time; and if I find other things similar with respect to action, I need not tell you how much I shall be pleased with it. I hope I shall see all the Sisters out in their places at table, that I may have another cause to suppose they have an active Missionary spirit. Monday, October 28.-Really, my Dear, I cannot but hope and believe is now on a chimney, acting the part of a mason, and laying up stone and mortar within my sight. The six Wednesday, Oct. 30.-You would members of this family, and particube well pleased, I think, with many larly with the zeal and frankness manifested in their communications relative to Missionary labours, and the cheerfulness and promptitude with which those labours are performed, I know that some of our family think they live better here, have more ease, and less self-denial, than with us. But they are entirely mistaken. I have much reason to fear that the balance lies the other way. active Sisters here go into the kitchen, two at a time, for four weeks. For the succeeding four weeks, it is their business to do the washing and ironing; and the next four weeks are devoted to their own little concerns, and to the care of the sick, if there be any. And let me whisper to you, my Dear, that I begin to be jealous for our establishment, lest we should not equal this in every good word and work. I trust this visit will be a mean of stirring us all up to greater zeal and self-denial. The hired men have invited me to preach to them this evening. The Lord help me to speak in demonstration of the Spirit. Mr. Pixley's Indisposition. Saturday, Nov. 2.-I informed you of a chill or two I had on my way here. A slight daily intermittent seemed to follow, but not so as to take away my appetite, or make me very uncomfortable. But preaching on Wednesday evening quite overcame me; and on closing I found myself exhausted even unto faintness. My appetite also left me, and for two days past I have been only able to regain what I lost by that evening's work. But, happily, I think I lost nothing in a spiritual point of view. My own mind was warmed and refreshed. Arrival of Missionary Delegates. Last evening Brothers Washburn and Orr arrived here from Dwight. It is indeed pleasant and refreshing to meet once more with Brethren at such a distance from their former acquaintance and place of nativity, especially when the object is one, and their labour and trial and privations are of a similar kind. Br. Finney was taken with the ague a few days before the Brethren left home, and was thus prevented from coming. The prospect with them is bright and cheering. The Indians there clothe their own children in English style, and are ready to send more than can yet be accommodated. At their station there has been an instance of a full-blooded Cherokee (who understood not a word of English when he entered the School,) learning to read intelligibly in the New Testament in three months. Let us rejoice at the success of others, and patiently endure till the time of our enlargement. Thursday, Nov.7.--There has been considerable rain here during the last three days. The waters have been so much raised as to prevent Brother Washburn's return so soon as he ex pected. To-morrow I intend going up the River to find some of our Indians. I am told that there are several families in this vicinity, and I begin to feel as solicitous, as when at ceed in my Herculean labours with home, to be with them, and to prothe language. It is my present plan to find out the Indians, and to follow them in their wanderings until they go to the place of their intended viltime in January; and, if the weather lage, which may perhaps be some permit, it is probable I shall return in February or March. But I fear, let the weather be as it may, that my courage will give out long before that time. Fail not to write to me particularly as to your feelings on this subject, and kiss my dear Harriet, if she be a good girl, repeatedly for her father. Unsuccessful attempt to visit the Indians. Saturday, Nov. 9.-I went yesterday up the River twelve miles to Chanteau's lower trading house. It was a disagreeable time. It rained most of the day, and when I came there the River was so high I could not cross. Three Indians, however, swam over, two of whom knew me, and seemed very glad to see Echwash-kuh, as they called me. They say Big Soldier's brother has his camp but a little down the River. And, indeed, so far as I can learn, most of White Hair's villagers are scattered about in this vicinity, except a few who have gone to hunt Buffalo. I shall probably soon find them out, and, by the blessing of God, enter fully, and I hope successfully, on the business of my appointment. It is the constant declaration of all, so far as I can understand, that they intend that the villages shall be near together. Who can tell but that all these changes are to take place for the furtherance of the Gospel? I am discouraged by nothing so much as by the influence of the old man which is corrupt. Nothing but this can prevent our final success. Nothing but this disturbs or can disturb our peace. Second unsuccessful attempt. Tuesday, Nov. 12.-I started again for the Indian encampments. It was late in the day, and I did not arrive at the River, where I expected to cross, till this morning. The River was still high, and consulting Chateau, who sent an Indian over to assist me if I wished to cross, I came to a decision to go over at all hazards, and was preparing to swim, when Brother Chapman arrived. He represented my undertaking as daring and presump tuous, and declared that he would not follow, even should I reach the opposite bank in safety, which he thought by no means probable. Thus overpersuaded, I desisted from the undertaking, and we have agreed to encamp on the bank of the River for the night. Should the water fall suffi'ciently, we shall cross in the morning; and if not, we shall either return home, or visit Clamore's village. Wednesday, Nov. 13.-The water had not fallen sufficiently this morning to cross, and we left our encampment for the village. But, recollecting that the Indians would probably be all on the hunt, and none at home but women and children, and being unwilling to lengthen my journey on account of my poor old horse, we changed our course for Union, where we arrived a little after noon. Here we learned that Chauteau's boat was near by, coming up the River, and I am resolved, notwithstanding Brother Chapman urges me to stay till after the Sabbath, to make another attempt, by leaving my horse behind, and taking passage on board the boat tomorrow morning. Arrival at the Indian Encampment. Saturday, Nov. 16.-According to my resolution, I took the boat on Thursday morning, and, on arriving here, found myself in the midst of the Indians, many of whom I was familiarly acquainted with at White Hair's village. Chauteau treats me very handsomely, and if he does not prove a friend, it will be because he is not what he appears to be. First Sabbath among the Indians. Sabbath, Nov. 17.-Those who enjoy the ordinances of a preached Gospel have little conception of the privileges they possess, nor do they know how it would affect them to be pla ced where the Sabbath and the sancWith the Intuary are unknown. dians, this has been a day of unusual bustle. They have been flocking in with their peltries to pay off their In debts to the Traders. I have endeavoured to pay a little attention to the day, although the weather has been cold, and flakes of snow have been flying, by building a fire in the woods and reading my Bible there. reading the third chapter of the prophet Isaiah, I found, in the latter part of the chapter, a striking analogy between the situation of this people and the condition of those about whom the prophet was speaking, which I never discovered before. They are represented by the prophet as sitting on the ground; having their secret parts discovered; havinggiven to them instead of a sweet smell, a stench; instead of a girdle, a rent; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a stomacher, agirding of sackcloth ; and burning, instead of beauty. In all baldness, the prediction of the prophet these particulars, excepting that of is amply fulfilled in this people. And even this exception would be remoshaving their heads with a razor, ved, if we might suppose that their leaving one small lock on the crown, could constitute the baldness hinted at. And certainly, if any women in the world labour to secure their own bread and water, and yet a number of them be attached to one man to take away their reproach, you will find it here among this people, whether the prediction may be applied to them or not. Indian Council. Monday, Nov. 18.-I have been in the midst of a crowd of Indians all day. Chauteau is wise to get their trade. He feeds them abundantly, and probably from this one cause greatly extends his influence among them. Last night Clamore, the Chief of the Osages of the Arkansaw, gave a speech to White Hair, Chief of the Great Osages, in the name of his Warriors, inviting him to come with his people and build a village near to his. White Hair and his principal men will determine on this some time in the winter. Thus every thing is constantly changing with respect to this people, and literally you cannot tell where they will be, or what a to-morrow will bring forth. With respect to our being useful to them, I am obliged to walk entirely by faith, in hope that they will not all be left to perish. Sometimes I think the very exertions of the Traders are pushing things fast to their ultimate issue, either to cause them to perish, or lead them necessarily to a different mode of life. They do not, as I once supposed, kill deer merely to eat. They often kill them solely for their skins, that they may trade. And probably more than four-fifths of the deer which are killed are left for the wolves to devour. One young man came in this evening, who had shot twelve in the compass of a day and a half. Some have killed eighty or ninety since the 1st of October. And if they go on at this rate, I cannot think they will long leave many alive. It is painful to see men of such apparent intellect and gigantic stature so scattered and peeled, without any dwelling place. We may, however, probably find that they have a greater sense of their dependence on a supreme power, whatever it may be, than we have generally been led to suppose. I asked White Hair why he blacked his face this morning. He intimated that it was that he might call upon God, as we do when we sit down to eat. And I must confess their early rising and their constancy in attending to their devotions of this kind make me sometimes inquire what is the power of my religion, and whether it ought not to make me and all Christians rise to pray, after the example of our Saviour, at least as early as these Indians, if they do not a great while before day. Interview with a Roman Catholic. Friday, Nov. 22.-Very little has transpired since my last. My situation is perhaps more pleasant than could have been expected. Brother Chapman is now with me. We still stay at Mr. Chauteau's. The Indian encampment is still within thirty rods of his house. While I have no idea but that my family is as dear to me as ever, yet I am surprised that I should find so much contentment of mind in my long absence from them, and especially under such circumstances, and in such society. But believe me, my Dear, there is something to be learned in every place. Could we look on people of different colours, different habits, and different nations, with unprejudiced feelings, we should not probably consider them as we do now, so far removed from us as not to possess the same temper nor practice in the same way. And even with respect to different religionists we may, by examination, find something of the same kind, and perhaps light upon Christians, Christian zeal, and Christian conversation, when we had little expected it. I have been led to this remark by a recent conversation with a Roman Catholic, in which he mentioned a rebuke he had received from his Bishop at St. Louis. In the course of our conversation about the importance of religion, and of attending to it immediately, he said—“I will answer you as I once did our Bishop, who was speaking to me on the same subject. Truly, I know,' said I, 'religion is important. I do not reject or despise it. I believe the Scriptures, and have been baptized.' 'But why then,' replied the Bishop, do you not live as the Scriptures require, and according to your belief?' 'Oh!' said I, 'this I intend to do some years hence. At present, I must attend to other business.' 'But,' rejoined the Bishop, 'you have not a warrant for a single day. You may die to-morrow." Now, what ideas of religion the Bishop may have, or what errors he may entertain, I know not. But the zeal manifested in thus faithfully reproving a man of the world, certainly argues favourably, let the general ceremonies of his Church be what they may. Were we to acquire a better knowledge of the feelings and practice of others, instead of ascertaining their sectarian notions-were we to exercise less prejudice and more freedom of communication, perhaps we should find that some of them at least are workers together with us. Difficulty of acquiring the Language. I have been now almost one week on the language, with the embarrassments already mentioned; and I think one week never before revealed to me so many things concerning it. Saturday, Nov. 23.-Br. Chapman urged me to go down with him to-day to the Missionary establishment. But, the best part of two days, Saturday and Monday, would be lost; at least one-fourth if not one-third part of the time we have to study and pick up Indian words. I cannot think I have time here given me for visiting, or any thing else that will interfere with my progress in learning the Indian language. Three years will be time short enough, even should I be with the Indians the whole period. Much more will it take if I am visiting, or journeying, or giving my mind to other concerns. This afternoon I received your letter by the hand of Mr. A. The poor man had a hard journey thirteen days out, and two or three of these without food. I was indeed glad of the few lines you sent, although they contained little or no information but what might occasion regret, excepting your wishing me not to let your feelings or state of health turn me aside from the path of duty. I feel extremely anxious about the character we are establishing, and greatly desire it should be that of living devotedly to the interests of the Mission. If the fire that brought us here waxes cold, or goes out, the consequences that will ensue must be dreadful. Let us then all be on the watch, lest Satan get advantage against us. Let us not be led astray by his devices. Wednesday, Dec. 4.-I am now again spending a few days with the Union Mission Family, and constantly attending to the language through the help of the Indians hanging around this place. I walked down from Chauteau's last Saturday, and now enjoy better health than at any time before, since I came from home. I had, however, a raging fever one day last week, occasioned by over exercise. The same thing may take place again as unexpectedly. But though I may be sick one day, I have learned that this is no certain sign that I shall be so on the next; but on the contrary, a prelude to more confirmed vigour a few days after. I am anxiously looking for a letter from you, which will determine about my longer or shorter stay in this quarter. But I sincerely feel more than a common consolation in leaving myself and all that I have to the control of the wise and good providence of God. I hope such may be the source from whence |