has made rapid progress. During the year 245 children have been
enrolled. These are both from the Sierra Leone and from the native
element. They learn English rapidly. “We have teachers,” says the
report, “who are quite awake to their duty. Children are accessible in
Sherbro, and are brought into day and Sunday schools in large numbers.
Through the kindness of friends of the poor little Africans, shirts
have been put on their backs and books into their hands, for which
they seem to be grateful. Of course these wear out, and others must be
procured in some way or other in their stead, or these little ones in
many cases will leave off attending school. They must be constantly
looked after. We hope to see not far in the future a first-class school
at this place. We have material in abundance upon which to work. Time,
patience and labor will bring success.”
The school at Avery has not made such progress as was hoped for during
the year. On the first of January its numbers were decreased by the
taking away of most of the larger boys to cut the crops for their
parents. The irregularity of attendance is a great obstacle in the way
of our success. Some attend for one day, and may not be seen again
for a month. Those who have attended regularly have made progress.
The prospect for the future is better. There are some children now in
the Mission whose attendance may be depended on. Most of the children
living in the village around the Mission have been taken to the farms
to drive birds, so that the number on the roll at present is only
twenty, ten of whom come from the Mission house. There have been 56 on
the roll during the year.
The school work at Debia is encouraging, Mr. Goodman and family being
settled there. We base our hopes largely on the little ones who are
being trained in our Mission schools.
The _Committee on Agriculture_ reported that the cassida planted at
Good Hope does not thrive, owing to the impoverished condition of the
soil. At Avery the coffee plantation is in a comparatively thriving
condition, and some of the trees bearing well. The need of more
laborers and implements is urged, and it is recommended “that more of
the ground be put under cultivation as a measure tending to supply the
wants of the growing Mission, and that the children of the Mission be
employed two hours each day upon the farms, under the supervision of
a competent and skillful person.” It is further recommended “that the
science of horticulture be introduced at each station, and that the
choicest flora of native and foreign production capable of being grown
on the premises be obtained, so far as practicable, for this purpose.”
The _Committee on Industrial Work_ reported that the saw mill needs
repairs of floor and roof, that one saw is in good running order.
There are sixteen hands employed at the mill, and two more are needed.
It is deemed desirable that some of the Mission children should be
“instructed into the workings of mechanics so far as we have the means
for instruction.”
Committees on _Repairs and Sanitary Condition_ of the Mission, made
careful examination, and reported their advice in these regards.
DISTRIBUTION OF MISSIONARIES.
Some changes were made in the location of the members of the Mission.
The force is now divided as follows: At Good Hope: Rev. A. P. Miller
and wife, Pastor and Superintendent of the Mission; Dr. Benjamin James,
Physician and Teacher; and Mr. A. E. White, Principal of School. At
Avery: Rev. A. E. Jackson, Pastor; Mr. E. L. Anthony, Industrial
Department, and Mr. George N. Jewett, Teacher.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
* * * * *
A TOUR AMONG THE CLALLAM INDIANS.
REV. MYRON EELLS, S’KOKOMISH, W. T.
The last month has been spent in a tour among the Clallam Indians.
Wishing to go further, and be absent from home longer than has been
usual on such trips, my family, who had not been six miles away from
home for more than two years, concluded to accompany me. Although
steamers run the whole route of our travel, yet as they stop at but few
of the places where the Indians live, and on the main part of the route
go only once a week, it was impracticable for us to travel in that way,
so we took a canoe from the Reservation with an Indian man and his
wife, looked out for our own food, carried house and bed, stowed in the
three babies, and away we went.
Our first call on Indians was at _Port Gamble_, fifty miles from home.
Here are about one hundred, and they asked me to talk on temperance.
During the last year and a half they have reformed in this respect.
After pointing them to Christ as the source of their help, they had
their talk. They said that one thing now troubles them. They live
across Port Gamble Bay, an eighth of a mile from the saw-mill and town,
in a village by themselves, on land owned by the mill company. They can
manage the Indians as well as could be expected, but there is near them
a white man with a black heart, who with his Indian wife often gets
drunk, sometimes remaining so for a week at a time. They also tempt
the weaker Indians; and now how to get rid of him is the question. As
both he and they live on land belonging to the company, the only way
I saw was for them to petition the superintendent to remove him. So
after nine o’clock at night I wrote out a petition, which the chiefs
and policemen and others signed, stating all the facts, and asking for
this man’s removal. I was obliged to leave early the next morning,
and so left them to present it. I have known of whites petitioning to
have worthless Indians removed, but have never before known Indians
to petition to have a white man removed because he was so low that
they did not wish to have him near them. Two years ago they would not
have done this, as many of them were glad to have an opportunity so
convenient where they could obtain the liquid poison.
My next congregation was at _Port Discovery_, thirty-five miles farther
on, and very much the same routine was observed at a number of places.
My business with them was to preach; theirs with me was to talk about
how and where to procure land in the best way. This was true at Port
Angelos, Elkwa, and two settlements at Clallam Bay. For several years
they have been urged to procure land so that they could feel warranted
in erecting good houses, and thus leave the old ones, full of grease,
dirt and smoke; but with the exception of those at Dunginess, very few
have done so; now they begin to realize the benefits of it and have
“land on the brain.” But they move cautiously, for it is easy for them
to be deceived, and it is talk, talk, talk as to what is best. Two
parties traveled to the Reservation about the time I was beginning my
journey—a trip of two or three hundred miles—to consult about land.
At _Dunginess_ a troublesome case begins. Four Indians, living fifty
miles farther on, had been here three or four weeks previously, anxious
to obtain the land on which their houses stood. They had been sent
to the clerk of the Probate Court, who knew nothing about it, but
told them it was Government land, and offered to get it for them for
the usual fees, nineteen dollars each. They paid him the seventy-six
dollars, and he promised to send it to the land office at Olympia, and
have their papers for them in two weeks. They waited the two weeks,
but received no returns. In the meantime others told them that the man
could lawfully do the business, but he was not to be trusted, for the
land had been owned by private individuals for fifteen years. He, too,
by the time I met him, had written to the land office and found the
same to be true. My business is, if possible, to get the money back. It
is useless to sue him, as he has no property which the law can touch.
One of the four Indians returned with me to get his money, but was
satisfied that it was useless for him to go farther, so he went home.
He had already spent three weeks, and the three others two weeks each
in trying to recover it. Yet this same man is Postmaster, Clerk of the
Probate Court, U. S. Commissioner, Deputy Sheriff, and lately offered
fifty dollars to the County Treasurer to be appointed his deputy. I was
not disappointed at the result, but handed the business over to the
agent to settle in Court.
Let us contrast the action of the Indians with this. I felt very sorry
for them. For four years we have been advising them to obtain land,
and now they were swindled in their first attempt. Fearful lest they
should become discouraged, I offered them ten dollars to divide amongst
them, saying, “If you never get your money I will lose this with you,
but if you do you can then repay it.” One-tenth of my income has long
been given to the Lord, and I felt that it would do as much good there
as anywhere. When I first mentioned this they refused, saying that they
did not wish me to lose my money, if they did theirs, but two weeks
afterwards, when I left the last one he took it; yet shortly afterwards
I found that he would not spend any of it, although he wanted some
articles very much, saying that it was not their money after all.
This lower part of the Sound is very like the ocean, with nothing to
break the winds, so I procured for that part of the journey a very
large canoe, thirty-six feet long, two and a half deep and six wide.
The children can play in it, and at night we anchored it out in some
good harbor like a small schooner.
Hospitality was very generous. I thought that there were too many of us
to go into anybody’s house; but at Dunginess, where we remained two or
three days in connection with each of two Sabbaths, a woman said, in
the absence of her husband, “You must all come in. If you pitch your
tent I will set fire to it and burn it down.” We submitted. The agent
at Neah Bay was just as hospitable, notwithstanding that his house
already seemed to be full, and also the superintendent of the mill at
Seabeck.
The weather was generally pleasant, but sometimes it rained hard. No
one caught cold, however, on account of it. Camping on the sand is not
so pleasant. Fresh water is so scarce as only to be used for drinking.
We boil our potatoes in salt water, but get it near shore, and forget
to let it settle. The potatoes crack, and the sand is all through them.
Then baby crawls along and tips the rice over into the sand, and we all
tramp the sand on to the beds, and into them, until our better half
wishes herself at home, as it blows into the food-box and clothes-boxes
and everywhere.
A WEDDING.
An Indian, who had been married Indian fashion for several years,
but who had homesteaded a farm, thought it best to be married in a
civilized way. He had never seen such a performance, so I explained
all to him beforehand. But when I was going through the ceremony and
had just said, “You promise to take this woman to be your wife,” he
interrupted me, saying, “Yes, of course I do. You do not suppose I am
going to put away my wife now, after I have lived with her so long?
See, here are my children, the oldest fifteen years old. It would be
foolish for us now to separate.” I told him, “All right,” kept very
sober, laughed in my sleeve, made a note of it, and proceeded to say,
“You promise to love and honor her,” etc.
Twenty religious services were held during the journey, including one
communion service, and one very pleasant prayer-meeting preparatory to
it. Thus we spent the month of August, enjoyed it, and have enjoyed
home all the more since reaching it.
* * * * *
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
* * * * *
CABIN PRAYER-MEETINGS—WHICH WAS THE HERO?
LILLIE E. BARR, ATLANTA, GA.
DEAR TEACHERS AND CHILDREN:
I wish I had space, so I could tell you all of the beautiful,
interesting and helpful things that happen day by day in my work;
but as I have not, I must content myself with giving you one or two
incidents. First, let me tell you about an impromptu prayer-meeting
held in one of the many cabins which dot the hills all over. A few
nights ago I went to see a sweet old Christian, who for three years has
not known an hour’s rest from pain, and yet is as merry as a cricket,
receiving the little offerings of food and shelter which her poor
neighbors bring her with cheerful gratitude as from her God. One day
I asked her how she could be so patient and so gay. “Why, chile, it’s
all on de journey, an’ I don’t know no reason why the way should be
made easier fur me than it was fur the Master,” she answered. While I
was trying to make her more comfortable, several women came in, _none
of whom could read_, and after we had talked a little while about our
sweet Lord Jesus, one said: “Please read the chapter where Jesus says:
‘I pray not for these alone, but for all of them who shall believe on
me through their word.’” A little tin lamp was brought, and as I opened
my Bible I glanced at the living picture before me. The lamp threw its
feeble light over the patient sufferer, and lit up the dusky faces of
the women bending eagerly forward as I read those blessed words. No
sooner had I finished the chapter than one began that beautiful slave
song, “Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus.” Instantly it was
caught up. Our hearts had touched the heart of Christ in this grand
prayer chapter. As soon as it was ended, another chapter was asked
for, and then another, and another, intermingled with prayer and song.
It was just such a prayer-meeting, I imagine, as the one held by the
disciples when, being gathered together, Jesus stood in their midst and
said, “_Peace be with you._” I knew, I felt that I had been with Jesus.
With the light and grace of this prayer-meeting still about us, we
came down an alley and into a court known as Campbell’s Block. It is a
square, built round with cabins of one or two rooms _without windows_.
A large wash-shed and well occupy the centre of the court. Look now
into the rooms; everywhere dirt and filth, crying children, quarreling
children, women smoking, women dipping snuff, women idling, women
washing, women fretted with care until they are prematurely old,
and not _one_ woman in the block able to read, and so gain strength
from the blessed word of God. And this block is one out of four in
our field. One house only shows any sign that for the poor there is
anything beautiful; but that, like a grand sermon, stands amid this
misery and sin, from ground to roof a mass of flowers. I could not
help thinking what a joy they must be to the ministering angels, as
they pass through this place of suffering and sin. To me they were the
promise of redemption for the block. Like a pure thought in a sinful
heart we found old Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant in one of the rooms. He is
blind and helpless with paralysis, consequently the providing of rent,
food and clothes devolves upon his aged wife. After reading them the
two last chapters in Revelation, the old man cried out: “It’s worth
while being blind to know the first thing I shall see will be the New
Jerusalem.” “Yes indeed, George, now we must work harder than ever to
win home,” answered his wife, as she brushed the tears away. We have
begun a prayer-meeting in this block, and I ask your prayers for its
success. To these cases I might add ever so many more; but if I give
you big folks any more room, I shall crowd my story to the children
out, and that wouldn’t be one bit fair—would it, little ones?
I shall introduce my story by asking the boys to pay particular
attention, as I want them to decide whether Jesse Dobbs or Jim
Prescott—the two boys whom this story is about—is the true hero.
“Who minds de cold? Come on, Jesse; de boys is going to make up a
company and have heaps of fun down by Big Bethel.” I must explain that
Big Bethel is the name of a church.
Jesse glanced out at the sunshine and called, “Mammie, mayent I go with
Jo down to Big Bethel?”
As the answer was yes, the two bounded away and soon joined several
boys, the leader of whom, from his coarse, bloated face to his heavily
booted feet, was the very picture of a young ruffian. As Jesse and Jo
came up he was saying, “Dare aint a fatter roost to pick den old Judge
Gibbs’ in de world; ’sides dat, you ken git 15 cents a piece fur every
chick’n. Den you brings de money to me, and I gibs you so much out of
it. ’Stand what I say?”
“Yar, yar,” came from the other boys.
“’Sides dat, dares heaps of fun clearing off a chick’n roost, and I,
fur one, aint feared to go into nobody’s yard. Now is you gwine to be
ready to-night to follow your captain? I’s your captain.”
“Captain of what?” asked Jesse.
“Captain of the roost-clearing brigade; dat’s what. Is you going to
jine us, Dobbs? If you aint I’ll most kill you fur coming here to spy
into our plans.”
Jesse paused an instant, then he said, “No.”
“Why not, I’d jist like fur to know?” demanded Jim, angrily.
“Because I aint going to jine no thieving company.”
The words were hardly spoken before Jim lifted his foot and kicked him
in the side. Kick followed kick in such rapid succession, that Jesse
was almost senseless before Jim could be pulled off; and when I formed
his acquaintance he had been in bed nine months, a large tumor having
formed in the side where he had been kicked. When I asked him about
lying so long in bed, he answered:
“At first the time was awful long, but by-and-by I began to take notice
how mother worried when I ’plained of de pain and de tiredness, so I
took to trying not to ’plain _fore_ her, and that kinder drawed off my
’tention from de pain.”
For nine months he had been trying to help his mother by being patient.
Three weeks ago he died from the effects of that cruel kick—died
forgiving all who had injured him, and bearing his cross of suffering
like a noble little Christian to the end.
Which was the hero—Jim, who boasted he wasn’t afraid to steal from any
man, or Jesse, who wasn’t afraid to say _no_, although forewarned that
he would be almost killed if he said it?
I say Jesse was.
What do you all say?
From this story I hope you will all try to be more gentle and loving,
for we never know what months of pain and suffering, not only to
others, but also to ourselves, one rude action may cause.
* * * * *
RECEIPTS
FOR SEPTEMBER, 1879.
* * * * *
MAINE, $215.61.
Bangor. Hammond Street Ch., $100; West Bangor
Chapel, $6 $106.00
Bluehill. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Brewer. First Cong. Ch., $4.95, and Sab. Sch.,
$2.60; J. Holyoke, $5 12.55
Brunswick. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.00
Castine. Rev. A. E. Ives 3.00
Litchfield Corners. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Machias. Centre St. Cong. Ch. 7.56
Minot Centre. Mrs. B. J. 1.00
Northport. “A Friend” 0.50
Orland. “A Friend” 5.00
Orono. F. A. M. 1.00
Portland. State St. Cong. Ch. 50.00
Woolwich. Mrs. Jotham P. Trott 2.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $639.43.
Acworth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.55
Bristol. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.85
Campton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.00
Candia. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 24.90
Concord. Miss Alma J. Herbert, $3; S. S., $1;
Others, $2 6.00
Dover. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 82.29
Franklin. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.00
Francestown. Mrs. A. H. Kingsbury 3.00
Fitzwilliam. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $8.75; Mrs. L.
Hill, $5 13.75
Hampstead. Ann M. Howard 5.00
Hanover. Dartmouth Religious Soc. 50.00
Mount Vernon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.04
Northwood. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l) 1.00
Orfordville. “A Friend” 1.00
Pelham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 46.40
Pembroke. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.88
Pittsfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.75
Raymond. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.00
Rindge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 4.11
Swanzey. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00
Temple. Cong. Sab. Sch. 20.91
Thornton’s Ferry. Individuals, by Mrs. H. N. Eaton 2.00
Troy. ESTATE of Dea. Abel Baker, by A. W. Baker
and J. S. Parmenter, Ex’s. 150.00
Walpole. F. Kilburn, $50; W. G. Barnett, $5 55.00
Wilton. Second Cong. Ch. 25.00
VERMONT, $480.21.
Alburgh. Ladies’ Miss. Soc., by Mrs. E. M. Hicks,
Sec. and Treas. 1.00
Brattleborough. Cong. Ch. 28.82
Burlington. “A Friend” 5.00
East Arlington. Rev. Chas. Redfield 5.00
Greensborough. Rev. Moses Patten and Wife 15.00
Granby and Victory. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.30
Jamaica. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.61
Putney. Mr. and Mrs. Foster 5.00
Saint Johnsbury. North Cong. Ch. and Soc. 143.00
Wardsborough, North. Union Col. 4.00
Wardsborough, South. Ch. and Soc. 3.48
Wells River. ESTATE of Mrs. Chloe Brock, by F.
Deming, Ex. 250.00
West Brattleborough. Cong. Sab. Sch. 7.00
Westminster West. “A Friend” 5.00
MASSACHUSETTS, $3,401.94.
Ayer. Mrs. C. A. Spaulding 50.00
Boston. G. F. Kendall, $5; Dea. G. P., $1 6.00
Boston. Dorchester Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 926.44
Boston. Highland Cong. Ch. (ad’l) 50.00
Boxborough. Mrs. J. Stone 10.00
Buckland. “A Friend,” $4; Dea. S. Trowbridge, $2 6.00
Cambridge. Geo. H. Fogg, to const. MRS. GEO. H.
FOGG, L. M. 30.00
Clinton. First Evan. Ch. and Soc. 75.00
Coleraine. Cong. Ch. 10.00
Danvers. Maple St. Ch. and Soc. to const. HENRY
RIPLEY, MRS. LYDIA T. KIMBALL and MISS HATTIE
ELIOT, L. M’s 110.00
Deerfield. N. H. 0.51
East Hampton. First Cong. Sab. Sch. 25.00
Enfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 67.00
Falmouth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l) 8.00
Foxborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 28.19
Framingham. George Nourse 5.00
Gardner. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Georgetown. “A Friend,” $5; “A Friend,” bbl. of C. 5.00
Great Barrington. A. C. T., $1; L. M. P., $1 2.00
Greenfield. Second Cong. Ch. 3.00
Hanover. ESTATE of Isaac M. Wilder, by Chas. B.
Fox and Jedediah Dwelley, Ex. 500.00
Holbrook. Mrs. C. S. Holbrook 100.00
Housatonic. Housatonic Cong. Sab. Sch. 25.00
Lakeville Precinct. Cong. Sab. Sch. 20.00
Lancaster. Evan. Cong. Ch. 35.14
Lenox. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00
Malden. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 33.23
Mansfield. Orth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.03
Medway. “A Friend” 1.00
Nantasket. M. H. Scott, _for Student Aid, Tougaloo
U._ 26.16
Newton Highlands. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 48.04
Norfolk. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.22
Norton. Trin. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.25
Northampton. ESTATE of J. P. Williston, by A. F.
Williston, Ex. 394.24
Northampton. “A Friend” 200.00
Northbridge Centre. Helen S. Winter 2.00
North Brookfield. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 50.00
Northfield. Trin. Ch. and Soc. 15.00
North Leominster. Church of Christ 19.00
Orange. Central Ch. 4.10
Plainfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $11.69; Samuel
Loud, $10 21.69
Randolph. Miss Abbie W. Turner 10.00
Shelburne. Cong. Church 24.94
Sherborn. Mrs. Aaron Greenwood 3.00
Somerville. Franklin St. Ch. and Soc. 75.00
South Amherst. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
South Attleborough. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.00
Southbridge. Evan. Free Ch. and Soc., to const.
REV. GEO. H. WILSON, L. M. 40.00
Southfield. Ladies, 2 bbls. of C., _for
Woodbridge, N. C._
South Sudbury. Ladies’ Miss. Soc., $2 and bbl. of
C. 2.00
Springfield. “E. M. P. South Ch.” 15.00
Taunton. Winslow Ch. and Soc. 34.00
Walpole. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00
Warwick. Cong. Sab. Sch. 6.00
Watertown. Phillips Cong. Ch. 46.50
Webster. Cong. Sab. Sch. 13.81
Westborough. Freedman’s Mission Ass’n, bbl. of C.
West Brookfield. Cong Ch. and Soc. 45.00
Westford. Union Cong. Ch. and Soc. 35.00
West Newton. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 44.34
Weymouth. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.11
RHODE ISLAND, $90.37.
Bristol. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 37.18
Little Compton. United Cong. Ch. 38.00
Westerly. Pawcatuck Cong. Ch. 15.19
CONNECTICUT, $2,194.26.