May 1--Sabbath--"Rising early went on foot with my little girls, though
the road was muddy, reached the meeting house before 9 A. M., in time for
Sunday-school, sacrament in the afternoon. Five received into the church
--three of them my scholars. So thankful to be once more with my beloved
Tuscaroras."
May 18--"Have had to relinquish my school again to Miss Howe, I am too
feeble for school duties."
June 22--"A week ago yesterday almost the whole nation turned out to help
at the "raising." The excitement of the day was so great that I could
sleep but little that night; so happy! The Lord be praised. How mountains
of difficulties have vanished. The Tuscaroras are doing nobly; but,
besides their work, to finish and furnish all will require about four
hundred dollars; this will take all my funds, but when I need more, I
know that the Lord will provide. Have already expended nearly one hundred
dollars, yet, I trust there will be no lack. Donations are coming in from
various quarters."
July 23--"How different my labors this summer from those of last winter.
Unable to teach, have given my school to another; nor, am I able to visit
much among the people. Occupy my time chiefly in taking care of my little
girls, teaching them to sew, and preparing bedding for my contemplated
boarding school; thankful that I may do a little, though I long to do
more."
Sept. 3--"Being unable to teach, and thinking that I might do more good
here, if ever, to study medicine, having consulted my friends and Mr.
Treat, I shall go to Philadelphia to attend medical lectures. Have bade
adieu to my humble home, not to return before next February."
Miss Thayer returned from Philadelphia in February, 1853. Miss Mary
Walker had taught the school during her absence. Shortly after her return
to Mt. Hope, Miss Abigail Peck and Miss Cinderella Britto arrived, the
former to teach school, the latter to assist in housework, Miss Thayer to
have general supervision as matron of the boarding school. The American
Board doubled their appropriation, so that each one of the ladies were to
receive one hundred dollars a year, and find their own board. Miss Thayer
taking it upon herself to meet the other expenses of the school. Timely
donations in money were received from Philadelphia, Brooklyn and New
York, and various small sums; also boxes of clothing and some provision
from friends in neighboring towns.
March 23--Miss Thayer writes: "Have received one hundred dollars from the
Sunday school in Mr. Barnes' church, for my building; have hired two
carpenters to do the inside work, it having been framed, shingled,
enclosed, and most of the lathing done, by the Tuscaroras. My health is
failing again and my mind much racked with planning, as my associates
each want a separate room for their own private use, I have been obliged
to vary from my original plan so as to secure pleasant rooms for them
with chimneys for stoves."
May 7--"The building goes forward rather slowly, and my associates are
becoming somewhat impatient on account of the delay; yet we shall have a
better finished and more commodious house than I had at first planned.
Though very much worn both in body and mind, I do not regret having
undertaken the work. Am more and more convinced that the only hope for
the moral and physical well-being of the Tuscaroras is to train up the
children in the way they should go. The work is begun, and the Lord is
able to carry it forward, either with or without me."
Miss Thayer's health continued poor and she took a vacation of four
weeks, in the summer, leaving her associates in charge. Then wrote to Mr.
Treat that she should be obliged to give up the management of financial
affairs, and asking them to assume the responsibility.
To confer with him on the subject, Mr. Treat requested Mr. Rockwood, Miss
Thayer and her associates to meet him in Buffalo, where he would stop on
his way to the meeting of the American Board at Cincinnati. The result of
the conference: The boarding school was transferred to the immediate care
of the Board, with Mr. Rockwood as Superintendent; the ladies to retain
their respective positions--teacher, house-keeper and matron. From this
time Miss Thayer felt greatly fettered, and the impression grew upon her
that her presence was not desired at Mt. Hope; that her usefulness there
was at an end. Long and prayerfully did she weigh the matter, and at
last, though it nearly broke her heart, she asked to be dismissed from
the field. Her request was granted, and Miss Thayer closed her labors at
Mt. Hope, December 31, 1853, _and longed to die_. It was the saddest
day of her life, the bitterest trial she ever experienced, this giving up
all her hopes of usefulness among her beloved Tuscaroras. She knew not
whither to go; could not tell the people what she had done.
Samuel Jacobs was going to Cattaraugus, and Miss Thayer went with him,
hoping the Lord would give her work to do there. Engaged temporarily in
teaching, was there until the latter part of July, 1854; in August
applied to the Presbyterian Board for an appointment as missionary
teacher for one of their schools among the Southwestern Indians, which
was granted, and she was sent to the Chickasaws, in the Indian Territory;
arrived there in November, 1854; labored among the Chickasaws, Creeks and
Choctaws until September, 1865, when again broken down in health, she
reluctantly gave up the work of a missionary teacher, and returned to her
father's house in Bristol, Wis., accompanied by her husband, (Theodore
Jones), and her three young children (two sons and a daughter). She has
since resided in Bristol, Wis., on the farm given to her by her father
and brothers, a quiet, pleasant home. Her children are growing up in the
fear of the Lord, having all of them, five years ago, (in April, 1873),
united with the Congregational church in Bristol. Although she has not
the means to give them a liberal education, she hopes that they will be
useful workers in the Lord's vineyard.
Mrs. Jones often thinks of her beloved Tuscaroras, and would gladly visit
them if it were not for the expense of such a journey.
Mrs. Jones has culled the material for the foregoing pages from numerous
letters written to her father, from Tuscarora, and also made extracts
from her private journal, kept whilst at Tuscarora, and she gives Elias
Johnson leave to embody such portions of it in his history of the
Tuscaroras as shall best suit his purpose. She sends herewith Mr. Treat's
reply to her request to be released from the work at Mt. Hope; also a
letter written by the Tuscarora chiefs, representing her departure from
their people."
"MRS. MARY J. E, JONES,
"February 22, 1878.
"Bristol, Wis."
To ELIAS JOHNSON, Tuscarora.
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