We present an interesting letter from the Mother Superior of the Sacred
Heart Industrial School, at Morris, Minn. “I would have replied long
since in answer to your kind letter, but I met with a very severe
accident, a dislocation of my right shoulder, and I am not well yet. I
can use only my thumb and first finger. God grant that I may get the use
of the others, for it is a great loss to the poor children that I cannot
work. I am anxiously looking forward to September, and I trust what our
good Bishop Zardetti asked for us will be granted. Having lost all our
crops by hail and having had to build an addition to our building by
order of the Government, or lose our children; we are greatly in need.
We had to mortgage cattle, sheep and horses. Had I not promised to pay
in September we would have lost all. What we get from the Government,
$9 per month for the support, clothing, teaching and travelling
expenses of each pupil, falls far short of the actual expense. For this
reason we try to raise all we can. If we secure what we expect all our
difficulties will be over in regard to the Industrial School, as it will
be self-supporting. We are teaching the girls all kinds of work. They
make their own clothes as well as those of the boys. They knit, spin and
weave. We are now teaching them to do store work; so that if any remain
with us off the reservation they will be able to support themselves.
We are aiming at the plan of the Industrial School at our convent in
Brooklyn, which I organized some years ago. If we can induce the parents
of the children to let the latter remain with us when their schooling is
finished, it will be, in our opinion, the best method of civilizing them.
Oh, if we could but have help, how much good we could do for the glory of
God and the salvation of these dear souls!... We are praying God to help
us now in our struggles and if the Commission will grant what is asked
this year, we will not apply again. We are insuring our crops this year
for fear of hail and storms.”
Bishop Zardetti, of St. Cloud, endorses the foregoing letter in these
words, “I remit to you the enclosed petition, endorsing it from my heart.
The Sisters in Morris who are very poor, do much for the Indians in their
care, and are, I think, entitled to a subsidy from the Negro and Indian
Commission.”