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LEARNING TO KNOW MY PEOPLE. THE Indians are a people requiring a good deal of patience on the part of their teachers, as those who have tried working among them have generally found. There is on the one hand a charming fascination about their simple manners and habits, their readiness to receive and accept Gospel teaching, the bright winning smile that lights up their faces when pleased, their stoical behaviour under adverse circumstances, their gentleness and politeness, the absence of that rough manner and loud talk which is so common among white people of the lower classes; and yet on the other hand we must admit that there are certain strong points in their natural character which are anything but pleasing; and it is, I believe, these points coming to the notice of people who are not inclined to befriend them that have earned for them the character of an idle, ungrateful people. Many a time has it been said to me, "How can you waste your time working among those Indians'? They will never get any better for all you can teach them or do for them." And yet I have continued labouring, and do still labour among them, believing that it is God's will that every wandering sheep should be sought out and, if possible, be brought into the Good Shepherd's fold. If at times I have found them trying, yet, after all, I doubt if they are much more so than many a community of white people. I will now give a few extracts from
my journal of the winter 1872-73.
Oct. 21, we were up at 5·30 a.m., preparing for the "Bee;" I rang the church bell to bring the Indians together, and hoisted the Union Jack. Mrs. Cryer got tea made, and pork and potatoes cooked, and about 7.30 a.m.
twelve stalwart Indians sat down to breakfast. Then axes were shouldered,
the oxen yoked, and we started for the farm land & little way back
from the house. We mustered twenty-two in all and had a good trees and
brush-wood, grubbing up roots, and making huge fires to burn all up.
About twelve acres were cleared sufficiently for ploughing, and this will
be fenced round. In the evening, when the men all came in for supper, I
showed them my plans for the new buildings, and they seemed very much pleased
with them. Later in the evening I was asked to come in to Buhkwujjenene's
house, as they wished to settle the matter about the ox.
Nov. 21.The Indiana held a great council in the school-house this evening. Chief Buhkwujjenene was the principal speaker. He spoke very eloquently, feelingly, and quite to the point, describing his journey to England and his kind reception by so many friends there. Then he spoke of the proposed Institution, for which money had been collected, and told the people that an opportunity was now given them of improving themselves and their children, and he urged upon all to support the movement and to give up their children to be educated. Chief Little Pine spoke of the increasing value of their land and the. desire of the white people to purchase it from them. Our wealth, he said, is our land. As long as it lies idle it is worthless. We must clear our land and farm it, and then it will be of the greatest value. He also spoke of the Institution, and advised the people to send their children. Misquaubuhnooke and Shabahgeezhik also spoke, and each found fault with the Indians for not exerting themselves more; they said the congregations were not large enough on Sundays, and that many of the people who had families did not send their children to school. Dec. 1. Advent Sunday - Heavy snow falling, but good congregations. I preached from Rom.xiii.12. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." We have commenced a weekly offertory, and it amounts to nearly two dollars a Sunday. Two churchwardens have been appointed, and one of them has charge of the Church funds and is supposed to purchase all that is necessary in the way of fuel, oil, &c. The collections ought to be ample to meet all expenses besides paying the sexton; but if not con- stantly watched the Indians are apt to spend the money on things not really wanted, while we are shivering for want of fire, and blinding our- selves for want of light. Dec. 27.
Evening Communicants' meeting at William Shabahgeezhik's;
about twenty-five present. I spoke very plainly to the people, and urged
none
Dec. 28.
Our first winter mail arrived to-day. The first mail we hear was lost and
one of the couriers drowned, so this must be the second that has now arrived.
I had only just brought up a large packet of letters and papers to the
house, when I was called away three miles distant, to see a
"The great God," he said, "knows all, and He can take care of me." Dec. 29. Sunday.
We had twenty-seven at Holy Communion to-day, little over half the
number that assembled last year. I take this for a good sign. I trust that
our people are beginning to think more, and to realize how solemn is this
Holy Feast. The offertory collection was nearly four
Jan 3, 1873.Meeting
to-night at Peter Jones' about twenty-four
present. After it was over I told the people that the meeting next week
would be at Misquaububnooke's, on Sugar
Island, and we had made a plan for Mr. Frost
to go over and teach school there three times a week. I also made
some
Jan. 4.
Yesterday, while out, I was called in to see a poor boy in a very suffering
state, a large piece of cord-wood having fallen on his arm and created
some internal injury. The accident happened five days ago, and nothing
yet had been done. I immediately applied a cooling lotion.
The poor little fellow, who is only about thirteen years old, was in great
pain. His home is some three miles off, on Sugar Island, and
his mother had only heard of the accident to-day, and had just arrived
when I was
Jan. 5.-
About eleven o'clock last night the poor boy's mother came knocking for
me at the window; so I went over to see him. He seemed much worse,
and was screaming with the pain; his arm was quite black and the inflammation
extending to the hand. The mother seemed in great trouble, and, being
Roman Catholics, I told her I would go over to see the priest, and perhaps
he would send some one to the Sault for the doctor. The priest came
back with me, but seemed to think it no use to send for the doctor, as,
if mortification was beginning, he could do no good. I then left
the priest alone with him, while I went to prepare a soothing draught.
While walking with the priest, I took the opportunity to say a few words
to him about my visiting his people. I told him I was often called
in by his people to visit their sick ones, and hitherto had made it rather
apoint of honour not to speak to them about religion, as I thought he would
not like it, and only on one occasion had done so. I however, did not like
this plan; as a clergyman I felt that I ought to have the privilege of
speaking to those whom I was called on to visit, especially
"if I wished sometimes to offer words of consolation I must do so." At the close of my sermon to-day I
mentioned this circumstance to our people, showing them first of all the
difference between our religion and that of the Roman Catholics the latter
shut the Bible up, we give it to all; the latter teach people to depend
on the priest for everything, we point only to God and to Jesus Christ.
I said I indeed desired to see all the people on this Reserve members of
our Church; still I felt that this would not be effected by strife and
quarrelling, but only by love. I
'Kagat minwahbiimenahgooze' (he is very pretty), and afterwards repeated the same words to his mother when she came in. Jan. 7.-
This evening I had quite a nice talk with my poor boy-patient. I told him
the story of God's love in sending His Son to die for us; also
Jan. 10.My poor boy is, I hope, getting a little better. His arm gives him less pain. I again had a little talk with him, and prayer. I asked him if he thought God treated him hardly in sending him so much suffering, and he replied, " No." I thentold him that God had certainly sent it all in love for his soul, so that he might be led to think and prepare for the future life: God had already heard our prayers for him, and if he should get quite well, I hoped he would always love and serve God. Jan. 19. Frost, has begun his school on Sugar Island. The first day he had thirteen children and the second day fourteen. He is getting on wonderfully with the Indian language, and can read the lessons in church. Feb. 2. Sunday. To-day
we had about seventy at morning service, and twenty-seven communicants.
Chief
Little Pine came yesterday to see me about the Holy Communion.
He said that recently I had spoken so strongly about the danger of receiving
it; unworthily that he was afraid. I knew, he said, that he owed
Penny
over twenty dollars; also that he had not yet paid his promised subscription
of ten dollars to the school. I told him God knew the secrets of
all our hearts. If he really intended to pay what he was owing as
soon as possible, it was not sin for him to be in debt, and he might partake
of the Sacrament with a clear conscience. I was rather glad, however, to
see him turn away at the end of the service. It is the first time that
he has done so, and I trust he is really beginning to think more of what
it all means.
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