FOR THE CHILDREN.
Santee Agency, Neb., June, 1887.
To My Friends at the East:
I want to write you a letter. First I want to tell you about my home and my people, how they are, and their ways. I suppose you know their old way of living, but let me tell you a part of it again. The general way is to dance, and give away ponies, and worship stones. They have “visions of the deer,” and think themselves sacred. They have foolish “visions of the bear,” and think themselves sacred. They do not go to war now. But when they used to go to war, they first tied up parcels of tobacco and took them around to the houses of the men they trusted in, and, opening the door of the house, they led out the brave man. Then the women appeared glad, and would dance and shout. So they did; and right away they would go off to war, and kill men, and bring home their scalps, or else the hands of the slain, tied to their horses.
But now the people do much better. Now, since the Word of God has been preached among my people, they do better. And still there are many who do not know anything. I have grown up but recently, and yet I know something. I have been several years at Santee Normal Training School, and have learned some things. Though I cannot talk English much yet, I understand some, and I wish to keep on learning as long as I can. And whether I learn or do not learn, I am always going to try.
And my father and mother are now believers in God. They now have understanding and knowledge. So that they have now sent my sister to school, and very soon I shall get letters from her, and I shall be glad.
And for myself, I wish to live having faith in God, and to learn all I can here.
Now, my friends, I have told you all about how it is with me; so I will say no more.
A. W.