II. The fruits. I am not able yet to state accurately the results in hopeful conversions, but I feel safe in saying that about 30 have given evidence to our Chinese brethren that they have passed from death to life. This would make the total number of whom we have cherished this hope, from the beginning of the mission, about 355. I dare not say that in all cases this hope has proved to be well founded. Some have gone back to idolatry and taken to themselves, I fear, seven devils worse than the one that seemed to be exorcised. Some seem to have left their first love, though maintaining still a reputable exterior. Of many we have lost sight altogether. They are in China, or in the Hawaiian Islands, or on the frontiers in our own country, or in the Eastern or interior cities. It is simply impossible, at least with our present working force, to maintain our hold upon them by correspondence. We leave them to the care of the Great Shepherd, Who is not compassed with our infirmities and Who knows His sheep and is known by them. But, allowing for all these drawbacks, I feel it safe to say that no evangelizing agency in California with which I am acquainted has been fraught, on the whole, with larger or better results than our Chinese mission.
III. The finances. This large increase in the work accomplished has involved inevitably some increase of expenditure. Our total resources—on current expense account—have been $10,043.70, of which $3,623.70 were contributed directly to our work and $6,420 came through drafts on the treasury in New York.
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
LETTER FROM AN INDIAN BOY.
My Dear Friend:
I can tell how I get along. I was working in the shop, and I try to work very good, but sometimes I too late go in workshop. I am the wheel-wright. I come from Dakota Territory, and I have been school at Saint Paul’s school at Yankton Agency, and I try to learn how to read English. And so many Indian boys school over there, and to many Indian boys are like to study, and some boys are don’t like to go to school. And same is the Indian, too. They did not work at all, but when they want something, then go into the agent’s and ask for food. But some Indians are work very hard, like a white people, and they did not live in the reservation. I like to work in the field much. And few Indians work very hard, and listen the agent’s what he says to them; but some Indian won’t—but dancing all the time, but eating and sleep, that all they can do. And there is another tribe come back from northwest; they came back into Yankton Agency in Fort Randall, those Indian whole tribe are call Sitting Bull. I think those people are very wild. Sitting Bull is a great many children and big tribe, and cannot get any food, so the Yankton Indians try to help them, and carry some corn or potatoes gave to them. And that time I stay at my home. And that time the Hampton boys come back from Virginia to this school, and we are all glad to see them. And I came from Yankton Agency, and now I stay here at Virginia. I am stay here for three years, then I go back my home again. I receive a letter from my friend; he says the governor school was finished, everything inside or outside. And when I heard that the ten boys get from Sitting Bull I am very glad. I think those people going to learn how to work. So many of them do not know anything at all, I sometimes think those people all the time wild and poor; but now I think the Sitting Bull learn how to work, and even the other places just the same. When I came from Dakota, I saw a great many things, cars, and steam-boat, and every wonderful thing. I saw those things, I don’t know how to go and stop. I did not see how to make, and I never saw the cars before. When I go back to my home I going tell all this are. A great many Indian boys are here; we are all try to learn how to work the white men way, and sometimes we have a prayer-meeting in every Saturday night, and all the Indian boys are doing very well. I think the Indian try to do how to work; when they know how to work, then they cannot stop. That is all I am going to say. We are all well here, and I think you are well, too. Some boys has going to work, and those boys going to school this afternoon. I thank you very much.
Yours respectfully,
David Stricker.