—I never enjoyed my work so much as during the past year, although it was never so hard before.
—The year’s work has been such a pleasant one that I am reluctant to bring it to a close, although I feel the need of the coming rest.
—I hope my return another year may be favorably considered by you, as I must see my boys through. I have but just begun the work. I like it and feel that another year I could accomplish much more than I have this.
—My health has failed and it is thought to be a risk for me to remain through the year. It is a great disappointment to me, I believe the greatest I ever had, for I love the work and so strongly hoped I should be able to continue. But God knows best. Perhaps in years to come He may grant me such measure of strength as will enable me again to enter this field.
—Our scholars have done good, faithful work for some time past and the results will show, I am sure. I do enjoy the work thoroughly. Of course there are times of discouragement, days when we wonder if some one else could not do more or better for those who are under our instruction, when it seems as if it were spending our strength for naught; but I suppose every person knows what it is to feel so, and I certainly am glad to do what I can while I can.
—We are very busy now, this last half of the year. My room is very full—sixty-eight. They sit thickly together, close up to my platform, and three with me by my desk. I enjoy my school very much, even more than I anticipated, especially now that I really know my scholars individually. I have many who are eighteen or twenty years old and I feel anxious for them to learn all they can, for fear they may not come another year. I really trust I may be led in just the right way in this work, for I came here with that one desire.
—On reaching here I found Miss —— busy in her preparation to leave in answer to your call. The young people look as sad as though parting with a mother, and several, both old and young, said to me: “Do tell them in New York they must send her back—she understands us so well and we her, and it would take a long time for a stranger, to know us.” One old man said, “I tell you she is smart.” Oh, how I do wish she could go before the ladies of our Northern churches and tell of this work. I know that they are very ignorant in regard to the needs of these fields. I know, too, there is a willingness to do if they could only be shown the needs and be once awakened.
WORK AT THE DAKOTA MISSION.
In the American Missionary for April we gave a statement relating to the transfer by the American Board of its Dakota mission to the A. M. A., and published a list of the missionaries. Among these were Miss Illsley, Mrs. Steer, Miss Voorhees and Miss Webb, who were laboring at the Santee Agency. We have gleaned from their circular letters in the Word Carrier the following extracts which indicate the importance and success of woman’s work for the Indians.