By noon the women began to gather, and soon the school-room was well filled, a good many sitting on the floor. There were about fifty present, not counting little babies. There were only two painted faces, though in our visiting there was scarcely a house in which there were not two or more of the women painted; the most of them had washed their faces and put on clean dresses.
I had told them all to bring their own dishes, and the variety was amusing. There was everything in size from an ordinary cup to a milk-pan and one much battered long-handled dipper. Coffee and crackers were passed first, then the stew. "Oh, it smells of onions!" was the exclamation as I dished it out. All seemed very happy, and laughed and joked as they ate. I told them I had been ten years among the Dakotas and had never before made a feast; that I had planned for a long time to visit them and had not been able, and perhaps it would be a long time before I should see them again, so I thought I would make them happy in this way. The old women replied, "We have often heard of you, and now we see you; we will always remember you and speak of you as 'the woman who made the feast.'" After they had finished, I talked to them a little of the "meat which perisheth not," and of the "Bread and the Water of Life," closing with prayer. It was a very enjoyable experience. I also met the women one afternoon at a special prayer meeting. It was not very well attended on account of the storm, which was almost a blizzard on that day. There are only two Christian women in that community besides Louis' wife. We spent two Sundays with the intervening days at this station, gaining a new insight into the needs of the out-station work, and new inspiration for carrying it on.
One thing that interested me very much was seeing a little girl who was a member of our Oahe School two years ago. She is the daughter of a prominent man in the village near Park Street Church Station. She was in native dress when she came to us; when I saw her over there, although her mother was away at the Agency and she was staying with relatives, she looked very neat and clean. She wore a pretty dress made after the style worn in our school and in every respect looked as well as though she had just come out of school. I think she would have returned with us had her parents been at home.
There were two young women also, whom I should be glad to have in the school here. They have just united with the church and been baptized. They seem quite superior in many ways to their surroundings. They can both read in Dakota and so have the Bible to learn from. Of course they have in a manner isolated themselves from their youthful companions in having given up their heathen customs; it seems as though souls so young and untried in the Christian life must meet with many temptations and many trying experiences. I should be glad to have them here in a Christian community, where they could learn more of our Christian work. I am sure they would gain help and strength from the prayer meetings and missionary work, as well as from the sympathy of all who engage in such work. Then, doubtless, they would be benefited by the industrial training and the academic work, though I doubt if they would do much with the English language, as they are both over twenty years old and would probably not remain in school more than a year.
My journey has been a help to me. Living away from the people and losing sight of the ignorance and filth and heathenism, we forget what our chief aim should be, not simply school-work for the children, but Christianization and civilization for the masses. This, in its greatest effectiveness, can be done at the out-stations and in the vernacular only. It is necessary to have the gospel preached constantly in order to have it penetrate these darkened hearts, preached in a tongue which can be understood, and necessary to have a Christian life lived in its simplicity in their very midst. The native missionary's family is an object-lesson of value not half appreciated by our Eastern constituency. If, in addition to this, there is a white teacher to uphold, support and push with Anglo-Saxon energy the efforts of the native, the value of the out-station work is greatly increased. Would that all could understand this fully!
It is helpful, too, to come home and see our Indian neighbors, who less than fifteen years ago were in the same ignorant condition as those we have just seen, now living as white people, earnest Christians, doing much to help us in our work for their heathen relatives.
While you work for the schools, pray, also, for the work of the out-stations; pray that the light may shine into the darkened hearts so near us, pray that those who are living among them to teach them of the Saviour of men may be granted wisdom and strength to teach and live aright, that many souls may be won for Him whose servants we all are.