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Read Ebook: The American Missionary — Volume 39 No. 02 February 1885 by Various
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Ebook has 122 lines and 27761 words, and 3 pages
CHILDREN'S PAGE.
LETTER FROM AN INDIAN BOY.
The letter given below was written by a Sioux Indian boy, whose entire education has been gained in the three years he has now been at Hampton Institute. It was written in acknowledgment of a Christmas gift of ten dollars for the purchase of books for himself, sent by a Sabbath-school class of boys in New York city.
HAMPTON, Va. Dec. 18th, 1884.
DEAR FRIENDS: It is impossible for me to write a few lines. I am glad that I will try to say a few words Of my people. We were just like a little baby. When Columbus discovered America, Until now To-day, we are different from what we were at that time. It is hard for us to leave our own old Indian ways at once. You know how hard it is for a crazy man get better from his crazy. It is just so with the Indians, it is hard for us. When I was at home, I was the youngest, But I try to do my best. So my parents wanted me to be kept there, As long as I could. But some of my friends think it will better for me to get a little education, and them some more to help them. It seem to me come to schools, And now I am school in this institution, and it is hard for me to do right. But I try to do my best as well as possible. And I learn little bits of English language or composition and also some history, Ever since I been here about over three years ago. So I am anxious to tell you something about my people, but as I say I have been here three years, I did not know how they getting along--But I think they are become like as civilized now, As some of them try very hard to do as the white people's. But there are some white men in our agencies, are good but only few of them, And there are most of all bad ones. Those bad ones who are try hard to pull us down. So hoping you will help and pray for us. We may stand against these bad temptation. And finally we shall be risen very slowly, from the lowest to the highest civilization. Some of the white man those who opposed the Indian they said--"The Indians can never be civilized are dead Indian not lives Indians but dead, them are unsuccessful and good for anything." It may be very true. But if some always good people will help us to do right, We shall be civilized as well as any other nation. my friends I wish I could do more, but the language which I am using is rather and difficult for me and keeps me back. Therefore I cannot express of my desire but as I say again We shall not be civilized at once, but we shall in the future. I thank you for money very much.
I am most sincerely an Indian friend.
BENJ. OHITIKA.
The attempt of the writer of the letter to quote the inhuman sentiment so often uttered by bad white men: "There is no good Indian but a dead Indian," illustrates the extreme difficulty an Indian has in acquiring our language. The penmanship of this boy would bear favorable comparison with that of young men of his age as they graduate from our public schools. It is an interesting fact that the Indian under education uniformly excels in penmanship.
RECEIPTS FOR DECEMBER, 1884.
MAINE, ,461.02.
LEGACY.
NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1.15.
VERMONT, 9.55.
LEGACY.
MASSACHUSETTS, ,138.85.
LEGACIES.
RHODE ISLAND, 6.75.
CONNECTICUT, ,294.17.
NEW YORK, 5.59.
NEW JERSEY, 4.69.
PENNSYLVANIA, .00.
OHIO, ,839.29.
LEGACIES.
ILLINOIS, ,289.29.
LEGACY.
MICHIGAN, 5.47.
IOWA, 4.08.
WISCONSIN, 9.53.
MINNESOTA, 0.67.
KANSAS, .50.
Meriden. "A Friend" 12.50 Topeka. Cong. Ch., 5; Tuition, 5 10.00
MISSOURI, .00.
Webster Groves. Cong. Ch. 25.00
COLORADO, .80.
Denver. First Cong. Ch. 5.80 Fort Lewis. Mrs. J. B. Irvine 5.00
NEBRASKA, .00.
DAKOTA, .75.
CALIFORNIA, .00
Santa Barbara. Mary B. Van Winkle 5.00
OREGON, .05.
The Dalles. First Cong. Ch. 14.05
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ,887.51.
MARYLAND, 1.70.
Baltimore. First Cong. Ch. 150.70 Federalsburg. John Manning 1.00
KENTUCKY, 9.45.
Berea. "Church at Berea" 8.00 Lexington. Tuition 79.70 Williamsburg. Tuition 51.75
TENNESSEE, 1.87.
Jellico. Tuition 7.75 Jonesborough. Tuition 7.00 Knoxville. Second Cong. Ch. 12.00 Memphis. Tuition 282.05 Nashville. Fisk U., Tuition 445.57 Nashville. Jackson St. Ch. 5.00 Pleasant Hill. Mr. Wightman 2.50
NORTH CAROLINA, 8.97.
McLeansville. Cong. Ch. 9.32 Wilmington. Tuition 219.65 Wilmington. Cong. Ch. 10.00
SOUTH CAROLINA, 7.00.
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