Before leaving this view of Indian life, let me give you a glimpse of our other station, Fort Berthold, through a recent letter from Mrs. Hall, formerly Miss Webb, of Santee. She writes: “You have no idea, and I cannot begin to realize, the depths of heathenism and degradation which surround us. It is only a little walk to the village, and strange sounds come from there all through the nights. There is dancing and all sorts of wickedness going on. I wish our Agent would use his power to put a stop to such things. I have had my first women’s meeting. My plan is this: to have a circle composed of the mothers of our boys and girls, or, if they have no mothers, the woman nearest to them. My first meeting consisted of five. One of them could speak Dakota so I was able to reach her a little. She was an interesting, bright woman, but oh! so dirty! I was wonderfully drawn to her and also to one of her little girls. Here was an opportunity to use my Dakota Bible, which I was so glad to improve. Now I am surrounded by Rees and Gros Ventres, I feel the barrier of language exceedingly. The Rees are around us mostly. The Gros Ventres have taken their farms twenty, thirty, or forty miles away. Here will be such a field for some of our boys. Who will be the devoted, consecrated worker? I feel all we can do now is to pray; and I am sure God will hear and answer.”
Having tried to picture to you our people in their own homes, in parts of the Oahe and Fort Berthold fields, turn with me now to our Santee school, and the record of its boys and girls. Some of these not long since came from similar homes; others are the children of Christian parents and grandparents, and do not know of the native beliefs and customs, except as they are told. We have representatives from ten different tribes, five tribes (and the larger part) belonging to the Sioux or Dakota Nation, the remaining five belonging to the Rees, Mandans, Gros Ventres, Arapahoes and Poncas. The whole number of different pupils last year was 210. This shows a steady increase. They have continued in larger numbers through the year, and those from a distance have enjoyed attending the summer sessions of school. There has been marked progress in their studies and deportment; especially in deportment, for those who used to be so painfully shy, and their voices so faint one must strain the ear to listen, can now, with their acquired knowledge of spoken English, look you confidently in the face and respond with distinct voices. The brightening of the eye and whole countenance makes you sure of the bond of friendship established between teacher and pupil, which gives always a promise of success. In the homes, in the shops (of which there are three—blacksmith, carpenter and shoe shop), on the farm and at school, many through the year have given very satisfactory service. While I would not claim for any, perfection of conduct, yet in simple justice to their efforts I do say, they have tried faithfully to do well what they have attempted, and have succeeded, and so have won the esteem of their teachers in the several departments.