I would once more attempt to write a few lines to you my kind
and honoured Benefactor as it is not only your Order, but my indispensable
Duty to write you at every opportunity this being the third attempt,
that
I have made Since I left your house (first by
David, next
William,
David
passed by,
William came back) but have had the misfortune
of Seeing them both, yet this once more will I try
peradventure it
may reach you; in which I Shall Endeavour to acquaint you of the
State
of my School, and of the Indians; and Little of the manner in which
I live
at present. Sir I have had By the goodness of God my health
as usual; and would hope that you have had your much Valuble
health allowed you.
Sir, I have lived very well the fore part of the
Winter, but the Latter begins to
come on hard. Sometimes Glutted
to the full at other times half starved never Steady, at present
they now begin to cook Some good dried Guts of deer and what is
in it. (Dung if I may So call it.) to season the corn; likewise Some
rotten fish which they have kept Since last fall to season their
Samps, rottener the better they Say as it will season more broth.
corn they have plenty yet, but nothing to season it. Little calf
Died for hunger was Soon quartered
and
boiled and Eat the other day
in this house, also Some hens dying of Some distemper was
Served pretty much the Same trick but not quite So quick.
I have Lived entirely upon the affair of the Indians this Winter
Such times Excepted as when I was at
Mr. Kirtlands—
The Indians are very much Engaged at present and have given
me 14 children, this is Since I wrote you last and have shown
their respects to the design as I suppose
Mr. Kirtland will
Acquaint you to the full.
Mr. Kirtland had proposed I Should
come down the Next week but the headmen requested that
I Should Stay with them longer to which I agreed with the cheerful
heart to See them So much Engaged.
Kind Sir, I would inform you that
Mr. Kirtland is
very Sick I fear unto Death this being the 10th Day Since
he has been Sick he has been most of the time confined to his bed
and is entirely
indisposed for any manner of business whatever.
I would also
inform you that I keep Singing School every
Evening very full meetings. two of my
Scholars are married
men, one is Old Enough for my father. they all Learn very
fast
both Singing and Reading. I dont know Sir, when
I Shall come home the great men give me
leave to go in the
Spring. the Small-pox is very Brief in
Albany and
Schenectady, vast numbers have died out of both places.
also; beasts, they have a distemper and die daily
both
horses
and cows, the distemper is almost got up here. —
The Indian horses fare very hard this Winter, I have Seen where they
have gnawed little Elm trees to Eat the bark
thereof, the Indians have
given
Mr Kirtland Some corn for his creatures from both places.
Mr. Kirtland preached twice here before his sickness came on, and
proposed to come down again but the Self Same week he was —
taken Sick.
Thomas
carries on amongst us now Sabbath Days.
Mr. Dodge
informs me that he opened a school about one week he Says
he kept it before
Mr. Kirtland was Sick and was obliged to break up —
William
kept it Some time afterwards
last Monday I went in to
See the School and Saw vast number of children in it almost
[illegible][guess: 30] lacking very
few, it Seemed as if with pleasure I could wait on Such
Number. then I turned my mind and thoughts of my
little number
I had at
Oneida. yet I think I cant think to have them few as
they be. So
long as they Seem to be Engaged.
I have nothing more to acquaint you of at present only I want to
hear from you my ever honoured Benefactor as I have not heard any
thing from you Since I came from your house.
So Rev. Sir, I desire Still to be under your direction and advice at all
times, as I am not yet capable of managing
myself So I would
not undertake any thing without your kind advice and approbation.
Please to Remember me Still in your prayers; that God would
keep me humble and
fill my heart with Gratitude both to Him
and to Man. that I may put my whole trust in him both fo
[gap: tear][guess: r] Time and Eternity, for in him alone can I be safe
amidst ten thousa
nd Malicious darts of the Devil. So I would remain your
faithful and Obedient pupil, and good for nothing not quite
Old Indian.
PS. this Letter if I may So call it was wrote in haste I dont know as if you can make out to read it if you can I Should be
Exceeding glad, not only in
haste but under many disadvantages.