Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/28

 Indian. If at any time I was persuaded to take a little of the fire-water, I always felt sorry for it, afterwards, especially when I reflected how much evil it had done to my poor countrymen, many thousands of whom have had their days shortened by it, and been hurried to destruction. Oh the miseries of drunkenness! Would to God that the Indians had never tasted the fire-water!

In the summer of 1822 I hired myself out at brickmaking, and worked almost all the time in mud. My object in this was to obtain means to enable me to attend School the ensuing winter, as I was anxious to improve my little stock of knowledge, thinking that if I had a better education, I might get employment in an Indian trading establishment. When the winter came on I went to an English School at Fairchild's Creek, and hired my board at the house of Mr. E. Bunnell, a farmer, where I was very kindly treated by the family. Arithmetic and writing were my principal studies. In the Spring following I returned home to my father's, worked his farm on shares, and raised a considerable quantity of produce.

About this time Seth Crawford, a young man from the States, came amongst us for the express purpose of learning the Mohawk language, that he might be enabled to preach the Gospel to the Indians in their own tongue. He stated that he received an impression on his mind it was his duty to preach to the Indians. He hired his board at one of the Indian houses, and commenced his studies.

The piety of this young man, together with his compassion for the poor Indians, made a deep impression on my mind. I would here state that Mr. Crawford was very useful during the first conversions amongst the Indians at Davisville. From him I received much comfort and edification after my conversion. Early in the Spring of 1823, Mr. E. Stoney, a Local Preacher, sent an appointment for preaching at the house of