Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/190

 170 Charles Henry Carey the living with the dead ! Let the father of a sprightly and promising boy who is buried with the dead speak and tell us of thy darkness and of thy cruelty. Civiliza- tion and Christianity never did I know how to prize; surely thou art to be prized above all price. Never did I feel so much the want of language to address a people as now; but I have it not, and must submit, and our facil- ities for an interpreter are very limited indeed. Our congregations are mixed so that we often have to have two or three interpreters ; but we are doing the best we can ; I am almost forced to think that there has been time, attention and expense devoted to the Willamette portion of this work to the neglect of this part of the field; here the Indians are not so depraved in health and I think not in morals; they have the appearance of intellect, and I have hope something may be done for them. From the best account I can get, Rev. Daniel Lee had but little missionary activity or zeal after he was married. Bro. Perkins for some years has been busy in getting the lan- guage, preaching, visiting, stirring about actively among the Indians [who] have been very much neglected for some considerable time, and it appears to me this part of our work has not had a fair trial yet ; here are many who pray, lead a praying life, yet they have had no privi- leges of class for years, or such other aids as directly tend to strengthen and keep these ignorant lambs of the flock. I really hope there may be a people here yet who will show forth the power of truth and grace by being elevated in their minds and consistant in their Christian profes- sion. Never did I feel so like being a missionary. Friday, 13. Bro. Waller returns his draft for $700 given for his passage from the islands to the states ; also $100 cash advanced him for expenses at the islands, and elsewhere, in his voyage home. Learn the poor woman who was bitten by the rattlesnake is like to recover. Spent the day mostly reading and writing. Saturday, 14. Devoted to reading and writing.